NameCensus.

UK surname

Gascoyne

An English surname derived from a place name referring to territory along the River Gascogne in northern France.

In the 1881 census there were 693 people recorded with the Gascoyne surname, ranking it #5,229 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,185, ranked #5,017, up from #5,229 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whittington, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolsover, Chesterfield and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gascoyne is 1,238 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.0%.

1881 census count

693

Ranked #5,229

Modern count

1,185

2016, ranked #5,017

Peak year

1998

1,238 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gascoyne had 693 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,229 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,185 in 2016, ranked #5,017.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,171 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gascoyne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gascoyne surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gascoyne 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 391 #6,144
1861 historical 494 #5,287
1881 historical 693 #5,229
1891 historical 884 #4,658
1901 historical 1,014 #4,703
1911 historical 1,171 #3,989
1997 modern 1,182 #4,774
1998 modern 1,238 #4,755
1999 modern 1,226 #4,826
2000 modern 1,216 #4,838
2001 modern 1,187 #4,840
2002 modern 1,174 #4,989
2003 modern 1,168 #4,916
2004 modern 1,168 #4,925
2005 modern 1,171 #4,859
2006 modern 1,154 #4,920
2007 modern 1,156 #4,967
2008 modern 1,159 #4,974
2009 modern 1,182 #4,999
2010 modern 1,169 #5,152
2011 modern 1,164 #5,117
2012 modern 1,159 #5,054
2013 modern 1,200 #4,980
2014 modern 1,202 #5,013
2015 modern 1,183 #5,033
2016 modern 1,185 #5,017

Geography

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Where Gascoynes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Whittington, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Nottingham St Mary and Alfreton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolsover, Chesterfield and Wakefield. 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 Whittington Derbyshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Alfreton Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolsover 007 Bolsover
2 Chesterfield 005 Chesterfield
3 Chesterfield 007 Chesterfield
4 Wakefield 027 Wakefield
5 Chesterfield 008 Chesterfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gascoyne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gascoyne

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gascoyne, 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 Gascoyne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gascoyne 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gascoyne 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

Gascoyne 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

Gascoyne falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gascoyne is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gascoyne

The surname Gascoyne has its origins in the northwestern region of France known as Gascony. It dates back to the Middle Ages, likely emerging in the 11th or 12th century. The name is derived from the Old French "Gascon," referring to the inhabitants of this area.

Gascony was a significant province during the Middle Ages, and its inhabitants played a prominent role in the Hundred Years' War between England and France. The name Gascoyne is believed to have been adopted by individuals from this region who migrated to England during this period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, where it appears as "Wasconia." This Latin form suggests that the name was already in use by the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name is mentioned in the Testa de Nevill, an important medieval record of land holdings in England. It appears as "Gasconia," further solidifying the connection to the French region.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Gascoyne throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir William Gascoyne (c. 1350-1419), a member of the English gentry and a significant landowner in Yorkshire.

Another prominent figure was George Gascoyne (1635-1700), an English poet and translator who was a contemporary of John Dryden. He is known for his translation of Lucretius' De Rerum Natura and his own poetic works.

In the 18th century, Bamber Gascoyne (1725-1791) was a British politician and Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Weymouth and Maldon.

Isaac Gascoyne (1786-1861) was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament for Liverpool.

A more recent figure was Sir Alvary Gascoyne-Cecil (1893-1976), a British diplomat and courtier who served as Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire and as a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of London.

