Explore the Family Name Gershon
The meaning of Gershon
Jewish: from the Hebrew personal name Gershon, Gershom, of uncertain origin. It may mean ‘exile’, but is usually interpreted as ‘sojourner’, from Hebrew ger sham meaning ‘stranger there’. Compare Garson, Garzon, Gershen, and Gerson. Some characteristic forenames: Jewish Ari, Chaim, Isak, Moshe, Nissim, Varda, Zev.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gershon in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Gershon has seen a shift in popularity over from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Gershon was ranked as the 24,115th most popular surname in the United States. However, by 2010 it had slipped slightly to the 26,887th spot—a decrease of approximately 11.49%. The actual count of individuals with this surname also saw a decrease, from 976 in 2000 to 903 in 2010, marking a reduction of about 7.48%. Furthermore, there was a drop in the proportion of people with this surname per 100,000 residents, which fell from 0.36 to 0.31, representing a 13.89% decline.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #24,115 | #26,887 | -11.49% |
| Count | 976 | 903 | -7.48% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.36 | 0.31 | -13.89% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gershon
The ethnic identity associated with the Gershon surname also showed some changes between the years 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. Notably, the percentage of individuals identifying as Black doubled from 0.61% to 1.33%, marking an increase of 118.03%. Additionally, the percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander rose from 0.51% to 0.66%, an increase of 29.41%. Conversely, individuals identifying as White remained the majority but saw a slight decrease from 95.59% to 94.80%. The proportion of individuals reporting two or more races dropped significantly from 1.84% to 1.22%, a decrease of 33.70%. The Hispanic population remained relatively stable at around 1.43% in 2000 and 1.44% in 2010. Lastly, the category of American Indian and Alaskan Native appeared in 2010 with a representation of 0.55%, whereas it was not reported in the 2000 census.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.59% | 94.8% | -0.83% |
| Hispanic | 1.43% | 1.44% | 0.7% |
| Black | 0.61% | 1.33% | 118.03% |
| Two or More Races | 1.84% | 1.22% | -33.7% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.51% | 0.66% | 29.41% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.55% | 0% |