NameCensus.

UK surname

Gandy

An English occupational surname for someone who made or sold gloves, derived from the Old Norse word "gand".

In the 1881 census there were 1,199 people recorded with the Gandy surname, ranking it #3,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,340, ranked #4,499, down from #3,363 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Southampton St Mary and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wychavon, Cornwall and Warrington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gandy is 1,553 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.8%.

1881 census count

1,199

Ranked #3,363

Modern count

1,340

2016, ranked #4,499

Peak year

1911

1,553 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gandy had 1,199 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,363 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,340 in 2016, ranked #4,499.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,553 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gandy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gandy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gandy 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 740 #3,560
1861 historical 707 #3,831
1881 historical 1,199 #3,363
1891 historical 1,172 #3,648
1901 historical 1,387 #3,626
1911 historical 1,553 #3,120
1997 modern 1,420 #4,094
1998 modern 1,459 #4,146
1999 modern 1,469 #4,156
2000 modern 1,419 #4,243
2001 modern 1,403 #4,211
2002 modern 1,428 #4,223
2003 modern 1,403 #4,223
2004 modern 1,376 #4,286
2005 modern 1,359 #4,289
2006 modern 1,355 #4,305
2007 modern 1,338 #4,385
2008 modern 1,326 #4,435
2009 modern 1,358 #4,433
2010 modern 1,379 #4,459
2011 modern 1,356 #4,476
2012 modern 1,331 #4,479
2013 modern 1,360 #4,474
2014 modern 1,362 #4,492
2015 modern 1,348 #4,491
2016 modern 1,340 #4,499

Geography

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Where Gandys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Southampton St Mary, Manchester, Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wychavon, Cornwall, Warrington, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Isle of Wight. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) Cheshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wychavon 003 Wychavon
2 Cornwall 041 Cornwall
3 Warrington 019 Warrington
4 Nuneaton and Bedworth 010 Nuneaton and Bedworth
5 Isle of Wight 008 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gandy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gandy

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gandy 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

Gandy is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gandy 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 Gandy 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 Gandy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gandy

The surname Gandy is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "gang" meaning "to go" or "to walk." It was likely an occupational name given to a walker, messenger, or wanderer. The name is believed to have first appeared in the Norfolk and Suffolk regions of England during the 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk from 1194, where a Robert Gandy is mentioned. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also list a Walter Gandy in Norfolk. These early records suggest that the name was well-established in the region by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the Gandy surname appeared in various spellings, such as Gandy, Gandey, and Gaundy, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. The name is also linked to the village of Gandey in Norfolk, which may have influenced the spelling and spread of the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Gandy include John Gandy (1615-1689), an English architect and surveyor who designed several churches in London, including St. Paul's Cathedral. Another prominent figure was James Gandey (1767-1834), an English violin maker and musician who worked in London and gained recognition for his exceptional craftsmanship.

During the 17th century, the Gandy family produced several notable clergymen, including Henry Gandy (1646-1714), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Toft in Cambridgeshire, and his son, John Gandy (1677-1737), who was also a clergyman and author.

In the 19th century, James Gandey (1790-1857) was an English artist and lithographer known for his landscape paintings and illustrations. Additionally, John Gandey (1814-1892) was a prominent circus proprietor and showman who established the Gandey Family Circus, which continues to operate today.

While the surname Gandy is not among the most common in England, it has a long and rich history, with records dating back to the 12th century and notable individuals spanning various professions, from architecture and religion to the arts and entertainment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gandy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gandy 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 288 Gandys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.06x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 288 2.06x
Cheshire 186 7.16x
Middlesex 112 0.95x
Hampshire 104 4.31x
Yorkshire 88 0.75x
Essex 44 1.89x
Surrey 42 0.73x
Derbyshire 37 2.01x
Kent 35 0.87x
Nottinghamshire 27 1.70x
Staffordshire 25 0.63x
Berkshire 24 2.72x
Warwickshire 24 0.81x
Sussex 20 1.01x
Leicestershire 19 1.46x
Somerset 18 0.95x
Huntingdonshire 13 5.56x
Devon 12 0.49x
Northamptonshire 11 0.99x
Northumberland 11 0.63x
Cambridgeshire 10 1.34x
Cumberland 9 0.89x
Isle of Man 9 4.12x
Lincolnshire 8 0.43x
Gloucestershire 7 0.30x
Glamorgan 6 0.29x
Westmorland 5 1.93x
Brecknockshire 2 0.85x
Norfolk 2 0.11x
Ayrshire 1 0.11x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.21x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.20x
Channel Islands 1 0.29x
Cornwall 1 0.08x
Monmouthshire 1 0.12x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.37x
Shropshire 1 0.10x
Worcestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Warrington in Lancashire leads with 46 Gandys recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.77x.

