NameCensus.

UK surname

Garthwaite

A locational surname derived from a place name in England, possibly meaning "green way" or "the way by the green."

In the 1881 census there were 571 people recorded with the Garthwaite surname, ranking it #6,089 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 757, ranked #7,230, down from #6,089 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington and Kirkheaton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hartlepool, Annandale East and Hambleton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garthwaite is 808 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.6%.

1881 census count

571

Ranked #6,089

Modern count

757

2016, ranked #7,230

Peak year

2009

808 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Garthwaite had 571 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,089 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 757 in 2016, ranked #7,230.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 785 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Garthwaite surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Garthwaite surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Garthwaite 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 336 #6,970
1861 historical 344 #7,422
1881 historical 571 #6,089
1891 historical 658 #5,904
1901 historical 735 #6,027
1911 historical 785 #5,548
1997 modern 722 #7,068
1998 modern 733 #7,229
1999 modern 761 #7,065
2000 modern 782 #6,899
2001 modern 767 #6,863
2002 modern 792 #6,833
2003 modern 787 #6,739
2004 modern 793 #6,723
2005 modern 774 #6,783
2006 modern 772 #6,826
2007 modern 777 #6,858
2008 modern 787 #6,846
2009 modern 808 #6,831
2010 modern 804 #6,994
2011 modern 787 #7,051
2012 modern 776 #7,033
2013 modern 783 #7,091
2014 modern 779 #7,153
2015 modern 759 #7,232
2016 modern 757 #7,230

Geography

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Where Garthwaites are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington, Kirkheaton, Gateshead and Hoddom. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hartlepool, Annandale East, Hambleton and Kirklees. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Darlington Durham
3 Kirkheaton Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Hoddom Dumfries

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hartlepool 007 Hartlepool
2 Annandale East Dumfries and Galloway
3 Hambleton 008 Hambleton
4 Hartlepool 008 Hartlepool
5 Kirklees 057 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Garthwaite

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Garthwaite

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Garthwaite is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Garthwaite is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Garthwaite falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Garthwaite 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 Garthwaite, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Garthwaite

The surname Garthwaite is of English origin, derived from a place name in the Yorkshire region of England. It is believed to have been first recorded in the 11th century, a combination of the Old English words "gara" meaning "triangular piece of land" and "thweite" meaning "clearing" or "assart."

The earliest known record of the name Garthwaite can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry refers to a family residing in the village of Garthwaite near Pateley Bridge in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Over the centuries, the name has been subject to various spellings, including Garthwait, Garthwate, and Garthwayt, reflecting the regional dialects and phonetic adaptations common in medieval times. Additionally, the name has been associated with several place names in Yorkshire, such as Garthwaite Farm and Garthwaite Wood, further cementing its connection to the region.

One notable individual bearing the Garthwaite surname was Sir John Garthwaite (c. 1510-1572), a wealthy landowner and influential figure during the reign of Elizabeth I. He served as the Sheriff of Yorkshire and was knighted for his services to the Crown.

Another prominent Garthwaite was William Garthwaite (1670-1728), a successful merchant and philanthropist from York. He established several charitable foundations and endowed schools in the region, leaving a lasting legacy in the education sector.

In the literary realm, the name Garthwaite is associated with the 19th-century English author and journalist, James Garthwaite (1825-1892). He wrote extensively on social and political issues of his time and was a vocal advocate for workers' rights and educational reform.

Moving into the 20th century, Mary Garthwaite (1902-1985) was a pioneering British aviator and one of the first women to hold a commercial pilot's license. She made significant contributions to the aviation industry and worked tirelessly to promote women's involvement in the field.

Lastly, the name Garthwaite has also been linked to the world of sports, with John Garthwaite (1936-2018) being a notable figure in English cricket. He played as a wicket-keeper for the Yorkshire County Cricket Club and later became a successful coach and administrator in the sport.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Garthwaite families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garthwaite 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. Durham leads with 223 Garthwaites recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.43x.

County Total Index
Durham 223 13.43x
Yorkshire 217 3.92x
Lancashire 26 0.39x
Dumfriesshire 21 17.04x
Surrey 21 0.77x
Lincolnshire 14 1.57x
Middlesex 14 0.25x
Kent 8 0.42x
Northumberland 6 0.72x
Gloucestershire 5 0.46x
Oxfordshire 4 1.16x
Worcestershire 4 0.55x
Essex 3 0.27x
Hampshire 3 0.26x
Leicestershire 2 0.32x
Sussex 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Darlington in Durham leads with 35 Garthwaites recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.61x.

