NameCensus.

UK surname

Gabriel

Of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my strength" or "man of God."

In the 1881 census there were 792 people recorded with the Gabriel surname, ranking it #4,700 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,495, ranked #2,650, up from #4,700 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Ruabon and Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gwynedd, Tunbridge Wells and Wrexham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gabriel is 2,495 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 215.0%.

1881 census count

792

Ranked #4,700

Modern count

2,495

2016, ranked #2,650

Peak year

2014

2,495 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gabriel had 792 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,700 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,495 in 2016, ranked #2,650.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,075 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Gabriel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gabriel surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gabriel 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 469 #5,291
1861 historical 515 #5,083
1881 historical 792 #4,700
1891 historical 896 #4,594
1901 historical 984 #4,824
1911 historical 1,075 #4,314
1997 modern 1,882 #3,202
1998 modern 1,973 #3,188
1999 modern 2,013 #3,166
2000 modern 1,991 #3,172
2001 modern 1,939 #3,187
2002 modern 2,032 #3,133
2003 modern 2,008 #3,107
2004 modern 2,089 #3,002
2005 modern 2,122 #2,919
2006 modern 2,155 #2,883
2007 modern 2,213 #2,845
2008 modern 2,263 #2,810
2009 modern 2,377 #2,756
2010 modern 2,443 #2,743
2011 modern 2,421 #2,742
2012 modern 2,401 #2,708
2013 modern 2,481 #2,686
2014 modern 2,495 #2,688
2015 modern 2,486 #2,663
2016 modern 2,495 #2,650

Geography

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Where Gabriels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Ruabon, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gwynedd, Tunbridge Wells, Wrexham and Cornwall. 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 Ruabon Denbighshire
3 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
4 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gwynedd 017 Gwynedd
2 Tunbridge Wells 009 Tunbridge Wells
3 Wrexham 012 Wrexham
4 Wrexham 010 Wrexham
5 Cornwall 003 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gabriel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gabriel

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Gabriel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Gabriel 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Gabriel is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gabriel 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

Gabriel falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gabriel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gabriel

The surname GABRIEL originated in Spain and Portugal, derived from the Hebrew personal name "Gavri'el" meaning "man of God" or "God is my strength." It gained popularity in these regions during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname GABRIEL can be traced back to the 12th century, appearing in various Spanish and Portuguese manuscripts, including the Codex Calixtinus, a 12th-century manuscript from the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The name was also found in the Libro de las Behetrías, a 14th-century census of landowners in the Crown of Castile.

In the 15th century, GABRIEL became a more widespread surname, particularly in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura in Spain, as well as in parts of Portugal. The surname was often associated with families of Jewish or converso (converted from Judaism) descent, reflecting the influence of Hebrew names in these communities.

Notable historical figures with the surname GABRIEL include Pedro Gabriel, a 16th-century Spanish painter known for his work in the Cathedral of Seville, and Antonio Gabriel, a 17th-century Portuguese composer and organist who served at the Convent of Santa Cruz in Coimbra.

In the 18th century, the surname GABRIEL appeared in various historical records in Spain and Portugal, such as the Catastro de Ensenada, a census of land and property carried out in the Crown of Castile between 1749 and 1756. The name was also present in the baptismal records of several parishes across the Iberian Peninsula.

Other notable individuals with the surname GABRIEL include Juan Gabriel Valdés (1509-1541), a Spanish writer and philosopher who advocated for religious tolerance, and Miguel Gabriel Sarriá (1781-1863), a Spanish architect and engineer known for his work on the Puente Nuevo bridge in Ronda, Spain.

Throughout its history, the surname GABRIEL has maintained its connection to its Hebrew roots, reflecting the diverse cultural influences that have shaped the Iberian Peninsula over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gabriel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gabriel 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. Middlesex leads with 136 Gabriels recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.76x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 136 1.76x
Lancashire 91 0.99x
Kent 74 2.80x
Surrey 55 1.46x
Devon 46 2.86x
Glamorgan 45 3.34x
Denbighshire 30 10.27x
Somerset 26 2.09x
Sussex 25 1.92x
Angus 21 2.93x
Cheshire 21 1.23x
Monmouthshire 21 3.76x
Merionethshire 19 13.42x
Aberdeenshire 17 2.37x
Flintshire 14 6.73x
Yorkshire 14 0.18x
Gloucestershire 13 0.86x
Carmarthenshire 12 3.68x
Worcestershire 11 1.09x
Berkshire 10 1.72x
Staffordshire 10 0.38x
Cornwall 8 0.91x
Brecknockshire 7 4.53x
Durham 7 0.30x
Essex 7 0.46x
Lanarkshire 7 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.67x
Leicestershire 6 0.70x
Cumberland 5 0.75x
Derbyshire 4 0.33x
Shropshire 4 0.60x
Warwickshire 4 0.21x
Wiltshire 3 0.44x
Banffshire 2 1.25x
Channel Islands 2 0.87x
Royal Navy 2 2.17x
Bedfordshire 1 0.25x
Dorset 1 0.20x
Hampshire 1 0.06x
Inverness-shire 1 0.43x
Kincardineshire 1 1.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.41x
Radnorshire 1 1.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tonbridge in Kent leads with 48 Gabriels recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.43x.

