NameCensus.

UK surname

Gambling

A surname derived from the English word "gambling," suggesting ancestors associated with games of chance or gambling activities.

In the 1881 census there were 216 people recorded with the Gambling surname, ranking it #12,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 225, ranked #18,105, down from #12,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Longstock, London parishes and Mudford, Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Forest, Shepway and The Vale of Glamorgan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gambling is 296 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.2%.

1881 census count

216

Ranked #12,222

Modern count

225

2016, ranked #18,105

Peak year

1911

296 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gambling had 216 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 225 in 2016, ranked #18,105.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 296 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gambling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gambling surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gambling 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 181 #11,256
1861 historical 218 #11,175
1881 historical 216 #12,222
1891 historical 256 #12,522
1901 historical 279 #12,225
1911 historical 296 #11,569
1997 modern 269 #14,543
1998 modern 279 #14,592
1999 modern 285 #14,438
2000 modern 279 #14,636
2001 modern 272 #14,654
2002 modern 288 #14,373
2003 modern 272 #14,746
2004 modern 275 #14,717
2005 modern 261 #15,216
2006 modern 254 #15,560
2007 modern 247 #16,042
2008 modern 246 #16,247
2009 modern 257 #16,099
2010 modern 254 #16,604
2011 modern 247 #16,783
2012 modern 234 #17,291
2013 modern 244 #17,072
2014 modern 237 #17,528
2015 modern 226 #17,995
2016 modern 225 #18,105

Geography

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Where Gamblings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Longstock, London parishes, Mudford, Preston, Brighton and Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to New Forest, Shepway, The Vale of Glamorgan, Arun and West Berkshire. 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 Longstock Hampshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Mudford, Preston Somerset
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Forest 001 New Forest
2 Shepway 006 Shepway
3 The Vale of Glamorgan 002 Vale of Glamorgan
4 Arun 017 Arun
5 West Berkshire 014 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gambling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gambling

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Gambling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gambling household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Gambling 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

Gambling is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gambling falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gambling

The surname "GAMBLING" is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "gamen," meaning game or sport, and possibly referring to someone who was involved in some form of gaming or entertainment.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273, where a "Robertus Gamelyn" is mentioned. This spelling variation likely stems from the Old English root and provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, which lists a "Johannes Gamelyn." This entry lends further evidence to the name's connection with gaming or recreational activities during that period.

The Gambling surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Gamblingay in Cambridgeshire and Gamblesby in Cumbria. These locations may have played a role in the name's origin or provided a basis for its adoption by local residents.

Notably, the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Gambling surname. However, this does not preclude the possibility of the name existing in some form during that time.

Throughout history, several prominent individuals have borne the Gambling surname. One such figure is William Gambling (1623-1684), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. James Clerkenwell in London.

Another notable bearer of the name is Charles Gambling (1806-1896), a British author and journalist who wrote extensively on chess and other intellectual pursuits.

In the 19th century, John Gambling (1829-1892) made his mark as a pioneering civil engineer, contributing to the construction of several notable bridges and railway lines in England.

More recently, John Gambling (1950-2020), a radio personality and broadcaster, carried on the family legacy, hosting popular shows in New York City for over two decades.

Additionally, the name has been associated with the fictional character James Gambling, a detective featured in several novels by British author Margery Allingham (1904-1966).

These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have carried the Gambling surname throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence in various spheres of society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gambling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gambling 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. Somerset leads with 35 Gamblings recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.32x.

County Total Index
Somerset 35 10.32x
Hampshire 33 7.64x
Sussex 31 8.73x
Yorkshire 24 1.15x
Wiltshire 20 10.73x
Norfolk 17 5.25x
Middlesex 15 0.71x
Suffolk 12 4.68x
Kent 10 1.39x
Worcestershire 9 3.27x
Glamorgan 8 2.18x
Essex 2 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gorleston in Suffolk leads with 12 Gamblings recorded in 1881 and an index of 184.05x.

Place Total Index
Gorleston 12 184.05x
Preston Plucknett 12 7500.00x
Bowling 9 43.52x
Brighton 9 12.56x
Subdeanary 7 736.84x
Alderbury 6 689.66x
Barnsley 6 27.86x
East Dean 6 4615.38x
Longstock 6 1935.48x
Mile End Old Town London 6 13.38x
Norwich St James 6 236.22x
Seaford 6 495.87x
St Michael Winchester 6 681.82x
Subdeanery 6 222.22x
Whistones 6 301.51x
Britford 5 406.50x
Buxton 5 1250.00x
Cardiff St John 5 41.74x
Deptford St Nicholas 5 87.72x
Fisherton Anger 5 144.93x
Uphill 5 1063.83x
Bruton 4 300.75x
Romsey Extra 4 155.64x
Salisbury The Close 4 869.57x
St George Martyr London 4 93.68x
Thorpe Next Norwich 4 116.62x
West Monkton 4 533.33x
Woolwich 4 15.06x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 3 42.02x
Bromley London 3 6.47x
Crewkerne 3 83.33x
Hampsthwaite 3 909.09x
Penarth 3 83.57x
Southampton St Mary 3 11.05x
Worcester St John 3 91.19x
Chichester St Pancras 2 188.68x
Clint 2 714.29x
East Tytherley 2 740.74x
Lydeard St Lawrence 2 526.32x
Norwich St Clement 2 53.19x
Portsea 2 2.36x
West Ham 2 2.18x
Weston Super Mare 2 23.36x
Bleadon 1 222.22x
Hackney London 1 0.85x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 7.44x
Martock 1 45.45x
Minster In Sheppey 1 8.40x
Odcombe 1 222.22x
St Bartholomew Hyde 1 97.09x
St Faith Winchester 1 49.75x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.69x
St Thomas Winchester 1 32.79x
Stoughton 1 222.22x
Upper Clatford 1 188.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 11
Mary 10
Ann 7
Ellen 7
Elizabeth 6
Emma 6
Alice 5
Martha 5
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Lucy 2
Rose 2
Anne 1
Bessy 1
Betty 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Fanney 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Georgeanna 1
Glenny 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Henry 1
James 1
Jessie 1
Judith 1
Kate 1
Lilley 1
Margaret 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 15
George 13
James 9
Thomas 8
Henry 6
Charles 3
Geo. 3
Tom 3
Frederick 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Abel 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Caleb 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Elijah 1
Frank 1
Gerald 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Lyndel 1
Mark 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Bertram 1

FAQ

Gambling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gambling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 216 people were recorded with the Gambling surname. That placed it at #12,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gambling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 225 in 2016. That gives Gambling a modern rank of #18,105.

What does the Gambling surname mean?

A surname derived from the English word "gambling," suggesting ancestors associated with games of chance or gambling activities.

What does the Gambling map show?

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