UK surname
A habitational surname derived from a place name in France.
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Gardon surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15, ranked #37,092, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, St George in the East and Stockport. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gardon is 359 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 68.8%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
15
2016, ranked #37,092
Peak year
1861
359 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gardon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gardon surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 113 | #15,815 |
| 1861 | historical | 359 | #7,113 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 296 | #11,215 |
| 1901 | historical | 52 | #28,377 |
| 1911 | historical | 39 | #29,025 |
| 1997 | modern | 11 | #36,912 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 10 | #37,335 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 14 | #37,078 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 13 | #37,256 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 15 | #37,092 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, St George in the East, Stockport, St Leonard Shoreditch and Paddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 4 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gardon surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gardon, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Gardon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gardon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Gardon is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gardon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gardon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gardon is believed to have originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word 'gardon', which means 'watcher' or 'guard'. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, given to someone who worked as a guard or watchman.
The earliest recorded instances of the Gardon surname can be found in historical records from the region of Languedoc in southern France, dating back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of this name was Guillaume Gardon, a nobleman from the town of Nîmes, who was mentioned in a charter from 1269.
In the 14th century, the Gardon name appeared in various records from the neighboring regions of Provence and Dauphiné. For example, a Pierre Gardon was listed as a resident of the town of Avignon in 1348.
The Gardon surname is also closely associated with the town of Gard, which is located in the Gard department of southern France. It is possible that the name may have originated from this place name or that some bearers of the Gardon surname may have taken their name from this location.
Notable individuals with the surname Gardon throughout history include:
1. Antoine Gardon (1589-1654), a French painter from Arles who was known for his religious works. 2. Jacques Gardon (1625-1701), a French jurist and legal scholar who served as a magistrate in the Parlement of Aix-en-Provence. 3. Marie-Anne Gardon-Molleville (1753-1835), a French politician and journalist who served as the Minister of the Marine under King Louis XVI. 4. Émile Gardon (1845-1925), a French sculptor and medallist known for his works depicting historical and allegorical themes. 5. Fernand Gardon (1891-1979), a French painter and engraver associated with the Fauvist and Cubist movements.
While the Gardon surname is predominantly found in France, it has also spread to other parts of Europe and beyond through migration and diaspora over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gardon surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Angus leads with 12 Gardons recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.68x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Angus | 12 | 27.68x |
| Hampshire | 7 | 7.30x |
| Derbyshire | 6 | 8.19x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 4.36x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 4 | 59.08x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.64x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.32x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 5.71x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 3.19x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.66x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.18x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.34x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 4.76x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.63x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 9 Gardons recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.59x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dundee | 9 | 55.59x |
| Headley | 7 | 2692.31x |
| Baslow With Bubnell | 6 | 4285.71x |
| Troqueer | 4 | 449.44x |
| Ardrossan | 2 | 165.29x |
| Cheltenham | 2 | 28.25x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 7.62x |
| Liff Benvie | 2 | 30.40x |
| Windlesham | 2 | 465.12x |
| Yate | 2 | 1000.00x |
| Barony | 1 | 2.61x |
| Brechin | 1 | 58.82x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 3.97x |
| Edinburgh St Stephens | 1 | 81.30x |
| Epsom | 1 | 90.09x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 8.67x |
| Perth East Church | 1 | 50.51x |
| Preston | 1 | 6.73x |
| St Peterat Arches | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Walsall Foreign | 1 | 12.25x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gardon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gardon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Gardon households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Farmers Daughter | 3 |
| Scholar | 3 |
| No Occupation | 2 |
| Wife Of Butler | 2 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Butler Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Farmer 310 Acres Moorland Principally Employing 3 Labourers | 1 |
| Farmers Son | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Independant Minister | 1 |
| Reporter Office Assistant | 1 |
| Son | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Gardon surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 15 in 2016. That gives Gardon a modern rank of #37,092.
A habitational surname derived from a place name in France.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gardon bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.