Place Total Index
Warrington 46 27.77x
Southampton St Mary 34 22.40x
Widnes 28 27.79x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 27 116.73x
Acton In Northwich 20 829.88x
Runcorn 20 33.38x
Everton 17 3.82x
Liverpool 17 2.00x
Walcot 17 16.84x
Mile End Old Town London 16 6.38x
Snenton 16 25.66x
Brightside Bierlow 15 6.55x
Camberwell 15 1.99x
Ecclesall Bierlow 15 6.32x
Manchester 14 2.23x
Ashton Under Lyne 13 4.26x
Brighton 12 3.00x
Brown Candover 12 1121.50x
Castle Northwich 12 139.53x
Chesterton 12 1739.13x
Coventry St Michael 12 12.58x
Hulme 12 4.11x
Leicester St Margaret 12 3.77x
Penketh 12 238.57x
Wolverhampton 12 3.93x
Ecclesfield 11 12.86x
Lambeth 11 1.07x
Nottingham St Mary 11 2.68x
St Luke London 11 5.82x
St Pancras London 11 1.16x
Birkenhead 10 4.83x
Derby St Werburgh 10 9.40x
East Stratton 10 729.93x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 10 9.56x
Southworth With Croft 10 239.23x
Winnington 10 347.22x
Brinnington 9 37.07x
Chester St Oswald 9 19.12x
Earley 9 61.14x
Great Bolton 9 4.86x
Over Darwen 9 8.07x
Pendleton In Salford 9 5.41x
Salford 9 2.19x
Spratton 9 271.08x
Tonge With Haulgh 9 33.09x
West Ham 9 1.75x
Worsley 9 10.45x
Aston 8 0.98x
Malew 8 41.88x
Nether Hallam 8 5.07x
Over 8 30.29x
Sawley 8 143.88x
Southampton St John 8 323.89x
St Thomas Winchester 8 46.95x
Toxteth Park 8 1.69x
Wantage 8 56.78x
Bilston 7 9.09x
Garston 7 16.98x
Hapton 7 80.18x
High Easter 7 217.39x
Maidstone 7 5.85x
Manthorpe Cum Little 7 48.64x
Roxwell 7 213.41x
Syston 7 57.28x
Boughton Monchelsea 6 135.44x
Dacre 6 153.45x
Glossop Dale 6 6.95x
Hartford 6 102.04x
Kensington London 6 0.92x
Long Eaton 6 24.66x
Macclesfield 6 5.19x
Paddington London 6 1.39x
Sculcoates 6 3.24x
Stondon Massey 6 571.43x
Wentworth 6 769.23x
Wharton 6 42.40x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 4.60x
Eccleston In Prescot 5 7.13x
Hove 5 5.74x
Wargrave 5 65.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 65
Elizabeth 51
Sarah 47
Annie 23
Margaret 23
Jane 21
Ellen 17
Ann 16
Alice 15
Eliza 14
Emma 14
Hannah 13
Harriet 13
Ada 12
Martha 12
Charlotte 11
Emily 11
Fanny 11
Clara 9
Edith 9
Louisa 9
Maria 8
Anne 7
Frances 7
Kate 7
Florence 6
Agnes 5
Catherine 5
Elizth. 5
Lucy 5
Lydia 5
Matilda 5
Amelia 4
Laura 4
Miriam 4
Beatrice 3
Bridget 3
Caroline 3
Esther 3
Jessie 3
Lilly 3
Nancy 3
Susan 3
Amy 2
Constance 2
Eva 2
Magdalene 2
Maggie 2
Mariany 2
Marion 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 78
William 60
James 54
Thomas 48
George 40
Charles 25
Edward 24
Henry 22
Joseph 14
Alfred 12
Arthur 11
Harry 11
Richard 11
Frederick 10
Robert 9
Wm. 9
Ernest 8
Frank 7
Albert 6
Samuel 6
David 5
Thos. 5
Christopher 4
Herbert 4
Horace 4
Jarvis 4
Walter 4
Edwd. 3
Fred 3
Fredk. 3
Isaac 3
Philip 3
Tom 3
Chas. 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Jabez 2
Jesse 2
Laurence 2
Louis 2
Maurice 2
Nathaniel 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Barton 1
Christ. 1
Eric 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Johnathan 1

FAQ

Gandy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gandy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,199 people were recorded with the Gandy surname. That placed it at #3,363 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gandy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,340 in 2016. That gives Gandy a modern rank of #4,499.

What does the Gandy surname mean?

An English occupational surname for someone who made or sold gloves, derived from the Old Norse word "gand".

What does the Gandy map show?

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