UK surname
An English surname derived from an Old English personal name, Gamel, meaning "old".
In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Gamlen surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 75, ranked #33,377, down from #22,225 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Swindon, Lyddington and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gamlen is 130 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.3%.
1881 census count
80
Ranked #22,225
Modern count
75
2016, ranked #33,377
Peak year
1911
130 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gamlen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gamlen surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 52 | #23,915 |
| 1861 | historical | 78 | #23,836 |
| 1881 | historical | 80 | #22,225 |
| 1891 | historical | 102 | #23,719 |
| 1901 | historical | 103 | #22,444 |
| 1911 | historical | 130 | #19,504 |
| 1997 | modern | 79 | #29,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 78 | #30,192 |
| 1999 | modern | 78 | #30,327 |
| 2000 | modern | 85 | #29,598 |
| 2001 | modern | 79 | #30,065 |
| 2002 | modern | 80 | #30,387 |
| 2003 | modern | 80 | #30,425 |
| 2004 | modern | 79 | #30,799 |
| 2005 | modern | 79 | #30,950 |
| 2006 | modern | 80 | #31,149 |
| 2007 | modern | 76 | #31,966 |
| 2008 | modern | 75 | #32,373 |
| 2009 | modern | 77 | #32,553 |
| 2010 | modern | 80 | #32,670 |
| 2011 | modern | 84 | #32,237 |
| 2012 | modern | 76 | #33,191 |
| 2013 | modern | 77 | #33,275 |
| 2014 | modern | 82 | #32,992 |
| 2015 | modern | 79 | #33,127 |
| 2016 | modern | 75 | #33,377 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Swindon, Lyddington, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Kings Norton and Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Swindon, Lyddington | Wiltshire |
| 3 | Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) | Devon |
| 4 | Kings Norton | Worcestershire |
| 5 | Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent | Somerset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gamlen surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gamlen, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Gamlen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gamlen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Gamlen is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gamlen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gamlen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gamlen is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "gamen" and "lene," which together translate to "pleasant meadow" or "pleasant clearing." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name referring to a scenic meadow or clearing.
The earliest recorded instance of the Gamlen name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, dated 1273, where it appears as "Johanne de Gamelene." This provides evidence that the name was already in use during the medieval period in England.
In the 14th century, the Gamlen surname appeared in various historical records, such as the Court Rolls of Winslow, Buckinghamshire, and the Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire. These records document individuals bearing the name, including John Gamelen (1327) and William Gamelyn (1379).
One notable individual with the Gamlen surname was Sir Robert Gamlen, a Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire in 1553 during the reign of Queen Mary I. Another was John Gamlen, who was born in 1593 and served as a clergyman in the Church of England.
In the 17th century, the Gamlen name appeared in various parish records across England, with variations in spelling such as Gamelyn, Gamlyn, and Gamlyne. One example is William Gamlen, born in 1662 in Oxfordshire, who was a prominent landowner and farmer.
During the 18th century, the Gamlen surname continued to be found in various parts of England, including London and the surrounding counties. A notable figure from this period was John Gamlen (1717-1784), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Gloucestershire.
In the 19th century, the Gamlen name spread further across England and into other parts of the British Isles. One notable individual was Sir John Gamlen (1823-1901), a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Overall, the surname Gamlen has a rich history deeply rooted in the English countryside, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. While its exact origins remain uncertain, the name is believed to have originated from a place name referring to a picturesque meadow or clearing.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gamlen surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Somerset leads with 18 Gamlens recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.33x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 18 | 14.33x |
| Devon | 11 | 6.77x |
| Durham | 10 | 4.31x |
| Hampshire | 10 | 6.25x |
| Oxfordshire | 9 | 18.68x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.90x |
| Hertfordshire | 6 | 11.15x |
| Wiltshire | 4 | 5.80x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 2.40x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 2.12x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hartlepool in Durham leads with 10 Gamlens recorded in 1881 and an index of 303.03x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hartlepool | 10 | 303.03x |
| Caversham | 9 | 937.50x |
| East Brent | 8 | 4210.53x |
| Nailsea | 8 | 1600.00x |
| Portsea | 7 | 22.33x |
| St Albans St Peter | 6 | 331.49x |
| Brampford Speke | 5 | 3846.15x |
| Swindon | 4 | 74.77x |
| Woolfardisworthy | 4 | 1666.67x |
| Hornsey | 3 | 30.40x |
| Newton Upon Trent | 3 | 3750.00x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 4.61x |
| Lympsham | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Southampton St Mary | 2 | 19.88x |
| Christchurch | 1 | 28.82x |
| Dawlish | 1 | 82.64x |
| Ealing | 1 | 14.35x |
| East Stonehouse | 1 | 31.25x |
| Eton | 1 | 93.46x |
| North South Anston | 1 | 294.12x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.49x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gamlen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Eliza | 3 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Marianne | 2 |
| Mary | 2 |
| A.M. | 1 |
| Adelaide | 1 |
| Agatha | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Elinor | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Guetrude | 1 |
| Isabel | 1 |
| J.H. | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Katherine | 1 |
| Lilias | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| M.L. | 1 |
| Margrate | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Mariam | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gamlen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Gamlen households.
FAQ
In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Gamlen surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 75 in 2016. That gives Gamlen a modern rank of #33,377.
An English surname derived from an Old English personal name, Gamel, meaning "old".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gamlen bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.