NameCensus.

UK surname

Gambie

A habitational surname from Gambie, France.

In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Gambie surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 89, ranked #32,297, down from #28,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aylesbury Vale, South Cambridgeshire and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gambie is 107 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 161.8%.

1881 census count

34

Ranked #28,837

Modern count

89

2016, ranked #32,297

Peak year

1998

107 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Gambie had 34 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016, ranked #32,297.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 89 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gambie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gambie surname density by area, 1998 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gambie 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 24 #29,038
1861 historical 27 #30,543
1881 historical 34 #28,837
1891 historical 55 #29,744
1901 historical 84 #24,759
1911 historical 89 #23,922
1997 modern 95 #27,638
1998 modern 107 #26,555
1999 modern 105 #27,035
2000 modern 107 #26,700
2001 modern 98 #27,672
2002 modern 99 #28,082
2003 modern 96 #28,381
2004 modern 95 #28,746
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 97 #28,793
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 96 #29,654
2009 modern 98 #29,906
2010 modern 94 #31,111
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 94 #31,258
2013 modern 92 #31,909
2014 modern 93 #32,025
2015 modern 89 #32,325
2016 modern 89 #32,297

Geography

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Where Gambies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aylesbury Vale, South Cambridgeshire and Medway. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aylesbury Vale 011 Aylesbury Vale
2 South Cambridgeshire 014 South Cambridgeshire
3 South Cambridgeshire 017 South Cambridgeshire
4 Medway 034 Medway
5 South Cambridgeshire 015 South Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gambie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gambie

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gambie is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Gambie 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gambie

The surname Gambie likely originates from Italy, with its earliest known instances dating back to the medieval period. This name may have developed in regions such as Tuscany or Lombardy, where many surnames formed from specific characteristics or professions. The root of Gambie could be traced back to the Italian word gamba, meaning "leg," suggesting that the name may have initially described someone with notable legs, possibly a swift runner or a graceful dancer.

One of the earliest historical references to the surname Gambie is found in Venetian records from the 14th century, where a certain Lorenzo Gambie is mentioned as a notable merchant. This suggests that the Gambie family held a certain social standing and were involved in trade, which was a significant occupation in the bustling port city of Venice during that era.

Documents from the Florentine archives in the 15th century record the name as Gambe or Gambey, possibly indicating minor variations in spelling as the family moved or as record-keepers transcribed it in different ways. An example includes Pietro Gambie, born in 1460, noted in 1492 tax records as a prosperous landowner in the Tuscany region.

In the 16th century, Guglielmo Gambie, born in 1510 and died in 1580, emerged as a notable figure. He served as a military commander during the Habsburg-Valois Wars, illustrating the name’s spread into different facets of society beyond commerce. His contributions to several key battles are documented in military records of the period.

By the 17th century, instances of the surname appear in French records, suggesting migration. François Gambie, born in 1625, is recorded as a prominent watchmaker in Lyon. His work is cited in various craftsmanship records, also indicating the name's extension into skilled trades and artistry.

During the 18th century, the surname Gambie appeared in British records. Thomas Gambie, born in 1740, is mentioned in maritime logs as a ship captain involved in trade routes between Europe and the American colonies. His career highlights the name's association with exploration and international trade during the era.

Throughout history, the surname Gambie has appeared in varying contexts, from commerce and craftsmanship to military and maritime roles, reflecting a versatile and adaptive lineage. The variations in spelling and geographic spread of the name underscore its resilience and the diverse paths taken by individuals bearing this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gambie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gambie 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 13 Gambies recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.98x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 13 77.98x
Surrey 7 5.46x
Middlesex 6 2.28x
Yorkshire 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thriplow in Cambridgeshire leads with 13 Gambies recorded in 1881 and an index of 32500.00x.

Place Total Index
Thriplow 13 32500.00x
Newington 7 72.02x
Limehouse London 6 207.61x
Hayton 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Caroline 1
Deborah 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Emma 1
Grace 1
Jane 1
Johanna 1
Lily 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 2
Amos 1
Charles 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Elias 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Harry 1
James 1
John 1
Philip 1
Wm.Cooper 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 Gambie households.

FAQ

Gambie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gambie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Gambie surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gambie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016. That gives Gambie a modern rank of #32,297.

What does the Gambie surname mean?

A habitational surname from Gambie, France.

What does the Gambie map show?

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