NameCensus.

UK surname

Gander

An English surname derived from the word for a male goose.

In the 1881 census there were 839 people recorded with the Gander surname, ranking it #4,495 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,131, ranked #5,205, down from #4,495 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hurstpierpoint, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Lewes St John-under-the-Castle. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewes, Horsham and Adur.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gander is 1,316 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.8%.

1881 census count

839

Ranked #4,495

Modern count

1,131

2016, ranked #5,205

Peak year

1911

1,316 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gander had 839 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,495 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,131 in 2016, ranked #5,205.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,316 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gander surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gander surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gander 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 569 #4,474
1861 historical 402 #6,383
1881 historical 839 #4,495
1891 historical 846 #4,826
1901 historical 1,185 #4,135
1911 historical 1,316 #3,624
1997 modern 1,238 #4,587
1998 modern 1,288 #4,617
1999 modern 1,280 #4,659
2000 modern 1,247 #4,749
2001 modern 1,206 #4,782
2002 modern 1,237 #4,768
2003 modern 1,206 #4,789
2004 modern 1,189 #4,848
2005 modern 1,153 #4,934
2006 modern 1,143 #4,962
2007 modern 1,142 #5,014
2008 modern 1,150 #5,022
2009 modern 1,152 #5,127
2010 modern 1,161 #5,192
2011 modern 1,161 #5,134
2012 modern 1,127 #5,180
2013 modern 1,141 #5,212
2014 modern 1,149 #5,204
2015 modern 1,133 #5,220
2016 modern 1,131 #5,205

Geography

Back to top

Where Ganders are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hurstpierpoint, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Lewes St John-under-the-Castle, London parishes and Hurstmonceux, Wartling. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lewes, Horsham and Adur. 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 Hurstpierpoint Sussex
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 Lewes St John-under-the-Castle Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Hurstmonceux, Wartling Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewes 003 Lewes
2 Horsham 014 Horsham
3 Adur 008 Adur
4 Lewes 005 Lewes
5 Lewes 004 Lewes

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gander

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gander

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Gander is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gander is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gander falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gander

The surname Gander is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "gander," which referred to a male goose. This connection suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who raised or herded geese.

The earliest known record of the name Gander can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Berkshire, dated around 1273, which mentions a person named William le Gandre. The use of the prefix "le" in this early spelling indicates that the name was likely derived from an occupation or a descriptive term.

In the late 14th century, the name appears in various records with spellings such as Gaundre, Gaundir, and Gaundyr, reflecting the evolution of the English language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Gander was Sir Thomas Gander (c. 1540-1605), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire in the late 16th century.

Another prominent individual was John Gander (1554-1618), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge from 1594 until his death.

In the 17th century, the surname Gander can be found in various parish records across England, particularly in counties like Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire, suggesting a concentration of the name in these regions.

During the 18th century, a notable figure with the surname Gander was William Gander (1718-1790), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the St. George's Church in Bloomsbury.

In the 19th century, one of the most prominent individuals with the surname Gander was Charles Gander (1822-1891), a British architect and surveyor who worked on several significant projects, including the reconstruction of the Palace of Westminster after the fire of 1834.

While the surname Gander has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement. However, the historical records and references mentioned above provide insights into the early development and distribution of this surname across various regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gander families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gander 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. Sussex leads with 466 Ganders recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.65x.

