NameCensus.

UK surname

Ganson

A derivative of the English surname Johnson, derived from the given name John.

In the 1881 census there were 167 people recorded with the Ganson surname, ranking it #14,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 132, ranked #25,882, down from #14,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wick, Lerwick and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caithness South, Central Shetland and East Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ganson is 172 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.0%.

1881 census count

167

Ranked #14,443

Modern count

132

2016, ranked #25,882

Peak year

1861

172 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ganson had 167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016, ranked #25,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 172 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Ganson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ganson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ganson 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 95 #17,707
1861 historical 172 #13,619
1881 historical 167 #14,443
1891 historical 164 #17,205
1901 historical 141 #18,718
1911 historical 107 #21,842
1997 modern 123 #23,792
1998 modern 142 #22,406
1999 modern 134 #23,378
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 139 #22,541
2002 modern 141 #22,794
2003 modern 131 #23,553
2004 modern 133 #23,528
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 145 #22,693
2008 modern 144 #23,037
2009 modern 143 #23,686
2010 modern 148 #23,697
2011 modern 144 #23,962
2012 modern 137 #24,731
2013 modern 131 #25,932
2014 modern 140 #24,977
2015 modern 140 #24,836
2016 modern 132 #25,882

Geography

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Where Gansons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wick, Lerwick, Edinburgh, Manchester and Latheron. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caithness South, Central Shetland, East Lindsey, Manchester and North East Lincolnshire. 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 Wick Caithness
2 Lerwick Shetland
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Latheron Caithness

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caithness South Highland
2 Central Shetland Shetland Islands
3 East Lindsey 005 East Lindsey
4 Manchester 005 Manchester
5 North East Lincolnshire 005 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ganson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ganson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Ganson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ganson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Ganson 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

Ganson is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ganson 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 Ganson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ganson

The surname Ganson is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from the place name "Ganston" or "Ganstone," which referred to a settlement or village that no longer exists. The name likely stems from the Old English words "gangan" meaning "to go" and "tun" meaning "town" or "settlement."

The earliest known record of the surname Ganson dates back to the 13th century, where it appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of Norfolk in 1273 as "Johannes de Ganeston." This suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive term to identify someone from the village of Ganeston.

In the 14th century, the name is found in various forms such as "Gangeston," "Gangston," and "Gangson" in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 and the Court Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1381.

One notable individual with the surname Ganson was Sir William Ganson (c. 1540-1609), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was John Ganson (1677-1752), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Yorkshire, whose estate played a significant role in the local economy and community.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Ganson was also associated with several places in England, such as Ganson's Farm in Lincolnshire and Ganson's Manor in Gloucestershire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, indicating that individuals bearing the name had settled in those areas and established properties.

Other notable individuals with the surname Ganson include:

1. Robert Ganson (1792-1867), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. 2. Mary Ganson (1826-1892), an English author and philanthropist, known for her work in promoting education and social reform. 3. Edward Ganson (1871-1945), an American businessman and industrialist who founded the Ganson Manufacturing Company, a successful machinery and equipment firm. 4. Alice Ganson (1901-1976), a British artist and sculptor, celebrated for her abstract works and public commissions. 5. James Ganson (1925-2003), an Australian academic and linguist, known for his contributions to the study of indigenous languages in the Pacific region.

While the surname Ganson is not as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, merchants, military personnel, authors, artists, and academics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ganson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ganson 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. Caithness leads with 37 Gansons recorded in 1881 and an index of 164.96x.

County Total Index
Caithness 37 164.96x
Lancashire 22 1.13x
Yorkshire 18 1.11x
Aberdeenshire 15 9.88x
Kent 14 2.50x
Middlesex 13 0.79x
Shetland 11 65.71x
Renfrewshire 8 6.30x
Midlothian 7 3.19x
Lincolnshire 6 2.29x
Berkshire 3 2.44x
Roxburghshire 3 10.11x
Surrey 3 0.38x
Lanarkshire 2 0.38x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.01x
Durham 1 0.21x
Hampshire 1 0.30x
Royal Navy 1 5.12x
Sutherland 1 7.94x
Worcestershire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Latheron in Caithness leads with 18 Gansons recorded in 1881 and an index of 480.00x.

Place Total Index
Latheron 18 480.00x
Droylsden 16 252.37x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 15 52.84x
Clerkenwell London 12 31.02x
Woolwich 11 53.24x
Lerwick Gulberwick 10 386.10x
Thurso 9 257.14x
Abbey 8 41.28x
Manningham 8 40.00x
Wick 8 110.34x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 14.12x
Skelton In Guisbrough 5 113.90x
South Leith 4 16.19x
Waltham 4 952.38x
Inveresk 3 50.51x
Lewisham 3 10.06x
New Windsor 3 72.64x
Southwark St Saviour 3 35.63x
Wilton 3 92.02x
Bonby 2 869.57x
New Village 2 408.16x
Olrig 2 178.57x
Brightside Bierlow 1 3.14x
Dornoch 1 70.42x
Glasgow 1 1.06x
Govan 1 0.76x
Iver 1 78.13x
Middlesbrough 1 4.73x
Pensax 1 370.37x
Ratcliffe London 1 11.05x
Sheffield 1 1.93x
St Michael Winchester 1 147.06x
Stockton On Tees 1 4.26x
Whiteness Weisdale 1 196.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 3
Emma 3
Mary 3
Alice 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Agness 1
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Betty 1
Caterina 1
Dolina 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ellen 1
Ellenor 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Margaret 1
Maryann 1
Maud 1
Rosa 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Ganson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ganson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 167 people were recorded with the Ganson surname. That placed it at #14,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ganson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016. That gives Ganson a modern rank of #25,882.

What does the Ganson surname mean?

A derivative of the English surname Johnson, derived from the given name John.

What does the Ganson map show?

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