NameCensus.

UK surname

Ganger

A surname indicating an occupation or person employed on a daily basis.

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Ganger surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 142, ranked #24,625, up from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Philip and Jacob, Market Bosworth (Market Bosworth), Shackerstone, Congerston, Nailstone and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing, Sandwell and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ganger is 142 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1320.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

2016

142 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ganger had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 121 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Ganger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ganger surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ganger 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 20 #29,743
1861 historical 121 #18,148
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1891 historical 47 #30,566
1901 historical 26 #31,152
1911 historical 25 #30,654
1997 modern 93 #27,932
1998 modern 108 #26,417
1999 modern 102 #27,468
2000 modern 106 #26,848
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 105 #26,940
2004 modern 101 #27,813
2005 modern 95 #28,817
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 106 #27,722
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 119 #26,637
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 136 #24,819
2012 modern 131 #25,439
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 141 #24,723
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Gangers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Philip and Jacob, Market Bosworth (Market Bosworth), Shackerstone, Congerston, Nailstone, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford, Ulverstone and Selston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ealing, Sandwell, Lewisham and Bedford. 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 Bristol City: St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
2 Market Bosworth (Market Bosworth), Shackerstone, Congerston, Nailstone Leicestershire
3 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
4 Ulverstone Lancashire
5 Selston Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ealing 026 Ealing
2 Sandwell 020 Sandwell
3 Ealing 023 Ealing
4 Lewisham 010 Lewisham
5 Bedford 013 Bedford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ganger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ganger

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Ganger surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Ganger household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Ganger is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ganger 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

Ganger falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ganger 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Ganger

The surname Ganger originated in Scandinavia, particularly Norway and Sweden, during the Viking Age between the 8th and 11th centuries. It is derived from the Old Norse word "gangari," which translates to "walker" or "one who walks." This name was likely given to someone who frequently traveled on foot or was known for their ability to walk long distances.

The earliest known record of the name Ganger can be found in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of medieval Norwegian documents dating back to the 12th century. One such document from the year 1250 mentions a man named Thorstein Ganger, who was a landowner in the region of Trondheim.

During the Middle Ages, the name Ganger was most prevalent in the Scandinavian countries, particularly in rural areas where walking was a common mode of transportation. As people migrated and settled in other parts of Europe, the name spread to countries like Germany and England.

One notable bearer of the name Ganger was Jón Ganger (1531-1591), an Icelandic poet and scholar who is remembered for his contributions to the preservation of Icelandic literature and culture. Another was Olaf Ganger (1450-1524), a Norwegian explorer who is credited with being one of the first Europeans to land on the coast of Newfoundland in Canada.

In England, the name Ganger can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which records a landowner named Godric Ganger in the county of Yorkshire. This suggests that the name had already been introduced to England by Scandinavian settlers or traders before the Norman Conquest.

Other notable individuals with the surname Ganger include:

1. Hans Ganger (1620-1678), a German composer and organist from Nuremberg. 2. Margaretha Ganger (1765-1829), a Swedish author and poet known for her romantic novels. 3. Erik Ganger (1890-1952), a Norwegian painter and illustrator who specialized in landscapes and rural scenes. 4. Anna Ganger (1895-1982), an Austrian opera singer who performed at the Vienna State Opera in the early 20th century. 5. Björn Ganger (1943-2018), a Swedish businessman and philanthropist who founded the Ganger Foundation for environmental conservation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ganger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ganger 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. Kent leads with 6 Gangers recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.08x.

County Total Index
Kent 6 18.08x
Wiltshire 2 23.26x
Gloucestershire 1 5.24x
Middlesex 1 1.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plumstead in Kent leads with 6 Gangers recorded in 1881 and an index of 540.54x.

Place Total Index
Plumstead 6 540.54x
Fisherton Anger 1 625.00x
Mile End Old Town London 1 48.31x
Salisbury St Martin 1 1111.11x
Westbury On Severn East 1 232.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 1
Anna 1
Caroline 1
Julia 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Samuel 2
George 1
Joseph 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 Ganger households.

FAQ

Ganger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ganger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Ganger surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ganger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Ganger a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Ganger surname mean?

A surname indicating an occupation or person employed on a daily basis.

What does the Ganger map show?

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