NameCensus.

UK surname

Gabe

A surname of Biblical origins, referring to a person of stature or strength.

In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Gabe surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 141, ranked #24,753, down from #22,893 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Petherton, South and Thornford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea, Weymouth and Portland and West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gabe is 158 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.0%.

1881 census count

75

Ranked #22,893

Modern count

141

2016, ranked #24,753

Peak year

1911

158 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gabe had 75 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,893 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016, ranked #24,753.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 158 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gabe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gabe surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gabe 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 43 #25,518
1861 historical 67 #25,342
1881 historical 75 #22,893
1891 historical 119 #21,415
1901 historical 146 #18,335
1911 historical 158 #17,277
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 133 #23,308
1999 modern 137 #23,083
2000 modern 131 #23,672
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 139 #22,991
2003 modern 142 #22,460
2004 modern 147 #22,094
2005 modern 152 #21,572
2006 modern 154 #21,576
2007 modern 150 #22,212
2008 modern 141 #23,383
2009 modern 138 #24,276
2010 modern 140 #24,569
2011 modern 142 #24,182
2012 modern 133 #25,187
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 137 #25,226
2016 modern 141 #24,753

Geography

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Where Gabes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Petherton, South, Thornford, Merthyr Tydfil and Ilminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swansea, Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset and Broadland. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Petherton, South Somerset
3 Thornford Dorset
4 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
5 Ilminster Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swansea 001 Swansea
2 Weymouth and Portland 001 Weymouth and Portland
3 Swansea 020 Swansea
4 West Dorset 009 West Dorset
5 Broadland 014 Broadland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gabe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gabe

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Gabe 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

Gabe is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gabe falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gabe 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 Gabe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gabe

The surname Gabe has its origins in Germany and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old German word "geba," which means "gift." The name was initially given as a nickname to someone who was seen as a gift or blessing.

In its early days, the surname Gabe was found predominantly in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. It appears in several historical records from the late medieval period, such as the Nuremberg Chronicles, a famous illustrated world history book published in 1493.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gabe can be found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae," a collection of historical documents from Saxony, which mentions a "Johannes Gabe" in 1302. The name also appears in the "Bairische Landtafel," a Bavarian land register from the 14th century, where it is spelled as "Gebe."

During the Renaissance period, the Gabe surname gained recognition with the birth of Hans Gabe (1497-1562), a renowned German painter and printmaker from Nuremberg. His woodcut illustrations for the Bible and other religious texts were highly acclaimed during his time.

Another notable figure was Johann Gabe (1556-1634), a German theologian and philosopher from Würzburg. He was a professor at the University of Jena and is remembered for his contributions to the field of metaphysics.

In the 18th century, Johann Georg Gabe (1717-1782) was a prominent German composer and organist from Leipzig. He was a contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach and is known for his compositions for keyboard instruments.

The 19th century saw the rise of Wilhelm Gabe (1826-1892), a German politician and lawyer from Berlin. He served as a member of the Reichstag (German parliament) and was instrumental in shaping the legal system of the newly formed German Empire.

Over the centuries, the surname Gabe has also been associated with various place names, such as Gabefeld (meaning "gift field") and Gabenhausen (meaning "gift houses"). These place names reflect the historical significance of the name and its connection to the idea of a gift or blessing.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gabe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gabe 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. Somerset leads with 29 Gabes recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.63x.

County Total Index
Somerset 29 24.63x
Glamorgan 20 15.70x
Dorset 8 16.66x
Carmarthenshire 6 19.46x
Surrey 6 1.68x
Monmouthshire 4 7.56x
Cardiganshire 1 5.61x
Middlesex 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Merthyr Tydfil in Glamorgan leads with 15 Gabes recorded in 1881 and an index of 122.55x.

Place Total Index
Merthyr Tydfil 15 122.55x
Ilminster 11 1341.46x
Thornford 8 8000.00x
South Petherton 7 1147.54x
Yeovil 5 209.21x
Ilchester 4 2352.94x
Llangathen 4 1818.18x
Mynyddyslwyn 4 191.39x
Kingston On Thames 3 35.05x
Camberwell 2 4.28x
Clase 2 42.19x
Llanddarog 2 909.09x
Islington London 1 1.41x
Lampeterpont Stephen 1 333.33x
Llanwonno 1 21.83x
Lopen 1 1111.11x
Rotherhithe 1 11.06x
Stoke Under Hambdon 1 256.41x
Swansea Town 1 9.58x
Ystradyfodwg 1 8.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 4
Jane 4
Mary 3
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Martha 2
Amanda 1
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Celia 1
Eleanor 1
Elvira 1
Emma 1
Gorgina 1
Ida 1
Lavinia 1
Lily 1
Maria 1
Rachel 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1
Welmenia 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Gabe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gabe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Gabe surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gabe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016. That gives Gabe a modern rank of #24,753.

What does the Gabe surname mean?

A surname of Biblical origins, referring to a person of stature or strength.

What does the Gabe map show?

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