NameCensus.

UK surname

Gadsby

An English habitational surname derived from the town of Gaddesby in Leicestershire.

In the 1881 census there were 1,227 people recorded with the Gadsby surname, ranking it #3,299 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,763, ranked #3,560, down from #3,299 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Anglesey, Tamworth and Derbyshire Dales.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gadsby is 1,831 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.7%.

1881 census count

1,227

Ranked #3,299

Modern count

1,763

2016, ranked #3,560

Peak year

2010

1,831 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gadsby had 1,227 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,299 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,763 in 2016, ranked #3,560.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,544 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gadsby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gadsby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gadsby 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 775 #3,450
1861 historical 812 #3,388
1881 historical 1,227 #3,299
1891 historical 1,258 #3,429
1901 historical 1,522 #3,383
1911 historical 1,544 #3,140
1997 modern 1,718 #3,470
1998 modern 1,789 #3,463
1999 modern 1,796 #3,486
2000 modern 1,772 #3,509
2001 modern 1,746 #3,480
2002 modern 1,773 #3,516
2003 modern 1,747 #3,489
2004 modern 1,757 #3,474
2005 modern 1,757 #3,443
2006 modern 1,772 #3,421
2007 modern 1,776 #3,451
2008 modern 1,775 #3,476
2009 modern 1,806 #3,498
2010 modern 1,831 #3,514
2011 modern 1,831 #3,483
2012 modern 1,752 #3,548
2013 modern 1,792 #3,543
2014 modern 1,802 #3,550
2015 modern 1,766 #3,571
2016 modern 1,763 #3,560

Geography

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Where Gadsbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Anglesey, Tamworth, Derbyshire Dales and Derby. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Anglesey 001 Isle of Anglesey
2 Tamworth 004 Tamworth
3 Derbyshire Dales 009 Derbyshire Dales
4 Derby 025 Derby
5 Derbyshire Dales 010 Derbyshire Dales

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gadsby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gadsby

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gadsby, 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 Gadsby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gadsby 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Gadsby is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gadsby is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gadsby 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 Gadsby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gadsby

The surname Gadsby has its origins in England, emerging in the late medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "gad," meaning "a goad or rod," and "by," meaning "a village or settlement." Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived in a village associated with cattle farming or herding.

Gadsby is also thought to be related to the place name Gaddesden, a village in Hertfordshire, England. The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Hertfordshire in 1273 as "Richard de Gatesbury."

The name can be found in various historical records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where a similar name, "Gatesbi," is mentioned in relation to land holdings in Lincolnshire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Gadsby was John Gadsby, born around 1550 in Barton, Oxfordshire. He was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a churchwarden in the parish church.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Gadsby (1773-1844), an English Baptist minister and hymnwriter. He was known for his influential sermons and wrote several hymns that were widely sung in Baptist churches.

In the 19th century, Henry Gadsby (1827-1908) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Leicestershire. He made his fortune in the hosiery industry and donated generously to various charitable causes in his hometown.

Mary Gadsby (1880-1962) was a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and the right to vote. She was arrested several times for her involvement in protests and demonstrations.

During World War II, Flight Lieutenant John Gadsby (1920-1944) was a Royal Air Force pilot who served with distinction and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery in combat missions over Europe.

While the surname Gadsby is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has maintained a presence throughout various regions of England and has a rich historical legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gadsby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gadsby 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. Derbyshire leads with 234 Gadsbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.50x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 234 12.50x
Leicestershire 128 9.65x
Middlesex 122 1.02x
Staffordshire 114 2.82x
Lincolnshire 101 5.28x
Nottinghamshire 87 5.40x
Yorkshire 65 0.55x
Northamptonshire 59 5.25x
Surrey 57 0.98x
Warwickshire 44 1.46x
Cambridgeshire 39 5.15x
Lancashire 31 0.22x
Essex 30 1.27x
Bedfordshire 26 4.20x
Huntingdonshire 18 7.58x
Worcestershire 14 0.90x
Hampshire 12 0.49x
Glamorgan 9 0.43x
Kent 7 0.17x
Sussex 7 0.35x
Norfolk 6 0.33x
Renfrewshire 4 0.43x
Anglesey 3 1.42x
Cheshire 2 0.08x
Northumberland 2 0.11x
Berkshire 1 0.11x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Herefordshire 1 0.20x
Hertfordshire 1 0.12x
Oxfordshire 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. Burton Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 32 Gadsbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.88x.

