NameCensus.

UK surname

Galliford

A habitational name from a place called Galliford near Alconbury in Huntingdonshire.

In the 1881 census there were 199 people recorded with the Galliford surname, ranking it #12,880 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 228, ranked #17,936, down from #12,880 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon, South Oxfordshire and Ceredigion.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Galliford is 273 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.6%.

1881 census count

199

Ranked #12,880

Modern count

228

2016, ranked #17,936

Peak year

1998

273 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Galliford had 199 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,880 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 228 in 2016, ranked #17,936.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 270 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Galliford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Galliford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Galliford 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 157 #12,504
1861 historical 181 #12,997
1881 historical 199 #12,880
1891 historical 219 #13,974
1901 historical 218 #14,332
1911 historical 270 #12,273
1997 modern 263 #14,769
1998 modern 273 #14,803
1999 modern 269 #15,040
2000 modern 264 #15,191
2001 modern 255 #15,319
2002 modern 258 #15,485
2003 modern 246 #15,769
2004 modern 251 #15,655
2005 modern 252 #15,551
2006 modern 253 #15,602
2007 modern 237 #16,571
2008 modern 234 #16,827
2009 modern 233 #17,241
2010 modern 236 #17,427
2011 modern 238 #17,188
2012 modern 241 #16,925
2013 modern 248 #16,877
2014 modern 243 #17,232
2015 modern 232 #17,689
2016 modern 228 #17,936

Geography

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Where Gallifords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, Swimbridge and Guisborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon, South Oxfordshire and Ceredigion. 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
4 Swimbridge Devon
5 Guisborough Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 008 North Devon
2 North Devon 009 North Devon
3 South Oxfordshire 012 South Oxfordshire
4 North Devon 010 North Devon
5 Ceredigion 001 Ceredigion

Forenames

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First names often paired with Galliford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Galliford

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Galliford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Galliford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Galliford is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Galliford is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Galliford falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Galliford

The surname Galliford is an English locational name with origins in the counties of Somerset and Devon in the southwest of England. It derives from the Old English words "gal" meaning "a small stream or brook" and "ford" referring to a shallow area where a river or stream could be crossed. Thus, the name likely originated as a place name describing a settlement near a small stream ford.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of Galliford as a place name is in the Doomsday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Galleford". This comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror provides valuable insight into the distribution and spelling variations of the name during the medieval period.

In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Galforde" and "Galeforde", reflecting the evolution of spelling conventions over time. By the 16th century, the more modern spelling of "Galliford" had emerged.

Notable individuals bearing the Galliford surname include William Galliford (c.1505-1570), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was involved in the lucrative wine trade and served as Mayor of Bristol in 1564.

Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Galliford (1777-1853), a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament. He was recognized for his bravery during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

In the artistic realm, the name is associated with John Galliford (1865-1935), an English painter known for his landscapes and seascapes depicting the rugged beauty of Cornwall and Devon.

The Galliford family also produced notable clergymen, such as Reverend Henry Galliford (1820-1890), a prominent Anglican minister who served as the Archdeacon of Wiltshire in the late 19th century.

Lastly, the name gained recognition in the engineering field with Sir Maurice Galliford (1901-1982), a civil engineer who oversaw the construction of several major infrastructure projects in post-war Britain, including the Dartford Crossing over the River Thames.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse accomplishments associated with the Galliford surname, which has endured since its origins as a locational name describing a small stream crossing in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Galliford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Galliford 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. Devon leads with 93 Gallifords recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.90x.

County Total Index
Devon 93 22.90x
Yorkshire 20 1.03x
Lancashire 16 0.69x
Surrey 15 1.58x
Gloucestershire 10 2.61x
Middlesex 10 0.51x
Staffordshire 9 1.37x
Monmouthshire 8 5.67x
Glamorgan 7 2.06x
Hertfordshire 4 2.97x
Sussex 3 0.91x
Cheshire 1 0.23x
Hampshire 1 0.25x
Leicestershire 1 0.46x
Royal Navy 1 4.30x
Wiltshire 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barnstaple in Devon leads with 16 Gallifords recorded in 1881 and an index of 251.18x.

Place Total Index
Barnstaple 16 251.18x
South Molton 16 717.49x
Chittlehampton 15 1500.00x
Guisbrough 12 284.36x
Aberystruth 8 64.36x
Egham 8 136.99x
Kensington London 8 7.38x
Leeds 7 6.41x
Llantrisant 7 81.78x
Landkey 6 1500.00x
Streatham 6 41.47x
Atherington 5 1428.57x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 39.19x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 13.59x
Hindley 5 50.66x
Lancaster 5 36.31x
Tipton 5 24.80x
Berkhampstead 4 132.45x
Feniton 4 1666.67x
Leek Lowe 4 45.66x
Little Torrington 4 1111.11x
Swimbridge 4 487.80x
Tawstock 4 555.56x
Chulmleigh 3 326.09x
Friston 3 5000.00x
Braunton 2 144.93x
Bristol St James In 2 35.52x
Chawleigh 2 444.44x
Filleigh 2 869.57x
Pilton 2 149.25x
Bermondsey 1 1.72x
Bratton Fleming 1 285.71x
Bristol St Paul In 1 9.81x
Clifton 1 5.17x
Coln St Aldwins 1 333.33x
Combmartin 1 113.64x
Exminster 1 68.49x
Goodleigh 1 588.24x
Great Torrington 1 43.48x
Hankelow 1 666.67x
Hulme 1 2.07x
Instow 1 227.27x
Leicester St Mary 1 5.72x
Middlesbrough 1 3.97x
Paignton 1 32.36x
Royal Navy 1 5.03x
Sherwill 1 370.37x
Southampton St Mary 1 3.98x
St Luke London 1 3.20x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 51.28x
Swindon 1 7.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 9
Ann 7
Emily 6
Jane 5
Grace 4
Sarah 4
Emma 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Henrietta 2
Louisa 2
Margt. 2
Anna 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Elina 1
Et. 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Hetty 1
Jessie 1
Lavinia 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Polly 1
Priscilla 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 16
Charles 8
James 8
Richard 6
Thomas 6
Alfred 3
Edward 3
George 3
Henry 3
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charley 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Jabez 1
Joseph 1
Rich. 1
Robrt. 1
Samuel 1
Tom. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Hry. 1

FAQ

Galliford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Galliford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 199 people were recorded with the Galliford surname. That placed it at #12,880 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Galliford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 228 in 2016. That gives Galliford a modern rank of #17,936.

What does the Galliford surname mean?

A habitational name from a place called Galliford near Alconbury in Huntingdonshire.

What does the Galliford map show?

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