NameCensus.

UK surname

Gara

A name originating from Italian meaning "rivalry" or "competition".

In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Gara surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 180, ranked #21,022, up from #31,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, Lancaster and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gara is 189 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1100.0%.

1881 census count

15

Ranked #31,451

Modern count

180

2016, ranked #21,022

Peak year

2013

189 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gara had 15 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016, ranked #21,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 92 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Gara surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gara surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gara 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 39 #29,099
1881 historical 15 #31,451
1891 historical 54 #29,849
1901 historical 81 #25,130
1911 historical 92 #23,580
1997 modern 136 #22,398
1998 modern 147 #21,935
1999 modern 143 #22,521
2000 modern 139 #22,855
2001 modern 139 #22,541
2002 modern 150 #21,913
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 141 #22,688
2006 modern 141 #22,833
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 158 #21,690
2009 modern 172 #20,950
2010 modern 185 #20,453
2011 modern 176 #20,957
2012 modern 182 #20,440
2013 modern 189 #20,273
2014 modern 189 #20,441
2015 modern 185 #20,641
2016 modern 180 #21,022

Geography

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Where Garas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bristol, Lancaster and Ealing. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bristol 001 Bristol, City of
2 Bristol 009 Bristol, City of
3 Lancaster 005 Lancaster
4 Lancaster 019 Lancaster
5 Ealing 038 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gara

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gara

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gara is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Gara 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

Gara 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 Gara is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Gara

The surname GARA is believed to have originated in Italy during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Italian word "gara," meaning "competition" or "rivalry." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was known for their competitive nature or who excelled in some form of contest or challenge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GARA can be found in the historical records of the city of Genoa, located in the northwestern region of Italy. In the 13th century, a merchant named Giovanni GARA was documented as having traded goods along the Mediterranean coast.

In the 14th century, a nobleman named Niccolò GARA was mentioned in the chronicles of the city of Florence. He was known for his involvement in the political and social affairs of the city, and his name appears in various legal documents and records from that time.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure with the surname GARA was the Florentine artist and architect Bartolomeo GARA, who lived from 1470 to 1536. He was known for his contributions to the design and construction of several churches and palaces in and around Florence.

In the 17th century, a member of the GARA family named Pietro GARA gained recognition as a scholar and theologian. He was born in Venice in 1610 and authored several influential works on religious philosophy and theology before his death in 1679.

Another noteworthy individual with the surname GARA was the Italian composer and violinist Giuseppe GARA, who lived from 1705 to 1768. He was renowned for his compositions for the violin and his contributions to the development of the concerto grosso genre.

The GARA surname has also been associated with various place names in Italy, particularly in the regions of Tuscany and Liguria. For example, there is a village called Gara near the city of Pisa, and a coastal town called Gara di Riva in the province of Genoa.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gara families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gara 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. Yorkshire leads with 6 Garas recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.15x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 6 4.15x
Cheshire 3 9.31x
Devon 1 3.29x
Durham 1 2.30x
Hampshire 1 3.34x
Lancashire 1 0.58x
Middlesex 1 0.68x
Nottinghamshire 1 5.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ossett Cum Gawthorpe in Yorkshire leads with 5 Garas recorded in 1881 and an index of 961.54x.

Place Total Index
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 5 961.54x
Congleton 2 357.14x
Bishopwearmouth 1 26.81x
Brading 1 250.00x
Bulwell 1 232.56x
East Stonehouse 1 166.67x
Great Budworth 1 1666.67x
Huddersfield 1 47.39x
Prescot 1 322.58x
St George Hanover Square 1 38.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizth. 1
Maria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 4
Patrick 3
Berarnard 1
Ed.O. 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Mark 1
Michael 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 Gara households.

FAQ

Gara surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gara surname in 1881?

In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Gara surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gara surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016. That gives Gara a modern rank of #21,022.

What does the Gara surname mean?

A name originating from Italian meaning "rivalry" or "competition".

What does the Gara map show?

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