NameCensus.

UK surname

Gabb

An English surname derived from a medieval nickname for a chatterbox or loudmouth.

In the 1881 census there were 552 people recorded with the Gabb surname, ranking it #6,255 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 541, ranked #9,407, down from #6,255 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and North Nibley, Wotton-under-Edge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, Stroud and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gabb is 733 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.0%.

1881 census count

552

Ranked #6,255

Modern count

541

2016, ranked #9,407

Peak year

1911

733 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gabb had 552 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,255 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 541 in 2016, ranked #9,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 733 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gabb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gabb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gabb 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
1851 historical 412 #5,889
1861 historical 469 #5,536
1881 historical 552 #6,255
1891 historical 652 #5,956
1901 historical 681 #6,414
1911 historical 733 #5,853
1997 modern 570 #8,442
1998 modern 584 #8,541
1999 modern 598 #8,458
2000 modern 584 #8,567
2001 modern 579 #8,495
2002 modern 609 #8,368
2003 modern 562 #8,700
2004 modern 549 #8,878
2005 modern 519 #9,200
2006 modern 531 #9,063
2007 modern 542 #8,991
2008 modern 550 #8,965
2009 modern 565 #8,980
2010 modern 592 #8,874
2011 modern 593 #8,767
2012 modern 573 #8,900
2013 modern 577 #8,995
2014 modern 577 #9,047
2015 modern 566 #9,096
2016 modern 541 #9,407

Geography

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Where Gabbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes, North Nibley, Wotton-under-Edge, Cam and Berkeley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, Stroud, Huntingdonshire, Cardiff and Caerphilly. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 North Nibley, Wotton-under-Edge Gloucestershire
4 Cam Gloucestershire
5 Berkeley Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 001 Cotswold
2 Stroud 011 Stroud
3 Huntingdonshire 014 Huntingdonshire
4 Cardiff 049 Cardiff
5 Caerphilly 001 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gabb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gabb

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gabb, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Gabb surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gabb household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gabb is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gabb is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gabb falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gabb is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gabb

The surname GABB originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "gæbb," which means "gap" or "opening." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a gap or opening in a landscape feature, such as a hill or a forest.

The earliest recorded instance of the name GABB can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Godric Gabb, who held lands in Gloucestershire.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records and manuscripts, often with different spellings such as Gabbe, Gab, and Gabe. One notable example is the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which listed a Richard Gabbe as a taxpayer.

In the 14th century, the name GABB was found in several places across England, including Oxfordshire, where a John Gabb was listed as a resident in the Hundred Rolls of 1279. Another early record from this period is the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, which mentioned a William Gab in 1348.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname GABB was Sir John Gabb, who was born in Gloucestershire around 1420. He served as a member of Parliament for the borough of Gloucester during the reigns of Henry VI and Edward IV.

In the 16th century, the surname GABB was well-established in various parts of England, including Norfolk, where a family with this name held lands near the village of Hingham. A notable member of this family was Thomas Gabb, who was born in 1525 and served as a justice of the peace.

Another prominent figure with the surname GABB was Sir William Gabb, who was born in Oxfordshire in 1580. He was a successful merchant and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1646.

During the 17th century, the GABB family had a significant presence in the county of Berkshire. One notable member was John Gabb, who was born in 1625 and served as the High Sheriff of Berkshire in 1679.

In the 18th century, the surname GABB was found in various parts of England, including Staffordshire, where a family with this name held lands near the town of Stafford. One notable member was Richard Gabb, who was born in 1720 and served as a member of Parliament for the borough of Stafford.

As the surname GABB spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland, where variations such as Gabbie and Gabey emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gabb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gabb 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. Gloucestershire leads with 193 Gabbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.24x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 193 18.24x
Middlesex 82 1.52x
Worcestershire 42 5.96x
Monmouthshire 38 9.74x
Glamorgan 26 2.77x
Surrey 26 0.99x
Warwickshire 25 1.84x
Yorkshire 16 0.30x
Kent 14 0.76x
Somerset 14 1.61x
Staffordshire 14 0.77x
Nottinghamshire 11 1.51x
Essex 10 0.94x
Hertfordshire 10 2.69x
Cheshire 8 0.67x
Wiltshire 7 1.47x
Lancashire 5 0.08x
Herefordshire 4 1.81x
Derbyshire 3 0.36x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Devon 1 0.09x
Norfolk 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 1.56x
Sussex 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Nibley in Gloucestershire leads with 30 Gabbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1986.76x.

