NameCensus.

UK surname

Gair

A locational surname derived from a place name in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 795 people recorded with the Gair surname, ranking it #4,682 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,205, ranked #4,935, down from #4,682 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Warkworth and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Lerwick South and Bassetlaw.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gair is 1,268 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.6%.

1881 census count

795

Ranked #4,682

Modern count

1,205

2016, ranked #4,935

Peak year

2010

1,268 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gair had 795 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,682 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,205 in 2016, ranked #4,935.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,118 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Gair surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gair surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gair 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 496 #5,039
1861 historical 549 #4,796
1881 historical 795 #4,682
1891 historical 896 #4,594
1901 historical 1,118 #4,329
1911 historical 744 #5,769
1997 modern 1,172 #4,815
1998 modern 1,201 #4,873
1999 modern 1,224 #4,835
2000 modern 1,224 #4,816
2001 modern 1,186 #4,848
2002 modern 1,219 #4,841
2003 modern 1,139 #5,034
2004 modern 1,169 #4,921
2005 modern 1,191 #4,796
2006 modern 1,196 #4,784
2007 modern 1,210 #4,780
2008 modern 1,228 #4,758
2009 modern 1,235 #4,824
2010 modern 1,268 #4,812
2011 modern 1,234 #4,870
2012 modern 1,218 #4,854
2013 modern 1,230 #4,893
2014 modern 1,231 #4,911
2015 modern 1,216 #4,911
2016 modern 1,205 #4,935

Geography

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Where Gairs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Warkworth, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Bedlington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Lerwick South, Bassetlaw and Lerwick North. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Warkworth Northumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Bedlington Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 006 Northumberland
2 Lerwick South Shetland Islands
3 Bassetlaw 001 Bassetlaw
4 Northumberland 020 Northumberland
5 Lerwick North Shetland Islands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gair

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gair

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Gair surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Gair household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Gair is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gair is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gair falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gair

The surname Gair originates from Scotland and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "gair", which means "loud cry" or "shout". This suggests that the name may have been given to someone with a loud or distinctive voice.

The earliest known record of the Gair name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of homage rolls documenting those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name is spelled "Gaire" in these records.

In the 14th century, the Gair surname can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which were financial records maintained by the Scottish government. This indicates that the name was well-established in Scotland by this time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Gair surname was John Gair, who was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in the late 15th century. He was a notable landowner and merchant in the region.

In the 16th century, the Gair surname can be found in the Diocesan Registers of Glasgow, which were records kept by the Diocese of Glasgow. This suggests that the name was present in the Glasgow area during this period.

A notable figure with the Gair surname was Robert Gair, who was born in Edinburgh in 1679. He was a renowned scholar and theologian, and served as the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1715 until his death in 1737.

Another prominent individual with the Gair surname was James Gair, who was born in Aberdeenshire in 1785. He was a renowned explorer and adventurer, known for his expeditions to the Arctic regions in the early 19th century.

In the 18th century, the Gair surname can be found in various parish records throughout Scotland, indicating its widespread presence across the country.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gair surname in the United States was in the 1790 census, where a family with the name is listed as residing in Pennsylvania.

Overall, the surname Gair has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with its origins dating back to the 12th century and its meaning linked to a distinctive or loud voice.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gair families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gair 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. Northumberland leads with 199 Gairs recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.29x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 199 17.29x
Durham 100 4.35x
Ross-shire 85 40.01x
Caithness 51 48.15x
Midlothian 50 4.83x
Middlesex 31 0.40x
Morayshire 30 24.96x
Angus 29 4.05x
Lanarkshire 24 0.96x
Cumberland 20 3.00x
Fife 18 3.93x
Nairnshire 18 76.24x
Inverness-shire 17 7.36x
Somerset 17 1.37x
Sutherland 11 18.49x
Hampshire 10 0.63x
Leicestershire 10 1.17x
Shetland 10 12.66x
Worcestershire 9 0.89x
Ayrshire 8 1.38x
Lancashire 8 0.09x
Yorkshire 8 0.10x
Aberdeenshire 6 0.84x
Stirlingshire 6 2.10x
Surrey 4 0.11x
West Lothian 4 3.43x
Banffshire 2 1.25x
Essex 2 0.13x
Argyllshire 1 0.46x
Glamorgan 1 0.07x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.89x
Orkney 1 1.18x
Warwickshire 1 0.05x
Wiltshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Amble in Northumberland leads with 36 Gairs recorded in 1881 and an index of 687.02x.

