NameCensus.

UK surname

Gammons

An English occupational surname derived from the Old French gambon, meaning "ham" or "haunch," likely referring to a butcher.

In the 1881 census there were 144 people recorded with the Gammons surname, ranking it #15,891 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 252, ranked #16,699, down from #15,891 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stagsden, Thurleigh and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntingdonshire, Braintree and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gammons is 274 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.0%.

1881 census count

144

Ranked #15,891

Modern count

252

2016, ranked #16,699

Peak year

1999

274 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gammons had 144 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,891 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016, ranked #16,699.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 259 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gammons surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gammons surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gammons 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 111 #16,006
1861 historical 80 #23,566
1881 historical 144 #15,891
1891 historical 150 #18,328
1901 historical 204 #14,925
1911 historical 259 #12,585
1997 modern 270 #14,515
1998 modern 270 #14,913
1999 modern 274 #14,826
2000 modern 261 #15,314
2001 modern 246 #15,684
2002 modern 245 #16,041
2003 modern 236 #16,236
2004 modern 244 #15,948
2005 modern 234 #16,388
2006 modern 235 #16,439
2007 modern 244 #16,186
2008 modern 249 #16,111
2009 modern 249 #16,466
2010 modern 247 #16,931
2011 modern 239 #17,138
2012 modern 238 #17,092
2013 modern 247 #16,935
2014 modern 255 #16,682
2015 modern 249 #16,858
2016 modern 252 #16,699

Geography

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Where Gammons' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stagsden, Thurleigh, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Northill, Sandy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntingdonshire, Braintree, North Devon, Epping Forest and Suffolk Coastal. 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 Stagsden Bedfordshire
2 Thurleigh Bedfordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 Northill, Sandy Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntingdonshire 003 Huntingdonshire
2 Braintree 002 Braintree
3 North Devon 012 North Devon
4 Epping Forest 017 Epping Forest
5 Suffolk Coastal 012 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gammons

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gammons

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

Gammons is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gammons 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 Gammons is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gammons

The surname Gammons has its origins in England, and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gammen," which means "a game or sport." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who was involved in some kind of game or sport, possibly as a player or an organizer.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Gamun." This indicates that the name was already in use in the 13th century, and suggests that it may have originated even earlier.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Gamoun" and "Gamun," which further reinforces its Old English roots. During this period, it was also associated with certain place names, such as Gamlingay in Cambridgeshire, which was recorded as "Gamenige" in the Domesday Book of 1086.

One notable individual with the surname Gammons was John Gammons, a English merchant and politician who lived in the 15th century. He served as the Sheriff of London in 1451 and was elected as a Member of Parliament for the City of London in 1460.

In the 16th century, the name continued to be spelled in various ways, including "Gamyn" and "Gamoun." One noteworthy individual from this time period was Sir Robert Gammons (c. 1510-1588), who served as a Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire in 1553 and 1554.

Another prominent figure with the Gammons surname was Sir William Gammons (1598-1675), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the spelling of the name became more standardized as "Gammons." One individual of note was John Gammons (1724-1809), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Berkshire and Vicar of Shrivenham.

In the 19th century, the name Gammons continued to be present, with individuals such as George Gammons (1834-1905), an English cricketer who played for Sussex County Cricket Club.

Throughout its history, the surname Gammons has been associated with various professions and occupations, from merchants and politicians to clergymen and sportsmen, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who have carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gammons families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gammons 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. Bedfordshire leads with 76 Gammons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 105.97x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 76 105.97x
Northamptonshire 17 13.05x
Yorkshire 11 0.80x
Kent 8 1.69x
Middlesex 7 0.51x
Sussex 7 3.00x
Hampshire 6 2.11x
Lincolnshire 4 1.81x
Surrey 3 0.44x
Derbyshire 1 0.46x
Huntingdonshire 1 3.64x
Lancashire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thurleigh in Bedfordshire leads with 25 Gammons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8620.69x.

Place Total Index
Thurleigh 25 8620.69x
Stagsden 13 5000.00x
Kingsthorpe 12 827.59x
Bedford St Peter 9 483.87x
Woolwich 8 45.82x
Ravensden 7 3181.82x
Arundel 6 458.02x
Bedford St Paul 6 121.95x
Ecclesfield 6 59.64x
Portsea 6 10.78x
Bedford St Mary 5 270.27x
Eagle 4 1818.18x
Kensington London 4 5.19x
Northampton St Giles 4 80.65x
Sandy 4 317.46x
Monk Bretton 3 215.83x
Cople 2 909.09x
Goldington 2 740.74x
Hammersmith London 2 5.86x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 7.82x
Barlow 1 227.27x
Eaton Socon 1 88.50x
Elstow 1 384.62x
Graffham 1 625.00x
Hastings St Mary 1 17.21x
Leeds 1 1.29x
Luton 1 8.06x
Manchester 1 1.35x
Newington 1 1.95x
Stamford Baron St Martin 1 142.86x
Stoke Newington London 1 9.27x
Streatham 1 9.73x
Wandsworth 1 7.50x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
George 9
John 7
Charles 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Jesse 3
Joseph 3
Samuel 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
David 2
Harry 2
James 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Barnard 1
Clark 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Gammons surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gammons surname in 1881?

In 1881, 144 people were recorded with the Gammons surname. That placed it at #15,891 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gammons surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016. That gives Gammons a modern rank of #16,699.

What does the Gammons surname mean?

An English occupational surname derived from the Old French gambon, meaning "ham" or "haunch," likely referring to a butcher.

What does the Gammons map show?

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