Place Total Index
Tonbridge 48 50.43x
Barnstaple 24 94.97x
Ruabon 23 57.24x
St Pancras London 23 3.69x
Newington 21 7.35x
Bedwellty 19 19.24x
Liverpool 19 3.41x
Everton 17 5.81x
Dundee 15 5.61x
Streatham 15 26.14x
Toxteth Park 14 4.50x
Frant 13 140.69x
Bethnal Green London 11 3.27x
Islington London 11 1.47x
Swansea Town 11 9.96x
Festiniog 10 33.48x
Paddington London 10 3.52x
Reading St Mary 10 21.50x
Hackney London 9 2.08x
Llanfihangel 9 382.98x
Preston 9 3.66x
St George Martyr London 9 57.43x
Whitechapel London 9 11.80x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 8 5.97x
Deptford St Paul 8 3.93x
Llantwit Vairdre 8 52.84x
Monquhitter 8 107.82x
Sedgley 8 8.25x
Advent 7 1186.44x
Barwick 7 560.00x
Birkenhead 7 5.14x
Clerkenwell London 7 3.83x
Goole 7 54.52x
Landkey 7 443.04x
Stansty 7 217.39x
Walthamstow 7 12.74x
Barrow In Furness 6 4.81x
Clapham 6 6.20x
Gateshead 6 3.48x
Hastings St Leonards 6 31.30x
Kings Norton 6 6.62x
Kingston Seymour 6 769.23x
Leicester St Nicholas 6 123.46x
Lewisham 6 4.26x
Llangelynin 6 198.68x
Llansamlet Lower 6 49.22x
Lymm 6 48.35x
Maescar 6 576.92x
Mile End Old Town London 6 3.64x
Swansea St Thomas 6 44.35x
Woolwich 6 6.15x
Ystradyfodwg 6 5.08x
Bitton Oldland 5 32.24x
Bow London 5 5.08x
Kensington London 5 1.16x
Liff Benvie 5 4.60x
Penwortham 5 114.94x
Rockcliff 5 241.55x
Tryddyn 5 110.86x
Windle 5 9.68x
Barony 4 0.63x
Bideford 4 23.19x
Birmingham 4 0.62x
Chiswick 4 9.46x
Clifton 4 5.22x
Dudley 4 3.26x
Hunslet 4 3.35x
Knutsford Nether 4 38.76x
Manchester 4 0.97x
Mansfield 4 11.09x
Overton 4 181.82x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 3.22x
Shrewsbury St Mary 4 15.17x
St Clement Danes London 4 24.98x
St Luke London 4 3.22x
Weston 4 41.80x
Wilne 4 144.40x
Hawarden 3 18.37x
Lambeth 3 0.44x
Llanddausaint 3 177.51x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 42
William 38
Thomas 30
Edward 15
George 15
Henry 15
Charles 14
Joseph 14
Richard 14
Robert 14
James 13
Arthur 7
David 6
Frederick 5
Hugh 5
Lewis 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Benjamin 3
Ernest 3
Michael 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Cecil 2
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Evan 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Howell 2
Isaac 2
Jacob 2
Joshua 2
Montague 2
Percy 2
Solomon 2
Willie 2
Arnold 1
Braham 1
C.H. 1
Cambel 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
J.W.B.C. 1
Wm.Fred. 1

FAQ

Gabriel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gabriel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 792 people were recorded with the Gabriel surname. That placed it at #4,700 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gabriel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,495 in 2016. That gives Gabriel a modern rank of #2,650.

What does the Gabriel surname mean?

Of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is my strength" or "man of God."

What does the Gabriel map show?

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