NameCensus.

UK surname

Gard

An occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked as a guard or watchman.

In the 1881 census there were 769 people recorded with the Gard surname, ranking it #4,804 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 659, ranked #8,088, down from #4,804 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Chiselborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, East Riding of Yorkshire and Taunton Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gard is 977 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.3%.

1881 census count

769

Ranked #4,804

Modern count

659

2016, ranked #8,088

Peak year

1911

977 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gard had 769 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,804 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 659 in 2016, ranked #8,088.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 977 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gard surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gard 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 551 #4,596
1861 historical 638 #4,199
1881 historical 769 #4,804
1891 historical 843 #4,841
1901 historical 863 #5,302
1911 historical 977 #4,628
1997 modern 696 #7,278
1998 modern 694 #7,523
1999 modern 710 #7,437
2000 modern 710 #7,412
2001 modern 697 #7,389
2002 modern 703 #7,483
2003 modern 703 #7,367
2004 modern 696 #7,437
2005 modern 694 #7,401
2006 modern 697 #7,378
2007 modern 686 #7,549
2008 modern 700 #7,485
2009 modern 702 #7,626
2010 modern 698 #7,797
2011 modern 705 #7,661
2012 modern 665 #7,926
2013 modern 667 #8,042
2014 modern 674 #8,018
2015 modern 657 #8,121
2016 modern 659 #8,088

Geography

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Where Gards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, Chiselborough, St Giles Camberwell and Swansea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, East Riding of Yorkshire, Taunton Deane, Mid Devon and North Devon. 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 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
3 Chiselborough Somerset
4 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
5 Swansea Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 008 Cornwall
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 040 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Taunton Deane 012 Taunton Deane
4 Mid Devon 007 Mid Devon
5 North Devon 012 North Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gard

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Gard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gard household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gard is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gard 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gard

The surname Gard has its origins in the Old French language, derived from the word "gard," meaning "guard" or "watchman." This name likely emerged in the regions of northern France during the medieval period, possibly indicating that the original bearers of the name held occupations related to guarding or protecting properties or communities.

One of the earliest records of the name Gard can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus Gard, indicating the presence of this surname in the region during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Robert Gard was recorded as a prominent landowner in Normandy, France. His descendants continued to hold significant estates in the region for several generations, contributing to the widespread use of the name Gard among the Norman nobility.

During the 13th century, the name Gard appeared in various English records, suggesting that individuals bearing this surname had migrated from northern France to England. One such example is William Gard, a merchant from London who was documented in the city's guild records in 1275.

In the 14th century, a prominent English knight named Sir John Gard distinguished himself in the Hundred Years' War against France. He was renowned for his bravery and military prowess, and his exploits were recorded in numerous chronicles of the time.

Over the centuries, the Gard surname has been associated with several notable individuals, including:

1. Thomas Gard (1516-1586), an English churchman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Salisbury. 2. Sir Ralph Gard (1628-1693), an English politician and landowner who served as a member of Parliament for Wiltshire. 3. Marie-Anne Gard (1738-1819), a French painter and portrait artist who gained recognition for her works during the Rococo period. 4. Robert Gard (1910-1992), an American playwright and academic, best known for his works exploring rural life in the American Midwest. 5. Roger Gard (1925-2010), a British actor and director who had a prolific career in theater, film, and television.

The Gard surname has also been associated with various place names throughout history, particularly in regions of northern France and England. Examples include the village of Gardes in Normandy, France, and the town of Gard in Somerset, England, both of which likely contributed to the widespread use and recognition of this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gard 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. Devon leads with 170 Gards recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.90x.