Place Total Index
Amble 36 687.02x
Bedlington 30 78.06x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 30 7.20x
Wick 17 49.69x
Elgin 16 68.43x
Fearn 14 247.35x
Logie Wester 14 366.49x
Throckley 13 410.09x
Tynemouth 13 21.09x
Preston Quarter 12 64.31x
Nigg 11 413.53x
Rosskeen 11 110.00x
Auchterderran 10 86.88x
Bishopwearmouth 10 5.06x
Byker 10 17.57x
Cawdor 10 348.43x
Chopwell 10 233.64x
Earsdon 10 106.84x
Leicester St Margaret 10 4.78x
Morpeth 10 73.91x
St Pancras London 10 1.61x
Thurso 10 60.53x
Cromarty 9 158.17x
Dalziel 9 33.44x
Mickley 9 247.93x
Olrig 9 170.13x
Boulmer Seaton House 8 1355.93x
Brightside Bierlow 8 5.32x
Chirton 8 30.71x
Cleeve Prior 8 1066.67x
Cowpen 8 30.19x
Reay 8 137.69x
Whitehaven 8 22.54x
Barony 7 1.11x
Bedminster 7 5.98x
Clyne 7 145.83x
Daviot Dunlichity 7 210.84x
Nairn 7 48.85x
Winlaton 7 31.70x
Yeovil 7 27.67x
Burntisland 6 46.88x
Dalry 6 22.03x
Esh 6 35.82x
Forres 6 47.51x
Heaton 6 157.07x
Houghton Le Spring 6 37.71x
Kingston 6 270.27x
Kyo 6 55.40x
Lerwick Gulberwick 6 49.06x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 13.36x
Seghill 6 106.38x
Urray 6 90.91x
Wallbottle 6 245.90x
Bower 5 117.10x
Dundee 5 1.87x
Heworth 5 11.03x
Inverness 5 8.60x
Kintore 5 80.26x
Liff Benvie 5 4.60x
Logie Easter 5 225.23x
Newburn 5 151.98x
Poplar London 5 3.42x
Shadforth 5 112.11x
St Vigeans 5 12.93x
Stranton 5 6.45x
Tain 5 62.11x
Tannadice 5 149.70x
Alnwick 4 20.21x
Boness 4 24.91x
Cresswell 4 784.31x
Edinburgh Old Church 4 48.08x
Falkirk 4 5.99x
Govan 4 0.65x
Inveresk 4 14.26x
Islington London 4 0.53x
North Leith 4 8.34x
Toxteth Park 4 1.29x
Tudhoe 4 19.87x
Tunstall 4 34.90x
Whiteness Weisdale 4 167.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 30
Margaret 17
Isabella 16
Jane 12
Ann 10
Sarah 10
Alice 6
Catherine 5
Hannah 5
Eleanor 4
Ellen 3
Esther 3
Martha 3
Rachel 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Dorothy 2
Emma 2
Louisa 2
Margret 2
Margt. 2
Rosa 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Betsey 1
Caroline 1
Dina 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Georgiana 1
Hanah 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Jannet 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Lillian 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Minnie 1
Moral 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 35
William 30
Thomas 26
George 16
Robert 15
Edward 10
James 9
Joseph 6
Richard 5
Walter 4
Charles 3
Henry 3
Isaac 3
Alexander 2
Alexandra 2
Andrew 2
Arthur 2
David 2
Donald 2
Hugh 2
Jacob 2
Matthew 2
Selby 2
Swinburne 2
Abram 1
Angus 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Jon. 1
Lancelot 1
Mathew 1
Michael 1
Paddison 1
Ralph 1
Richd. 1
Roger 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Wallace 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gair surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gair surname in 1881?

In 1881, 795 people were recorded with the Gair surname. That placed it at #4,682 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gair surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,205 in 2016. That gives Gair a modern rank of #4,935.

What does the Gair surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Scotland.

What does the Gair map show?

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