NameCensus.

UK surname

Gammell

An anglicized version of the Gaelic name "MacCamhail" meaning "son of Camhal".

In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Gammell surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 192, ranked #20,118, up from #25,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Three Rivers and Ipswich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gammell is 211 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 231.0%.

1881 census count

58

Ranked #25,428

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

2010

211 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gammell had 58 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 90 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Gammell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gammell surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gammell 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 70 #21,020
1861 historical 54 #27,127
1881 historical 58 #25,428
1891 historical 90 #25,399
1901 historical 76 #25,734
1911 historical 57 #27,099
1997 modern 178 #18,958
1998 modern 194 #18,451
1999 modern 192 #18,689
2000 modern 188 #18,916
2001 modern 190 #18,520
2002 modern 198 #18,410
2003 modern 189 #18,738
2004 modern 179 #19,523
2005 modern 190 #18,753
2006 modern 186 #19,140
2007 modern 191 #19,031
2008 modern 194 #19,011
2009 modern 194 #19,398
2010 modern 211 #18,774
2011 modern 198 #19,410
2012 modern 201 #19,147
2013 modern 198 #19,657
2014 modern 195 #20,036
2015 modern 187 #20,502
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Gammells 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 Kirklees, Three Rivers, Ipswich, Hammersmith and Fulham and Calderdale. 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 Kirklees 052 Kirklees
2 Three Rivers 012 Three Rivers
3 Ipswich 013 Ipswich
4 Hammersmith and Fulham 011 Hammersmith and Fulham
5 Calderdale 015 Calderdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gammell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gammell

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Gammell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Gammell 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Gammell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gammell is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gammell 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 Gammell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gammell

The surname Gammell has its roots in Scotland, emerging around the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Gille Cam Aille," which translates to "the servant of the crooked burn" or "crooked stream." This name likely originated in reference to a person who lived near a winding stream or river.

The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in various Scottish charters and records from the 13th and 14th centuries, often with variations in spelling such as Gamyll, Gammyll, and Gammel. These early records indicate that the name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.

One notable reference to the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of instruments recording the submission of Scottish nobles and gentry to King Edward I of England. In this document, a certain "Johnne Gamyl" is listed among those who swore fealty to the English king.

The earliest known bearer of the Gammell surname was Sir William Gammell, a Scottish knight who fought alongside King Robert the Bruce in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. Another prominent figure was John Gammell, who served as the Provost of Aberdeen in the late 15th century.

During the 16th century, the Gammell family gained prominence in the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the area around Peebles. One notable member was James Gammell (1520-1590), a renowned scholar and clergyman who served as the Principal of St. Leonard's College at the University of St. Andrews.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Gammell family settled in Ireland, where they became landowners and prominent members of the Protestant Ascendancy. One member, Sir Hugh Gammell (1630-1707), was a distinguished military officer who fought in the Williamite Wars and served as the Governor of Culmore Fort in County Derry.

Throughout the centuries, the Gammell surname has been associated with various places in Scotland, such as Gammellshiels in Lanarkshire and Gammellsmyre in Ayrshire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, reflecting the presence and influence of the Gammell family in those regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gammell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gammell 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. Lancashire leads with 15 Gammells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.27x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 15 2.27x
Middlesex 14 2.52x
Warwickshire 9 6.42x
Gloucestershire 5 4.59x
Somerset 5 5.59x
Surrey 3 1.11x
Buckinghamshire 1 2.98x
Devon 1 0.86x
Dunbartonshire 1 6.69x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 12.42x
Lanarkshire 1 0.56x
Midlothian 1 1.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Droylsden in Lancashire leads with 13 Gammells recorded in 1881 and an index of 604.65x.

Place Total Index
Droylsden 13 604.65x
Birmingham 8 17.12x
Clifton 5 90.74x
St Marylebone London 5 16.85x
St Pancras London 5 11.17x
Walcot 5 104.82x
Barrow In Furness 2 22.30x
Chelsea London 2 11.94x
Streatham 2 48.54x
Barony 1 2.20x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 64.52x
Great Marlow 1 109.89x
Highweek 1 243.90x
Kingston On Thames 1 15.36x
Minnigaff 1 333.33x
Old Kilpatrick 1 56.50x
St George Hanover Square 1 10.20x
Stratford On Avon 1 128.21x
Westminster St James 1 17.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Florence 3
Annie 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizth.M. 1
Emma 1
Evelin 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Lavinia 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Norah 1
Phobe 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 5
John 5
William 3
Andrew 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Harcourt 1
Hector 1
Kensington 1
Patrick 1
Sydney 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 Gammell households.

FAQ

Gammell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gammell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Gammell surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gammell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Gammell a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Gammell surname mean?

An anglicized version of the Gaelic name "MacCamhail" meaning "son of Camhal".

What does the Gammell map show?

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