NameCensus.

UK surname

Gainey

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Gaoithín," meaning "descendant of Gaoithín," a personal name meaning "little wise one."

In the 1881 census there were 162 people recorded with the Gainey surname, ranking it #14,746 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 356, ranked #12,978, up from #14,746 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Bristol and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gainey is 415 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 119.8%.

1881 census count

162

Ranked #14,746

Modern count

356

2016, ranked #12,978

Peak year

1998

415 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gainey had 162 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,746 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 356 in 2016, ranked #12,978.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 235 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gainey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gainey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gainey 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 115 #15,634
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 162 #14,746
1891 historical 182 #15,983
1901 historical 197 #15,272
1911 historical 235 #13,484
1997 modern 387 #11,275
1998 modern 415 #11,061
1999 modern 402 #11,403
2000 modern 392 #11,564
2001 modern 383 #11,580
2002 modern 372 #12,077
2003 modern 371 #11,901
2004 modern 357 #12,272
2005 modern 363 #12,037
2006 modern 365 #12,076
2007 modern 367 #12,152
2008 modern 363 #12,359
2009 modern 364 #12,584
2010 modern 365 #12,825
2011 modern 356 #12,943
2012 modern 352 #12,913
2013 modern 365 #12,766
2014 modern 373 #12,633
2015 modern 356 #13,009
2016 modern 356 #12,978

Geography

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Where Gaineys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, St Mary Whitechapel, Clifton and Childwall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Bristol, Liverpool and South Gloucestershire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
3 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
4 Clifton Gloucestershire
5 Childwall Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 004 Wiltshire
2 Bristol 002 Bristol, City of
3 Liverpool 057 Liverpool
4 South Gloucestershire 003 South Gloucestershire
5 Wiltshire 011 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gainey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gainey

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

Gainey is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gainey

The surname Gainey originated in England, with records dating back to the early 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Gainey, located in the county of Yorkshire. The name is thought to have evolved from the Old English words "gegn," meaning "against," and "ey," meaning "island" or "dry ground surrounded by marsh."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gaineie." This reference suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records as "Gaynay," "Gainey," and "Gaineye," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that period. One notable bearer of the name was William Gainey, who was mentioned in the Yorkshire Feet of Fines records in 1293.

During the 16th century, the name spread to other parts of England, including Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. In 1537, a record from the Charters of Grimsby mentions a John Gainey, who held land in the area.

In the 17th century, the surname gained prominence with the birth of John Gainey (1636-1690), a prominent English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Badwell Ash in Suffolk.

Another notable figure was Sir Roger Gainey (1714-1789), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

As the British Empire expanded, the surname spread to various colonies and territories. In the 18th century, records show the presence of the Gainey family in North America, with individuals such as Thomas Gainey (1745-1812), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Virginia.

Other notable bearers of the surname include James Gainey (1810-1891), an American politician who served as a member of the Arkansas State Senate, and Mary Gainey (1884-1962), a Canadian artist and painter known for her landscape paintings of the Canadian Rockies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gainey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gainey 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. Wiltshire leads with 66 Gaineys recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.23x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 66 47.23x
Glamorgan 17 6.18x
Gloucestershire 17 5.49x
Middlesex 15 0.95x
Surrey 10 1.30x
Lancashire 9 0.48x
Monmouthshire 8 7.00x
Derbyshire 6 2.43x
Somerset 4 1.57x
Sussex 4 1.50x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.41x
Hampshire 1 0.31x
Kent 1 0.19x
Warwickshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kington St Michael in Wiltshire leads with 38 Gaineys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15200.00x.

Place Total Index
Kington St Michael 38 15200.00x
Cardiff St John 10 111.23x
Whitley 8 4210.53x
Yatton Keynell 8 2758.62x
Aberystruth 7 69.51x
Kensington London 7 7.97x
Llandaff 7 76.50x
Battersea 6 10.32x
Clifton 6 38.29x
Garston 6 108.50x
Newbold Dunston 6 255.32x
Chippenham 5 170.65x
Bedminster 4 16.74x
South Hamlet 4 208.33x
Camberwell 3 2.97x
Nottingham St Mary 3 5.45x
Scotforth 3 245.90x
Stratton St Margaret 3 140.19x
Whitechapel London 3 19.26x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 6.85x
Hove 2 17.11x
Newtimber 2 1666.67x
St George In East London 2 13.46x
Swindon 2 18.45x
Westbury On Severn East 2 28.53x
Calne 1 34.72x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.41x
Enfield 1 9.64x
Hillingdon 1 19.84x
Kington Langley 1 322.58x
Newport 1 18.35x
Nymphsfield 1 666.67x
Penton Grafton 1 400.00x
Preston 1 666.67x
Rotherhithe 1 5.12x
Tottenham 1 3.97x
Uley 1 175.44x
Wellesbourne Hastings 1 263.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 7
Ellen 4
Charlotte 3
Emily 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Anne 2
Fanny 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Angelina 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Hellen 1
Honorah 1
Juliana 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Margeret 1
Minny 1
Pheobe 1
Rosa 1
Ruth 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
George 8
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Charles 5
Frederick 4
James 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
John 2
Richd. 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Worthy 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Charls 1
David 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Jonas 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Rich. 1
Sidney 1
Thomas 1
Warthy 1

FAQ

Gainey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gainey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 162 people were recorded with the Gainey surname. That placed it at #14,746 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gainey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 356 in 2016. That gives Gainey a modern rank of #12,978.

What does the Gainey surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Ó Gaoithín," meaning "descendant of Gaoithín," a personal name meaning "little wise one."

What does the Gainey map show?

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