County Total Index
Devon 170 10.90x
Middlesex 122 1.63x
Somerset 95 7.88x
Cornwall 56 6.60x
Surrey 53 1.45x
Hampshire 39 2.54x
Dorset 37 7.53x
Sussex 29 2.30x
Kent 24 0.94x
Glamorgan 22 1.69x
Gloucestershire 19 1.29x
Lancashire 16 0.18x
Derbyshire 13 1.11x
Inverness-shire 10 4.47x
Yorkshire 10 0.13x
Suffolk 7 0.77x
Warwickshire 7 0.37x
Essex 6 0.41x
Bedfordshire 5 1.29x
Lanarkshire 5 0.21x
Worcestershire 5 0.51x
Cumberland 4 0.62x
Oxfordshire 4 0.86x
Staffordshire 3 0.12x
Monmouthshire 2 0.37x
Northamptonshire 2 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.20x
Stirlingshire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 36 Gards recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.99x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 36 32.99x
Portsea 19 6.31x
Chiselborough 17 1827.96x
Camberwell 14 2.93x
Swansea Town 14 13.09x
Curland 13 2708.33x
Dronfield 13 86.49x
Islington London 13 1.79x
Bridgewater 11 33.60x
Bromley London 11 6.67x
Chelsea London 11 4.87x
Brighton 10 3.92x
Hampstead London 10 8.57x
Inverness 10 17.77x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 8.32x
South Brent 10 298.51x
Croydon 9 4.44x
Hackney London 9 2.14x
Minster 9 782.61x
Ramsgate 9 21.57x
Rose Ash 9 692.31x
Tormoham 9 13.64x
Bristol St James St Paul 8 16.33x
Forrabury 8 1052.63x
Lambeth 8 1.22x
Meshaw 8 1904.76x
Shadwell London 8 38.17x
Stoke Newington London 8 13.71x
Withycombe Rawleigh 8 98.52x
Yeovil 8 32.65x
Bradford Abbas 7 534.35x
Bruton 7 147.68x
Clanaborough 7 3500.00x
Cuckfield 7 54.86x
Kensington London 7 1.68x
Newchurch 7 201.15x
St George Hanover Square 7 5.30x
Witheridge 7 266.16x
Bedminster 6 5.29x
Exeter St Thomas The 6 37.74x
Harwich St Nicholas 6 52.54x
Ipswich St Mathew 6 23.47x
Kirkdale 6 4.01x
Melbury Osmond 6 600.00x
Puncknowle 6 495.87x
Slaugham 6 147.06x
St Breock 6 131.00x
Tarrant Monckton 6 1111.11x
Barony 5 0.82x
Bermondsey 5 2.24x
Deptford St Paul 5 2.54x
East Stonehouse 5 16.28x
Exeter St Mary Major 5 53.19x
Great Little Marsden 5 12.28x
Hammersmith London 5 2.71x
Kenwyn 5 22.54x
Leeds 5 1.19x
Llanguick 5 21.40x
North Hill 5 183.82x
Northfleet 5 22.20x
Southampton St Mary 5 5.18x
Treborough 5 1282.05x
Arlesey 4 81.63x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.23x
Birmingham 4 0.64x
Borrowdale 4 347.83x
Bristol St Michael 4 31.75x
Broadhembury 4 231.21x
Burton Bradstock 4 164.61x
Chulmleigh 4 112.68x
Exeter Holy Trinity 4 65.47x
Fordingbridge 4 47.90x
Kings Norton 4 4.56x
Scarisbrick 4 38.76x
Shoreditch London 4 1.23x
Southwark Christchurch 4 11.40x
St Hilary 4 161.94x
Teigngrace 4 909.09x
Tintagel 4 173.16x
Williton 4 99.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 57
Elizabeth 37
Alice 18
Sarah 18
Ellen 15
Annie 13
Emily 13
Jane 12
Ann 11
Eliza 11
Susan 9
Charlotte 7
Bessie 6
Louisa 6
Caroline 5
Fanny 5
Lucy 5
Amelia 4
Emma 4
Hannah 4
Harriet 4
Jessie 4
Kate 4
Anna 3
Edith 3
Ethel 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Julia 3
Mabel 3
Matilda 3
Rosetta 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Cordelia 2
Elisabeth 2
Elizh. 2
Elizth. 2
Henriett 2
Josephine 2
Kitty 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Mildred 2
Millicent 2
Rachel 2
Violet 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 54
William 51
Thomas 27
George 21
James 17
Charles 11
Frederick 11
Joseph 11
Edward 10
Henry 9
Walter 9
Albert 8
Alfred 8
Ernest 6
Francis 5
Samuel 5
Arthur 4
Elias 4
Isaac 4
Richard 4
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Peter 3
Robert 3
Fredrick 2
Jesse 2
Stephen 2
Wiliam 2
Wm. 2
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Claud 1
Fred. 1
Fredick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredreick 1
Giles 1
Gorge 1
Harry 1
Levi 1
Louis 1
Mary 1
Naboth 1
Owen 1
Pascoe 1
Percivil 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Wm.W. 1

FAQ

Gard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 769 people were recorded with the Gard surname. That placed it at #4,804 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 659 in 2016. That gives Gard a modern rank of #8,088.

What does the Gard surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who lived near or worked as a guard or watchman.

What does the Gard map show?

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