Place Total Index
Darlington 35 54.61x
Great Aycliffe 29 1812.50x
Stranton 23 41.16x
Hoddam 21 707.07x
Horton In Bradford 20 23.16x
Kirkheaton 20 222.97x
Middlesbrough 17 23.61x
Dalton In Huddersfield 16 129.14x
Stanhope 14 81.68x
Mirfield 13 42.82x
Gateshead 12 9.66x
Stockton On Tees 11 13.75x
Camberwell 10 2.81x
West Auckland 10 164.74x
Barnsley 9 15.78x
Keighley 9 15.27x
Patrington 9 343.51x
Soothill 9 45.07x
Ackworth 8 188.24x
Aiskew 8 503.14x
Crook Billy Row 8 37.63x
Great Grimsby 8 14.13x
Preston 8 262.30x
Salford 8 4.11x
Westoe 8 8.50x
Witton Le Wear 8 169.85x
Dewsbury 7 12.35x
Bishop Middleham 6 674.16x
Cheetham 6 12.15x
Framwellgate 6 61.04x
Kensington London 6 1.93x
Newton Cap 6 232.56x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 5 26.44x
Godalming 5 29.22x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 14.05x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 5 35.84x
Linthorpe 5 15.15x
North Bierley 5 16.75x
Siston 5 255.10x
St Giles 5 48.26x
Thornley 5 83.19x
West Derby 5 2.58x
Bishopwearmouth 4 2.81x
Crigglestone 4 75.19x
Greenwich 4 4.50x
Lambeth 4 0.82x
Lanchester 4 131.15x
Newsham 4 769.23x
Raby Keverstone 4 754.72x
Satley 4 421.05x
Sutton St Mary 4 47.39x
Thornhill 4 24.80x
Alton 3 34.80x
Bishop Auckland 3 13.47x
Chatham 3 5.73x
Cornforth 3 61.35x
Huddersfield 3 3.72x
Throston 3 94.04x
Whistones 3 56.82x
Wingate 3 26.36x
Witham 3 52.91x
Bedale 2 99.50x
Bradford 2 1.49x
Brandon Byshottles 2 9.62x
Chelsea London 2 1.19x
Denby 2 67.11x
Ferryhill 2 34.48x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.33x
Liverpool 2 0.50x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 4.03x
Newington 2 13.13x
Newington 2 0.97x
Oldham 2 0.94x
Oxford St Giles 2 12.17x
Pannal 2 37.66x
Rastrick 2 13.02x
Snape 2 222.22x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.03x
St Marylebone London 2 0.67x
St Pancras London 2 0.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Elizabeth 24
Ann 20
Jane 19
Sarah 15
Hannah 13
Margaret 11
Annie 10
Emma 9
Ellen 8
Emily 6
Dorothy 5
Ada 4
Alice 4
Edith 4
Eliza 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Caroline 3
Eleanor 3
Frances 3
Maria 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Charlotte 2
E. 2
Florence 2
Francis 2
Henrietta 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Margt. 2
Martha 2
Anna 1
Cathrine 1
Christaina 1
Christiana 1
E.A.F. 1
E.E.F. 1
Elenor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
H.R. 1
Harriot 1
J. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 45
William 33
George 25
Thomas 15
Joseph 14
James 8
Charles 7
Robert 7
Henry 5
Herbert 5
Matthew 5
Tom 5
Harry 4
Augustus 3
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Jonathan 3
Tiplady 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Bryan 2
Cleminson 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Guess 2
Ham 2
Joe 2
Lancelot 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Seth 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Willie 2
Christopher 1
David 1
Edmund 1
G.W. 1
Guest 1
Hol. 1
Hugh 1
Josh. 1
Joshua 1
Kaye 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Liston 1
Oscar 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Garthwaite surname: questions and answers

How common was the Garthwaite surname in 1881?

In 1881, 571 people were recorded with the Garthwaite surname. That placed it at #6,089 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Garthwaite surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 757 in 2016. That gives Garthwaite a modern rank of #7,230.

What does the Garthwaite surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in England, possibly meaning "green way" or "the way by the green."

What does the Garthwaite map show?

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