NameCensus.

UK surname

Gaillard

A French surname derived from the Old French word "gaillard," meaning "lively, high-spirited, or bold."

In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Gaillard surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, up from #30,077 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rothesay Town, Uttlesford and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gaillard is 140 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 456.0%.

1881 census count

25

Ranked #30,077

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

2015

140 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gaillard had 25 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,077 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 54 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Gaillard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gaillard surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gaillard 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 32 #29,944
1881 historical 25 #30,077
1891 historical 41 #31,095
1901 historical 39 #29,799
1911 historical 54 #27,423
1997 modern 88 #28,611
1998 modern 90 #28,920
1999 modern 96 #28,326
2000 modern 99 #27,845
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 104 #27,303
2003 modern 98 #28,046
2004 modern 99 #28,136
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 98 #29,355
2009 modern 113 #27,520
2010 modern 134 #25,263
2011 modern 128 #25,793
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 136 #25,252
2014 modern 137 #25,345
2015 modern 140 #24,836
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Gaillards 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 Rothesay Town, Uttlesford, Leicester, South Oxfordshire and Chiltern. 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 Rothesay Town Argyll and Bute
2 Uttlesford 003 Uttlesford
3 Leicester 032 Leicester
4 South Oxfordshire 004 South Oxfordshire
5 Chiltern 001 Chiltern

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gaillard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gaillard

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Gaillard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Gaillard 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gaillard 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

Gaillard 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

Gaillard falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gaillard 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Gaillard

The surname Gaillard has its origins in France, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "gaillard," which means "gay" or "joyous." The name likely referred to someone with a lively or cheerful disposition.

In medieval times, the Gaillard family was prominent in the region of Normandy, France. Records show that a knight named Robert Gaillard participated in the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, fighting alongside William the Conqueror. His name appears in the famous Domesday Book, a survey of land ownership commissioned by William I in 1086.

The Gaillard surname can be traced back to various places in Normandy, such as the village of Gaillard in the department of Calvados. Other early spellings of the name include Gaillart, Gaillart, and Gailliard.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Gaillard surname was Guillaume Gaillard, a French poet and composer who lived in the 13th century. He was known for his contributions to the courtly love tradition and his works, such as the Roman de la Rose.

Another notable figure was Jean Gaillard, a French architect and engineer who lived from 1675 to 1737. He is best known for his design of the Château de Versailles, where he served as the Chief Architect under King Louis XIV.

In the 19th century, the Gaillard family produced several notable figures, including Auguste Gaillard (1817-1878), a French historian and archaeologist who specialized in the study of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. His works include "Recherches sur les Monnaies Grecques" and "Histoire de la Rivière de Gênes."

Pierre Gaillard (1808-1889) was a French painter and lithographer known for his landscape paintings and illustrations of rural life in France. His works were exhibited at the Paris Salon and are now part of various museum collections.

In the 20th century, Jean Gaillard (1904-1999) was a renowned French architect and urban planner. He was instrumental in the reconstruction and modernization of several cities in France after World War II, including Le Havre and Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gaillard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gaillard 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 18 Gaillards recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.77x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 18 5.77x
Channel Islands 7 75.68x
Lancashire 5 1.35x
Berkshire 1 4.27x
Kent 1 0.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helier in Channel Islands leads with 5 Gaillards recorded in 1881 and an index of 166.11x.

Place Total Index
St Helier 5 166.11x
Liverpool 4 17.79x
St George Hanover Square 4 72.73x
Westminster St James 4 124.61x
Willesden 4 136.05x
Fulham London 2 44.25x
St Marylebone London 2 12.00x
Trinity 2 952.38x
Edmonton 1 39.84x
Heap 1 51.02x
Hougham 1 158.73x
Kensington London 1 5.76x
Shrivenham 1 833.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Emilie 1
Floriter 1
Gabriel 1
Jeanne 1
Lawrence 1
Mary 1
Pauline 1
Sarah 1
Sylvie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Francis 2
Joseph 2
Adolph 1
Alfred 1
Antonie 1
Charles 1
Eugene 1
Frederick 1
Guillaume 1
Harry 1
John 1
Louis 1
Peter 1
Raould 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 Gaillard households.

FAQ

Gaillard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gaillard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Gaillard surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gaillard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Gaillard a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Gaillard surname mean?

A French surname derived from the Old French word "gaillard," meaning "lively, high-spirited, or bold."

What does the Gaillard map show?

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