NameCensus.

UK surname

Gaba

A surname derived from the Arabic word "ghabah" meaning forest or woods.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Gaba surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 151, ranked #23,615, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing, Blackburn with Darwen and Hillingdon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gaba is 151 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15000.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

151

2016, ranked #23,615

Peak year

2016

151 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gaba had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016, ranked #23,615.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Gaba surname distribution map

The map shows where the Gaba surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Gaba surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gaba over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 31 #34,582
1998 modern 33 #34,532
1999 modern 42 #33,778
2000 modern 40 #33,976
2001 modern 38 #34,004
2002 modern 55 #32,831
2003 modern 56 #32,797
2004 modern 71 #31,578
2005 modern 83 #30,486
2006 modern 95 #29,113
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 104 #28,982
2010 modern 116 #27,704
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 134 #25,059
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 139 #25,093
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 151 #23,615

Geography

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Where Gabas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ealing, Blackburn with Darwen, Hillingdon and Lambeth. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ealing 017 Ealing
2 Blackburn with Darwen 004 Blackburn with Darwen
3 Ealing 037 Ealing
4 Hillingdon 019 Hillingdon
5 Lambeth 035 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gaba

These lists show first names that appear often with the Gaba surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gaba

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gaba, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Gaba surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Gaba household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Gaba is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gaba is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gaba falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gaba is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gaba, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gaba

The surname GABA originated in Spain during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "gaba," which means "braggart" or "boaster." This name was likely given as a nickname to someone who exhibited such traits.

In the 13th century, the name GABA appeared in records from the region of Andalusia, particularly in the city of Seville. It is possible that the name was initially spelled slightly differently, such as "Gava" or "Gaba," due to variations in scribal practices at the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname GABA can be found in a document from the year 1287, which mentions a certain Juan Gaba, a merchant from Seville. This suggests that the name had already become established in the area by the late 13th century.

During the Reconquista, when the Christian kingdoms of Spain were gradually reclaiming territory from the Moors, the surname GABA spread to other regions of the Iberian Peninsula. It is possible that some bearers of the name may have been involved in the military campaigns or migrated to newly conquered territories.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname GABA was Diego Gaba, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in 1519. He played a role in the conquest of the Aztec Empire and later settled in the New World.

Another prominent individual with the GABA surname was Catalina Gaba, a 17th-century Spanish poet and writer from Seville. She was known for her poems and plays, which were published and widely read during her lifetime (1595-1662).

In the 18th century, the GABA surname was found in various regions of Spain, including Andalusia, Castile, and the Basque Country. One notable bearer was Miguel Gaba y Díaz (1712-1784), a Spanish military officer and governor of several colonies in the Americas.

During the 19th century, the GABA surname continued to be present in Spain, and some individuals with this name emigrated to other parts of the world, such as the Americas and the Philippines, which were former Spanish colonies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gaba families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gaba surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 1 Gabas recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.35x.

County Total Index
Sussex 1 61.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eastbourne in Sussex leads with 1 Gabas recorded in 1881 and an index of 1428.57x.

Place Total Index
Eastbourne 1 1428.57x

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gaba surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Augusta 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Gaba households.

Occupation Count
Professor Of Languages 1

FAQ

Gaba surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gaba surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Gaba surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gaba surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016. That gives Gaba a modern rank of #23,615.

What does the Gaba surname mean?

A surname derived from the Arabic word "ghabah" meaning forest or woods.

What does the Gaba map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gaba bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.