While the surname Gascoyne has its roots in France, it has become well-established in England and other parts of the English-speaking world over the centuries. Its history reflects the cultural and linguistic exchange between England and France during the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gascoyne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gascoyne 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. Derbyshire leads with 128 Gascoynes recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.08x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 128 12.08x
Yorkshire 125 1.86x
Nottinghamshire 63 6.90x
Middlesex 58 0.86x
Lancashire 40 0.50x
Surrey 32 0.97x
Warwickshire 32 1.87x
Kent 25 1.08x
Hampshire 20 1.44x
Cambridgeshire 19 4.43x
Leicestershire 19 2.53x
Norfolk 19 1.83x
Northamptonshire 18 2.83x
Buckinghamshire 14 3.42x
Gloucestershire 12 0.90x
Lincolnshire 12 1.11x
Cheshire 9 0.60x
Sussex 8 0.70x
Bedfordshire 5 1.43x
Durham 5 0.25x
Devon 4 0.28x
Herefordshire 4 1.44x
Midlothian 4 0.44x
Somerset 4 0.37x
Essex 3 0.22x
Northumberland 3 0.30x
Suffolk 3 0.36x
Oxfordshire 2 0.48x
Cumberland 1 0.17x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 1.24x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 25 Gascoynes recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.71x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 25 11.71x
Greasley 22 106.85x
Oldham 18 6.94x
Nottingham St Mary 17 7.20x
Brampton 13 87.78x
Chesterfield 13 32.72x
Hasland 13 120.48x
Camberwell 11 2.54x
Ecclesall Bierlow 11 8.06x
Hackney London 11 2.90x
Leamington Priors 11 26.18x
Staveley 11 58.48x
Alfreton 10 31.06x
Ashby De La Zouch 10 57.47x
Aston Cum Aughton 10 182.15x
Dronfield 10 73.64x
Little Horwood 10 1388.89x
Alverstoke 9 17.92x
Edmonton 9 16.50x
Heigham 9 16.11x
Lillington 9 410.96x
Littleport 9 109.89x
Manchester 9 2.49x
Portsea 9 3.31x
Sculcoates 9 8.46x
Seacroft 9 283.02x
Wellingborough 9 28.11x
Bradford 8 4.93x
Marske In Guisbrough 8 67.17x
Monks Coppenhall 8 14.19x
Clapham 7 8.27x
Everton 7 2.73x
Islington London 7 1.07x
North Wingfield 7 147.68x
Thornaby 7 27.92x
Bowling 6 9.03x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 4.80x
Denby 6 185.76x
Forthampton 6 625.00x
Leicester St Margaret 6 3.28x
St Pancras London 6 1.10x
Whittington 6 40.93x
Aston 5 1.06x
Beckenham 5 16.56x
Eccleshill 5 30.62x
Eckington 5 19.42x
Grafton Regis 5 1282.05x
Hockerton 5 2173.91x
Hough On Hill Brandon 5 943.40x
Hucknall Under 5 106.16x
Hunslet 5 4.78x
Leamington 5 44.21x
Manea 5 185.19x
Minster In Thanet 5 103.95x
Richmond 5 10.82x
Sittingbourne 5 27.41x
Welney 5 210.08x
Westminster St Margaret 5 15.31x
Blidworth Lyndhurst 4 714.29x
Doncaster 4 8.16x
Folkestone 4 8.93x
Frant 4 49.44x
Hassop 4 1904.76x
Kingston On Thames 4 5.05x
Plymouth Charles The 4 6.44x
Spittlegate 4 26.72x
Stoney Middleton 4 487.80x
Stony Stratford East 4 238.10x
Woolwich 4 4.69x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 1.71x
Belper 3 14.60x
Bishop Auckland 3 11.10x
Bow London 3 3.48x
Brightwell 3 1875.00x
Hove 3 5.99x
Kilmington 3 267.86x
Leziate 3 625.00x
Littleover 3 166.67x
Melton Mowbray 3 22.22x
Pilsley 3 85.71x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
George 32
John 28
Thomas 23
Henry 17
James 13
Joseph 13
Charles 12
Edward 11
Richard 10
Robert 7
Arthur 6
Frank 6
Wm. 6
Frederick 4
Walter 4
Aaron 3
Ernest 3
Fred 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Stephen 3
Tom 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Andrew 2
Edwin 2
Isaac 2
Thos. 2
Alexder. 1
Ambrose 1
Austin 1
Bertie 1
Charlie 1
Charls 1
Edwd. 1
Elhanan 1
Elijah 1
Emanuel 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Fredc. 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Jack 1
Jas. 1
Jas.William 1
Jepson 1
Zebedee 1

FAQ

Gascoyne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gascoyne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 693 people were recorded with the Gascoyne surname. That placed it at #5,229 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gascoyne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,185 in 2016. That gives Gascoyne a modern rank of #5,017.

What does the Gascoyne surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to territory along the River Gascogne in northern France.

What does the Gascoyne map show?

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