Explore the Family Name Gourd
The meaning of Gourd
1. English (southern): nickname from Middle English gourd(e), gord, gurd ‘gourd’ (Old French gourde), often used with reference to the hollowed-out dried shell of a gourd used as a drinking vessel. The nickname was probably applied to a rotund person, as well as being a metonymic occupational name for a maker of drinking vessels. 2. French: from Old French gourd ‘heavy, dull, sluggish’, hence a nickname for a slow lumbering person. 3. Altered form of Breton or French Gour. Some characteristic forenames: French Henri, Andre.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Gourd in the United States?
The surname Gourd experienced a slight increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, it ranked at number 42,983 among all surnames in the United States. By 2010, it had moved up slightly to rank 42,790, signaling a relative increase of 0.45 percent. The number of individuals with the Gourd surname also increased from 474 in 2000 to 506 in 2010, a growth of approximately 6.75 percent. However, the proportion of the population bearing the Gourd surname per 100,000 people decreased by 5.56 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #42,983 | #42,790 | 0.45% |
| Count | 474 | 506 | 6.75% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.18 | 0.17 | -5.56% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Gourd
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there has been a shift in the ethnic identity associated with the Gourd surname, which is most commonly identified as White or American Indian and Alaskan Native. In 2000, 58.23 percent identified as White, increasing to 59.49 percent in 2010. Those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased from 33.54 percent in 2000 to 30.04 percent in 2010. The representation of the Gourd surname within the Hispanic community saw significant growth, increasing by 140.54 percent from 2000 to 2010. Meanwhile, those identifying as two or more races also saw an increase from 5.91 percent in 2000 to 6.52 percent in 2010. The surname did not appear among individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or Black during either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 58.23% | 59.49% | 2.16% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 33.54% | 30.04% | -10.44% |
| Two or More Races | 5.91% | 6.52% | 10.32% |
| Hispanic | 1.48% | 3.56% | 140.54% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |