NameCensus.

UK surname

Gaine

A surname derived from the Anglo-Norman French term for saddler or leather worker.

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Gaine surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 104, ranked #30,317, down from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Peckham, East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ceredigion, Powys and Warrington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gaine is 117 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.3%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

2010

117 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gaine had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 115 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gaine surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gaine surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gaine 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 60 #22,584
1861 historical 115 #18,880
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 90 #25,399
1901 historical 114 #21,166
1911 historical 86 #24,243
1997 modern 101 #26,774
1998 modern 103 #27,141
1999 modern 105 #27,035
2000 modern 105 #27,001
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 105 #27,123
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 99 #28,136
2005 modern 90 #29,527
2006 modern 93 #29,411
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 117 #27,557
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 115 #27,717
2013 modern 109 #29,209
2014 modern 110 #29,294
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

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Where Gaines are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Peckham, East and Holyhead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ceredigion, Powys, Warrington, Breckland and South Speyside and the Cabrach. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Peckham, East Kent
5 Holyhead Anglesey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ceredigion 009 Ceredigion
2 Powys 011 Powys
3 Warrington 018 Warrington
4 Breckland 016 Breckland
5 South Speyside and the Cabrach Moray

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gaine

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gaine

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Gaine is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gaine 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

Gaine 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 Gaine 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 Gaine, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gaine

The surname Gaine is of Anglo-Norman origin, deriving from the Old French personal name 'Gaine' or 'Gain'. This name itself is believed to have derived from the Germanic personal name 'Gaino', composed of the elements 'gai' meaning 'joyous' and 'no' meaning 'brave'. The name was introduced to Britain following the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Gaine is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Gaina'. This record suggests that the name had already become established in England by the late 11th century. Early spellings of the name included Gayne, Gain, and Gaine.

In the 13th century, the name is noted in the Curia Regis Rolls of Lincolnshire, where one Robert Gaine is mentioned in 1226. The Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273 also record a William Gaine.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various Middle English texts. In the Corpus Christi Guild Rolls of York from 1399, a Thomas Gayn is listed. The Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379 reference a Richard Gayne.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the name was Sir John Gaine (c.1430-1492), a prominent English soldier and landowner who fought in the Wars of the Roses. He served under Edward IV and was knighted for his service.

Another historical figure was Sir Fulwar Gaine (c.1560-1628), an English merchant and explorer who voyaged to the New World in the early 17th century. He established a successful trading post in what is now Virginia.

In the literary world, the name is associated with the 18th century English poet and dramatist Theophilus Gaine (1728-1786). His works included the popular play 'The Clandestine Marriage'.

The name Gaine has also been connected to various places in England, such as Gaine's Cross in Shropshire and Gaine's Hill in Wiltshire, both likely named after early bearers of the surname.

Other notable Gaines throughout history include the English philosopher William Gaine (1615-1679), the American politician Edmund Pendleton Gaine (1787-1849), and the Scottish artist John Gaine (1836-1912).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gaine families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gaine 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. Durham leads with 12 Gaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.52x.

County Total Index
Durham 12 7.52x
Middlesex 9 1.68x
Devon 6 5.37x
Lancashire 6 0.94x
Monmouthshire 5 12.89x
Somerset 4 4.63x
Surrey 3 1.15x
Hertfordshire 2 5.41x
Kent 2 1.09x
Norfolk 2 2.43x
Gloucestershire 1 0.95x
Lanarkshire 1 0.58x
Warwickshire 1 0.74x
Yorkshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 6 Gaines recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.80x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 6 43.80x
Monkwearmouth 6 392.16x
Blackburn 5 29.53x
Exeter Heavitree 4 481.93x
Panteg 4 655.74x
Weston 4 606.06x
Hammersmith London 3 22.71x
Hemel Hempstead 2 119.76x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 80.65x
Lambeth 2 4.28x
Barony 1 2.28x
Bristol St James In 1 64.52x
Exeter Allhallows On The 1 555.56x
Folkestone 1 28.17x
Fulham London 1 12.85x
Godalming 1 60.61x
Hackney London 1 3.33x
Haughton 1 107.53x
Holy Trinity 1 7.82x
Islington London 1 1.92x
Mile End Old Town London 1 8.76x
Milverton 1 250.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 11.63x
St Bartholomew Less 1 357.14x
St Woollos 1 23.09x
Stoke Newington London 1 23.92x
Tonbridge 1 15.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Martha 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Anne 1
Blanche 1
C.A. 1
Cecily 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Louisa 1
Maud 1
Rachael 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 3
William 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Henry 2
John 2
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
F.T. 1
Frederick 1
Herbert 1
Robert 1
Webster 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 Gaine households.

FAQ

Gaine surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gaine surname in 1881?

In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Gaine surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gaine surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Gaine a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Gaine surname mean?

A surname derived from the Anglo-Norman French term for saddler or leather worker.

What does the Gaine map show?

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