NameCensus.

UK surname

Gains

A surname derived from the French word "gain," meaning profit or earnings.

In the 1881 census there were 382 people recorded with the Gains surname, ranking it #8,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 349, ranked #13,189, down from #8,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bramley, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hart, Liverpool and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gains is 415 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.6%.

1881 census count

382

Ranked #8,222

Modern count

349

2016, ranked #13,189

Peak year

1901

415 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gains had 382 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016, ranked #13,189.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 415 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gains surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gains surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gains 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 306 #7,524
1861 historical 366 #6,987
1881 historical 382 #8,222
1891 historical 355 #9,721
1901 historical 415 #9,236
1911 historical 300 #11,441
1997 modern 337 #12,522
1998 modern 355 #12,418
1999 modern 342 #12,829
2000 modern 347 #12,642
2001 modern 336 #12,721
2002 modern 341 #12,864
2003 modern 341 #12,655
2004 modern 334 #12,897
2005 modern 336 #12,767
2006 modern 342 #12,652
2007 modern 348 #12,637
2008 modern 350 #12,694
2009 modern 351 #12,940
2010 modern 356 #13,071
2011 modern 345 #13,221
2012 modern 362 #12,615
2013 modern 361 #12,861
2014 modern 356 #13,098
2015 modern 358 #12,942
2016 modern 349 #13,189

Geography

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Where Gains' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bramley, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Farnborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hart, Liverpool, Harrogate, Bolsover and East Lindsey. 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 Bramley Hampshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 Farnborough Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hart 006 Hart
2 Liverpool 031 Liverpool
3 Harrogate 004 Harrogate
4 Bolsover 005 Bolsover
5 East Lindsey 003 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gains

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gains

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gains 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

Gains is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gains falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gains 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 Gains, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gains

The surname Gains is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "gænan," which means "to gain" or "to obtain." The name likely referred to someone who had acquired land, wealth, or some other valuable possession.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Gains can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property values commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Willelmus Gains in the county of Lincolnshire.

Throughout the medieval period, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Gayne, Gayn, and Gaine, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling practices of the time. Some of these variations were also influenced by regional dialects and local place names.

In the 14th century, records from the town of Colchester in Essex mention a prominent merchant named John Gains, who was involved in the wool trade. This suggests that the name was well-established among the emerging middle class of merchants and tradesmen during that period.

One notable figure with the surname Gains was Sir Thomas Gains (1522-1594), an English lawyer and politician who served as the Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the administration of justice and the management of the royal finances.

Another individual of note was John Gains (1680-1756), an English theologian and author who wrote several works on religious topics, including "A Dissertation on the True Explication of the Bible" and "An Enquiry into the Faith and Practice of the Early Christians."

In the 18th century, William Gains (1714-1784) was a renowned English landscape architect and garden designer. He was responsible for creating many beautiful gardens and landscapes throughout the country, including the grounds of Stowe House in Buckinghamshire.

The 19th century saw the rise of Edward Gains (1819-1891), a prominent British politician and Member of Parliament. He was known for his advocacy of social reforms and his support for workers' rights and education.

Finally, in the early 20th century, Alfred Gains (1892-1969) was a notable English artist and painter. He was particularly known for his landscapes and rural scenes depicting the English countryside.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gains families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gains 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. Yorkshire leads with 64 Gains' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.73x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 64 1.73x
Hampshire 50 6.55x
Kent 47 3.70x
Middlesex 45 1.21x
Surrey 31 1.71x
Lancashire 20 0.45x
Derbyshire 19 3.26x
Durham 16 1.44x
Sussex 14 2.23x
Berkshire 11 3.93x
Devon 10 1.29x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.59x
Herefordshire 5 3.27x
Staffordshire 5 0.40x
Worcestershire 5 1.03x
Cornwall 4 0.95x
Monmouthshire 4 1.48x
Northamptonshire 4 1.14x
Somerset 4 0.67x
Leicestershire 3 0.73x
Warwickshire 3 0.32x
Lincolnshire 2 0.34x
Perthshire 2 1.20x
Brecknockshire 1 1.34x
Caithness 1 1.96x
Channel Islands 1 0.91x
Glamorgan 1 0.15x
Northumberland 1 0.18x
Suffolk 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bramley in Hampshire leads with 18 Gains' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3157.89x.