County Total Index
Sussex 466 33.65x
Middlesex 115 1.40x
Surrey 90 2.25x
Kent 71 2.53x
Dorset 32 5.94x
Staffordshire 14 0.51x
Essex 10 0.62x
Warwickshire 9 0.43x
Banffshire 8 4.70x
Yorkshire 8 0.10x
Northamptonshire 3 0.39x
Royal Navy 3 3.07x
Cheshire 2 0.11x
Hampshire 2 0.12x
Berkshire 1 0.16x
Derbyshire 1 0.08x
Fife 1 0.21x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Lancashire 1 0.01x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.09x
Oxfordshire 1 0.20x
Somerset 1 0.08x
Worcestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 87 Ganders recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.14x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 87 31.14x
Hurstpierpoint 40 518.81x
Herstmonceaux 36 865.38x
Bermondsey 23 9.41x
Keymer 22 224.95x
Cuckfield 21 150.11x
Tonbridge 21 20.78x
Hove 19 31.27x
Eastbourne 17 26.68x
Mile End Old Town London 15 8.58x
Sherborne 15 94.46x
Abinger 14 421.69x
Henfield 14 263.16x
Chelsea London 13 5.25x
Lewes St John Southover 13 139.78x
Longfleet 11 176.28x
St George In East London 11 14.24x
Willingdon 11 313.39x
Albourne 9 1046.51x
Clapham 9 8.77x
Framfield 9 209.79x
Hackney London 9 1.95x
Lindfield 9 153.85x
Newtimber 9 1475.41x
Salehurst 9 150.00x
Speldhurst 9 63.07x
Woodmancote 9 918.37x
Erith 8 28.98x
Newington 8 2.64x
Ordiquhill 8 396.04x
Shadwell London 8 34.81x
Arlington 7 424.24x
Balcombe 7 283.40x
Camberwell 7 1.33x
Chiddingly 7 281.12x
Hailsham 7 83.53x
Itchingfield 7 573.77x
Kingswinford 7 6.95x
Slinfold 7 322.58x
South Malling 7 339.81x
Wolverhampton 7 3.28x
Worth 7 69.65x
Bexhill 6 86.96x
Hampstead London 6 4.69x
Islington London 6 0.75x
Kensington London 6 1.31x
Maresfield 6 102.74x
Paddington London 6 1.99x
Plumstead 6 6.42x
Preston 6 24.81x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 3.63x
St Botolph Aldersgate 6 63.69x
Alcester 5 73.21x
Barking 5 10.54x
Battersea 5 1.65x
Bexley 5 20.19x
Clerkenwell London 5 2.58x
Croydon 5 2.25x
East Chiltington 5 431.03x
Laughton 5 246.31x
Ore 5 48.50x
Birmingham 4 0.58x
Chiddingstone 4 109.29x
Handsworth 4 18.59x
Hellingly 4 86.21x
Leyton Low 4 12.14x
Limehouse London 4 4.44x
Lurgashall 4 194.17x
Nether Hallam 4 3.63x
Chislehurst 3 19.96x
Cliffe 3 64.10x
Edburton 3 312.50x
Ifield 3 51.99x
Ratcliffe London 3 6.61x
Rotherhithe 3 2.96x
Royal Navy 3 3.59x
Shoreditch London 3 0.84x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.07x
St Pancras London 3 0.45x
Woolwich 3 2.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 61
Ellen 21
Jane 21
Elizabeth 20
Emily 18
Alice 17
Sarah 16
Caroline 13
Ann 12
Eliza 12
Emma 11
Louisa 10
Annie 9
Ada 7
Florence 7
Fanny 6
Harriet 6
Clara 5
Edith 5
Hannah 5
Harriett 5
Jessie 5
Lucy 5
Minnie 5
Susan 5
Esther 4
Frances 4
Kate 4
Agnes 3
Amy 3
Anne 3
Betsy 3
Charlotte 3
Grace 3
Lois 3
Rose 3
Ruth 3
Susannah 3
Amelia 2
Ethel 2
Lilly 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Nellie 2
Rosa 2
Sophia 2
B.J. 1
Bertha 1
Jereesha 1
Willimia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 47
George 35
James 32
Henry 31
John 30
Charles 27
Thomas 19
Albert 14
Frederick 12
Alfred 11
Edward 10
Ernest 9
Arthur 8
Edwin 8
Harry 8
Walter 7
David 6
Horace 6
Mark 6
Richard 6
Jesse 5
Herbert 4
Peter 4
Robert 4
Stephen 4
Benjamin 3
Frank 3
Joseph 3
Wm. 3
Amos 2
Andrew 2
Encot 2
Fredk. 2
Job 2
Julius 2
Leonard 2
Newman 2
Percy 2
Sidney 2
C.L. 1
Clement 1
Earnes 1
Eli 1
Enock 1
Frances 1
Friend 1
Jame 1
Jas.Henry 1
Josiah 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Gander surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gander surname in 1881?

In 1881, 839 people were recorded with the Gander surname. That placed it at #4,495 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gander surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,131 in 2016. That gives Gander a modern rank of #5,205.

What does the Gander surname mean?

An English surname derived from the word for a male goose.

What does the Gander map show?

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