Place Total Index
North Nibley 30 1986.76x
St Marylebone London 22 7.64x
Cam 16 492.31x
Birmingham 14 3.09x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 13 13.05x
Cheltenham 13 15.93x
Westbury On Severn East 13 54.35x
Aberystruth 10 29.10x
Bishop Stortford 10 80.52x
Longney 10 1282.05x
Ribbesford 10 170.65x
St Woollos 10 22.98x
West Ham 10 4.25x
Bedminster 9 11.03x
Hunslet 9 10.80x
Rodborough 9 176.13x
Aston 8 2.14x
Broadway 8 264.03x
Churchdown 8 379.15x
Monks Coppenhall 8 17.81x
Paddington London 8 4.03x
Stroud 8 38.85x
Swansea Higher 8 81.80x
Tettenhall 8 71.88x
Wotton Under Edge 8 128.21x
Christchurch 7 58.04x
Nottingham St Mary 7 3.72x
Shoreditch London 7 2.99x
Wotton St Mary 7 127.50x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.56x
Clapham 6 8.90x
Kings Norton 6 9.50x
Newington 6 3.01x
Roath 6 14.06x
St George Hanover Square 6 6.31x
Standish 6 652.17x
Swindon 6 16.22x
Woolwich 6 8.82x
Berkeley Alkington 5 625.00x
Cardiff St John 5 16.30x
Cardiff St Mary 5 9.66x
Hornsey 5 7.33x
Northfield 5 37.43x
Openshaw 5 16.68x
St Martin Ludgate London 5 1851.85x
Westminster St James 5 9.02x
Berkeley 4 67.91x
Clerkenwell London 4 3.14x
Clifton In York 4 35.78x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.82x
Droitwich St Nicholas 4 153.26x
Frampton On Severn 4 224.72x
Gloucester Barton St 4 64.52x
Grosmont 4 310.08x
Mansfield 4 15.90x
Minchinhampton 4 47.45x
Newport 4 21.51x
Randwick 4 192.31x
Avening 3 80.21x
Camberwell 3 0.87x
Derby St Peter 3 11.15x
Ledbury 3 39.47x
Leigh 3 35.09x
Rockhampton 3 731.71x
St Anne Soho London 3 9.74x
St Pancras London 3 0.69x
Sutton 3 15.77x
Tytherington 3 365.85x
Willenhall 3 8.80x
Abergavenny 2 13.70x
Barnes 2 17.99x
Charfield 2 192.31x
Ealing 2 4.15x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 2 10.33x
Greenwich 2 2.33x
Harborne 2 3.43x
Kensington London 2 0.67x
Lee 2 7.49x
Llanwonno 2 5.93x
Welburn In Malton 2 192.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 21
Ann 17
Sarah 16
Emma 13
Caroline 11
Jane 11
Annie 9
Edith 7
Emily 7
Alice 6
Eliza 6
Clara 5
Ellen 5
Agnes 4
Amelia 4
Elizth. 4
Florence 4
Kate 4
Blanche 3
Charlotte 3
Frances 3
Gertrude 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Louisa 3
Matilda 3
Ada 2
Catherine 2
Constance 2
Eleanor 2
Elizh. 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Lilian 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Maud 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Amie 1
Elizath.A. 1
Ella 1
Zipporah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
George 27
John 24
Henry 17
Thomas 16
Charles 12
Alfred 10
Albert 9
James 9
Joseph 6
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Richard 5
Walter 5
Harry 4
Daniel 3
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Geo. 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Baker 2
Christopher 2
Edgar 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Benjn. 1
Cl.Fredrick 1
Edward 1
Evan 1
F. 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Harrold 1
J. 1
Jackson 1
Jessie 1
Leathes 1
Leonard 1
Leslie 1
Lewis 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Morton 1
Peter 1
Wm.Chas. 1

FAQ

Gabb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gabb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 552 people were recorded with the Gabb surname. That placed it at #6,255 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gabb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 541 in 2016. That gives Gabb a modern rank of #9,407.

What does the Gabb surname mean?

An English surname derived from a medieval nickname for a chatterbox or loudmouth.

What does the Gabb map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gabb 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.