Place Total Index
Bramley 18 3157.89x
Westfield 11 820.90x
Folkestone 9 36.50x
Gillingham 9 34.34x
St Andrew Holborn London 9 55.80x
Windlesham 9 263.93x
Amotherby 8 2222.22x
Binfield 8 372.09x
Hackney London 8 3.83x
Nottingham St Mary 8 6.16x
Odiham 8 238.81x
Basing 7 489.51x
Borrowby In 7 1707.32x
Hunwick Helmington 7 263.16x
West Derby 7 5.41x
Camberwell 6 2.52x
Greenwich 6 10.11x
Islington London 6 1.66x
Rochester St Margaret 6 44.74x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 8.00x
Wuerdle Wardle 6 44.71x
Alfreton 5 28.22x
Gueldable 5 5000.00x
Holme Lacy 5 1250.00x
Newfield 5 340.14x
Nidd 5 2777.78x
Rotherhithe 5 10.86x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 3.75x
Westminster St John 5 11.02x
Yardley 5 40.16x
Ashover 4 137.93x
Bedminster 4 7.10x
Claylane 4 49.32x
Little Smeaton In 4 1081.08x
Newnham 4 869.57x
Shoreditch London 4 2.48x
St Germans 4 136.05x
Wellingborough 4 22.70x
Yateley 4 275.86x
Atherstone 3 62.50x
Chelsea London 3 2.67x
Ewell 3 78.33x
Great Aycliffe 3 280.37x
Hove 3 10.88x
Hunslet 3 5.21x
Liverpool 3 1.12x
Margate St John Baptist 3 12.89x
Marton In Middlesbrough 3 222.22x
Meopham 3 191.08x
Meshaw 3 1428.57x
Paignton 3 50.85x
Sittingbourne 3 29.88x
Upper Machen 3 162.16x
Woolwich 3 6.39x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 2.07x
Bingley 2 8.50x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.27x
Great Grimsby 2 5.29x
Horton In Bradford 2 3.47x
Kirkby Mallory Earl 2 101.01x
Logie 2 33.33x
Melmerby In Ripon 2 512.82x
Normanton 2 40.57x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 3.35x
Portsmouth 2 11.37x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 2 145.99x
Stretton 2 250.00x
Sutton 2 15.22x
Teynham 2 87.34x
Thirsk Sand Hutton 2 500.00x
Willesden 2 5.69x
Winkfield 2 43.10x
Withycombe Rawleigh 2 49.51x
York St Mary 2 13.08x
York St Maurice 2 28.78x
Chatham 1 2.86x
Kensington London 1 0.48x
Loughborough 1 5.33x
St Marylebone London 1 0.50x
Wokingham 1 15.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Ann 14
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 11
Ellen 10
Jane 8
Alice 7
Charlotte 5
Martha 5
Emily 4
Emma 4
Fanny 4
Hannah 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Florence 3
Grace 3
Rose 3
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Dinah 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Maria 2
Patience 2
Alberta 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Cecil 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Elizth. 1
Gertrude 1
Infant 1
Isabel 1
Jessie 1
John 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
M.J. 1
Mar. 1
Margret 1
Marion 1
Marria 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 31
John 21
Thomas 18
George 17
James 13
Henry 9
Charles 8
Joseph 7
Richard 6
Alfred 4
Herbert 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Patrick 2
Peter 2
Ralph 2
Augustus 1
David 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Jas. 1
Lewis 1
Matthew 1
Oliver 1
Patk. 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Waiton 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1
Will 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gains surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gains surname in 1881?

In 1881, 382 people were recorded with the Gains surname. That placed it at #8,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gains surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016. That gives Gains a modern rank of #13,189.

What does the Gains surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "gain," meaning profit or earnings.

What does the Gains map show?

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