Place Total Index
Burton Upon Trent 32 33.88x
Nottingham St Mary 29 6.96x
Islington London 26 2.24x
Lambeth 25 2.40x
Basford 24 32.30x
Heather 22 1202.19x
Litchurch 22 29.20x
Aston 19 2.29x
Stoke Upon Trent 18 4.20x
Edlaston 17 2000.00x
St Pancras London 17 1.77x
Ashborne 16 125.69x
Willingham 16 247.30x
Breedon 15 510.20x
St Marylebone London 15 2.35x
West Ham 15 2.88x
Derby St Werburgh 14 12.95x
Newington 14 3.17x
Normanton 14 88.55x
Swepstone 14 651.16x
Higham Ferrers 13 212.77x
Loughborough 13 21.61x
Godmanchester 12 133.63x
Melbourne 12 93.75x
Leicester St Margaret 11 3.40x
Leicester St Mary 11 10.27x
Newark Upon Trent 11 18.99x
Northampton St Sepulchre 11 19.22x
Kneesall 10 862.07x
Souldrop 10 1030.93x
Yeaveley 10 1204.82x
Edingale 9 1216.22x
Hoyland Nether 9 30.96x
Stamford All Sts 9 84.03x
Stapenhill 9 32.29x
Whittington 9 34.74x
Brigstock 8 187.35x
Derby St Alkmund 8 14.26x
Donington 8 116.45x
Fen Drayton 8 567.38x
Hackney London 8 1.19x
Llandaff 8 11.55x
Manchester 8 1.25x
St Marythe Less 8 173.54x
Stainby 8 1269.84x
Walsall Foreign 8 3.84x
Wombwell 8 23.15x
Edmonton 7 7.26x
Felmersham 7 348.26x
Leeds 7 1.05x
Peterborough 7 8.60x
Ringwood 7 44.64x
Sandiacre 7 104.79x
Sheffield 7 1.86x
Shenfield 7 114.38x
St Peterat Arches 7 319.63x
St Swithin Lincoln 7 23.29x
Stone 7 13.56x
Tatenhill 7 256.41x
Alfreton 6 10.55x
Belper 6 16.53x
Ilkeston 6 11.43x
Kidderminster Borough 6 6.56x
Mancetter 6 69.20x
Marston Montgomery 6 382.17x
Ravensdale Park 6 3157.89x
Sheepshed 6 33.02x
St Mark Lincoln 6 147.06x
Whitwood 6 35.65x
Wigston Magna 6 34.11x
Wyke In Bradford 6 28.32x
Ashby De La Zouch 5 16.27x
Battersea 5 1.14x
Chelsea London 5 1.39x
Cubley 5 406.50x
Desborough 5 59.17x
Fulham London 5 2.88x
Hampton London 5 25.43x
Ripley 5 21.60x
Sandy 5 45.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 87
John 78
George 65
Thomas 48
Charles 28
Joseph 28
James 26
Edward 16
Frederick 14
Arthur 13
Henry 13
Robert 13
Samuel 11
Walter 11
Alfred 10
Herbert 10
Albert 7
Ernest 6
Frank 6
Fred 6
Harry 6
Richard 6
Fredrick 4
Edwin 3
Thos. 3
Adolphus 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Eli 2
Jesse 2
Johnson 2
Norman 2
Peter 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2
Willm. 2
Amdan 1
Amos 1
Bartoe 1
Bertram 1
Ebenezer 1
Ed 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Ephraim 1
Geore 1
Horace 1
Ingle 1
Isaac 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gadsby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gadsby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,227 people were recorded with the Gadsby surname. That placed it at #3,299 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gadsby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,763 in 2016. That gives Gadsby a modern rank of #3,560.

What does the Gadsby surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from the town of Gaddesby in Leicestershire.

What does the Gadsby map show?

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