NameCensus.

UK surname

Gamlin

An English surname with Norman French roots, "Gamlin" may originate from "Gaamel" meaning an old person or elder.

In the 1881 census there were 270 people recorded with the Gamlin surname, ranking it #10,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 339, ranked #13,492, down from #10,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Bedminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Mid Devon and Chichester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gamlin is 398 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.6%.

1881 census count

270

Ranked #10,484

Modern count

339

2016, ranked #13,492

Peak year

2010

398 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gamlin had 270 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016, ranked #13,492.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 352 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gamlin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gamlin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gamlin 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 161 #12,288
1861 historical 148 #15,452
1881 historical 270 #10,484
1891 historical 318 #10,583
1901 historical 349 #10,457
1911 historical 352 #10,229
1997 modern 353 #12,096
1998 modern 363 #12,228
1999 modern 363 #12,290
2000 modern 365 #12,196
2001 modern 349 #12,392
2002 modern 361 #12,337
2003 modern 362 #12,114
2004 modern 361 #12,175
2005 modern 364 #12,008
2006 modern 368 #11,990
2007 modern 374 #11,974
2008 modern 367 #12,264
2009 modern 387 #12,021
2010 modern 398 #12,039
2011 modern 386 #12,170
2012 modern 356 #12,784
2013 modern 371 #12,597
2014 modern 378 #12,512
2015 modern 355 #13,033
2016 modern 339 #13,492

Geography

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Where Gamlins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Cardiff St John and St Mary and Wiveliscombe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Mid Devon, Chichester and Bristol. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Bedminster Somerset
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 Wiveliscombe Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 013 Taunton Deane
2 Mid Devon 001 Mid Devon
3 Taunton Deane 012 Taunton Deane
4 Chichester 005 Chichester
5 Bristol 028 Bristol, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gamlin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gamlin

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gamlin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gamlin 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

Gamlin falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gamlin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gamlin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gamlin

The surname Gamlin is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "gamelin," which means "a servant" or "a young man." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for someone who worked as a servant or a young male attendant.

The name Gamlin has been found in various historical records and documents throughout the centuries. One notable example is the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mention a person named William Gamelin from Cambridgeshire. Additionally, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list a certain Robert Gamelyne, indicating the variation in spelling that was common during that time.

The earliest known individual with the surname Gamlin was John Gamlin, who was born in Oxfordshire, England, around 1280. Another early bearer of the name was Thomas Gamlin, a landowner from Wiltshire, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327.

Over the centuries, the Gamlin name has been associated with various places and localities. For instance, the village of Gamlingay in Cambridgeshire is believed to have derived its name from the Old English words "gamen" and "leah," meaning "the game-clearing" or "the clearing where games were played." This place name may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in some regions.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Gamlin throughout history are:

1. Sir John Gamlin (c. 1450 - 1512), a prominent English knight and courtier during the reign of King Henry VII. 2. Thomas Gamlin (c. 1520 - 1595), an English clergyman and author who wrote treatises on religious topics. 3. Anne Gamlin (c. 1580 - 1645), a English landowner and philanthropist known for her charitable works in Dorset. 4. William Gamlin (1672 - 1737), a British merchant and member of the East India Company, who was involved in trade with India. 5. Reverend James Gamlin (1738 - 1811), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Eccleston in Lancashire.

While the surname Gamlin may not be among the most common in the world, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gamlin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gamlin 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 139 Gamlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.79x.

County Total Index
Somerset 139 32.79x
Devon 40 7.30x
Gloucestershire 26 5.03x
Cheshire 13 2.24x
Dorset 10 5.79x
Middlesex 10 0.38x
Sussex 9 2.03x
Cambridgeshire 5 3.00x
Nottinghamshire 4 1.13x
Staffordshire 4 0.45x
Berkshire 2 1.01x
Hampshire 2 0.37x
Monmouthshire 2 1.05x
Surrey 2 0.16x
Essex 1 0.19x
Flintshire 1 1.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Milverton in Somerset leads with 32 Gamlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2051.28x.

Place Total Index
Milverton 32 2051.28x
Wiveliscombe 22 932.20x
Bedminster 14 35.14x
Birkenhead 13 28.05x
Bristol St James St Paul 13 75.49x
Stawley 13 9285.71x
Elworthy 8 5333.33x
Tiverton 8 84.75x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 14.39x
Langford Budville 7 2121.21x
Stoke Damerel 7 18.24x
Taunton St James 7 113.27x
Wellington 7 121.74x
Bridgewater 6 52.13x
Cadeleigh 6 2727.27x
Cann 6 1200.00x
Hockworthy 6 2142.86x
Rudgwick 6 594.06x
Exeter St Sidwell 5 39.81x
St Andrewthe Less 5 26.23x
Treborough 5 3571.43x
Bristol St Paul In 4 29.07x
Hampreston 4 317.46x
Uffculme 4 245.40x
West Buckland 4 493.83x
Westminster St James 4 14.78x
Blidworth Haywood 3 789.47x
St George Hanover Square 3 6.47x
Westbourne 3 135.75x
Abbots Bromley 2 151.52x
Ashbrittle 2 588.24x
Clapham 2 6.08x
Clewer 2 24.69x
Walcot 2 8.86x
Wombourn 2 121.21x
Abergavenny 1 14.03x
Aldershot 1 5.53x
Bampton 1 59.52x
Bathhampton 1 270.27x
Bishops Lydeard 1 92.59x
Bromley London 1 1.73x
Clifton 1 3.83x
Curry Rivell 1 70.42x
Exeter St Kerrian 1 256.41x
Frome 1 9.86x
Kensington London 1 0.68x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 9.01x
Mansfield 1 8.14x
Morebath 1 250.00x
Penhow 1 454.55x
Rhuddlan 1 16.05x
South Hayling 1 104.17x
St Martin Ludgate London 1 769.23x
Staplegrove 1 192.31x
Stapleton 1 10.20x
Taunton St Mary 1 12.85x
West Ham 1 0.87x
Weston Super Mare 1 9.35x
Williton 1 70.42x
Witheridge 1 108.70x
Wraxall 1 123.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 11
Emma 9
Eliza 5
Emily 5
Martha 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Anne 2
Bessie 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Maria 2
Thurza 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Angelina 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Celia 1
Charlott 1
Christianna 1
Eleanor 1
Elena 1
Elizebeth 1
Ella 1
Evelyn 1
Georgiana 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Heslur 1
Isabella 1
Laura 1
Laurie 1
Lillian 1
Marian 1
Marie 1
Minnie 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
John 17
James 11
Robert 10
Henry 8
George 7
Thomas 6
Walter 5
Charles 4
Edwin 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Stephen 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Francis 2
Abel 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jackman 1
Jesse 1
Lameen 1
Nicholas 1
Peter 1
Sholton 1
Sydney 1
Uriah 1
Wilfred 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Gamlin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gamlin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 270 people were recorded with the Gamlin surname. That placed it at #10,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gamlin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016. That gives Gamlin a modern rank of #13,492.

What does the Gamlin surname mean?

An English surname with Norman French roots, "Gamlin" may originate from "Gaamel" meaning an old person or elder.

What does the Gamlin map show?

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