NameCensus.

UK surname

Gaskin

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a stream or watercourse.

In the 1881 census there were 1,121 people recorded with the Gaskin surname, ranking it #3,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,271, ranked #2,856, up from #3,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and Normanton, South. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Anglesey, Wrexham and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gaskin is 2,412 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 102.6%.

1881 census count

1,121

Ranked #3,561

Modern count

2,271

2016, ranked #2,856

Peak year

2010

2,412 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gaskin had 1,121 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,271 in 2016, ranked #2,856.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,662 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gaskin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gaskin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gaskin 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 818 #3,289
1861 historical 668 #4,013
1881 historical 1,121 #3,561
1891 historical 1,243 #3,472
1901 historical 1,433 #3,547
1911 historical 1,662 #2,940
1997 modern 2,209 #2,810
1998 modern 2,315 #2,786
1999 modern 2,315 #2,809
2000 modern 2,334 #2,774
2001 modern 2,248 #2,808
2002 modern 2,296 #2,814
2003 modern 2,224 #2,837
2004 modern 2,254 #2,798
2005 modern 2,233 #2,794
2006 modern 2,219 #2,817
2007 modern 2,232 #2,817
2008 modern 2,246 #2,827
2009 modern 2,328 #2,802
2010 modern 2,412 #2,776
2011 modern 2,334 #2,821
2012 modern 2,268 #2,843
2013 modern 2,322 #2,835
2014 modern 2,320 #2,846
2015 modern 2,283 #2,853
2016 modern 2,271 #2,856

Geography

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Where Gaskins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, London parishes, Normanton, South and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Anglesey, Wrexham, Leeds, Greenwich and County Durham. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Normanton, South Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Anglesey 003 Isle of Anglesey
2 Wrexham 019 Wrexham
3 Leeds 042 Leeds
4 Greenwich 019 Greenwich
5 County Durham 065 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gaskin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gaskin

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

Gaskin 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

Gaskin falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gaskin

The surname Gaskin is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'gærs' meaning grass and 'cyning' meaning king or lord. It is believed to have originated as a descriptive surname, referring to a person who lived near a grassy area or held lands where grass was abundant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gaskin can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as 'Gersekyn'. This entry refers to a landowner in the county of Worcestershire. The spelling variations of the name during this period included Garskin, Gerskin, and Greskin.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1230, where it was spelled as 'Garsekyn'. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275 listed a John Garsekyn as a taxpayer.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Gaskin throughout history include:

1. Sir John Gaskin (c. 1450-1520), an English merchant and diplomat who served as the ambassador to the court of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor.

2. Thomas Gaskin (1590-1642), an English clergyman and author of the book "A Treatise on the Art of Preaching".

3. Mary Gaskin (1737-1811), an English novelist and playwright known for her works such as "The Quakers" and "The Highlands of Scotland".

4. William Gaskin (1788-1864), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a rear admiral.

5. John Gaskin (1866-1948), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Gaskin Foundation, which supported educational institutions in his home state of Tennessee.

The surname Gaskin has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Gaskin Wood in Worcestershire and Gaskin Farm in Gloucestershire, which may have contributed to the origin and spread of the surname in those regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gaskin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gaskin 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. Middlesex leads with 138 Gaskins recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.26x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 138 1.26x
Derbyshire 133 7.77x
Kent 128 3.43x
Lancashire 100 0.77x
Norfolk 81 4.82x
Surrey 79 1.48x
Staffordshire 70 1.90x
Yorkshire 48 0.44x
Nottinghamshire 41 2.78x
Suffolk 31 2.33x
Buckinghamshire 28 4.24x
Warwickshire 27 0.98x
Essex 21 0.97x
Gloucestershire 20 0.93x
Worcestershire 19 1.33x
Oxfordshire 18 2.67x
Cambridgeshire 15 2.17x
Cheshire 15 0.62x
Durham 15 0.46x
Leicestershire 13 1.07x
Hampshire 12 0.54x
Sussex 11 0.60x
Northumberland 10 0.61x
Shropshire 9 0.95x
Berkshire 7 0.85x
Devon 6 0.26x
Lincolnshire 6 0.34x
Bedfordshire 5 0.88x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.30x
Cornwall 3 0.24x
Cumberland 3 0.32x
Ayrshire 1 0.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.13x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Somerset 1 0.06x
Stirlingshire 1 0.25x
Westmorland 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Marden in Kent leads with 31 Gaskins recorded in 1881 and an index of 354.29x.

Place Total Index
Marden 31 354.29x
Liverpool 27 3.43x
Litchurch 25 36.28x
Willington 22 1139.90x
Derby St Alkmund 21 40.93x
Horninglow 21 120.76x
Acton 19 29.64x
Maidstone 18 16.20x
Battersea 17 4.23x
Camberwell 16 2.29x
Banham 15 349.65x
Ashton Under Lyne 14 4.94x
Nottingham St Mary 14 3.67x
St Marylebone London 14 2.40x
Kegworth 13 161.29x
Oldbury 13 18.50x
Repton 13 200.93x
St Pancras London 12 1.36x
Chatham 11 10.72x
Deerhurst 11 352.56x
Ealing 11 11.26x
Manchester 11 1.89x
East Dereham 10 47.08x
Hunslet 10 5.92x
Oldham 10 2.39x
Poplar London 10 4.85x
Sutton Bonnington 10 265.25x
Upchurch 10 237.53x
Bermondsey 9 2.76x
Bow London 9 6.47x
Burton Upon Trent 9 10.42x
Kingstone On Soar 9 1216.22x
Long Eaton 9 39.82x
Ruswarp Hawsker Cum 9 335.82x
Shenstone 9 95.95x
Spondon 9 136.57x
Whaddon 9 592.11x
Aylesford 8 77.37x
Bedlington 8 14.72x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.68x
Birmingham 8 0.87x
Bletchley 8 416.67x
Briston 8 250.78x
Henley On Thames 8 57.85x
Leamington 8 43.79x
Mixbury 8 784.31x
Snailwell 8 1142.86x
Wanstead 8 21.16x
Wigan 8 4.41x
Hampstead London 7 4.11x
Kensington London 7 1.15x
Mundford 7 654.21x
Newton Solney 7 397.73x
Ryton 7 61.24x
Shardlow 7 215.38x
St George Hanover Square 7 3.63x
Whitstable 7 38.25x
Wisbech St Mary 7 88.05x
Cheslyn Hay 6 89.02x
Croydon 6 2.03x
Eaton In Macclesfield 6 397.35x
Eccleston In Prescot 6 9.21x
Harwich St Nicholas 6 35.99x
Hockering 6 431.65x
Kirkdale 6 2.75x
Mile End Old Town London 6 2.58x
Newington 6 1.49x
North Stoneham 6 117.88x
Reading St Giles 6 7.45x
Stoke Damerel 6 3.77x
Stuston 6 845.07x
West Derby 6 1.58x
Whitby 6 16.43x
Brighton 5 1.34x
Canterbury St Mildred 5 56.50x
Clapham 5 3.66x
Hackford In Aylsham 5 165.56x
Holy Trinity 5 1.92x
Lambeth 5 0.52x
Wimbledon 5 8.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 69
Sarah 41
Elizabeth 33
Eliza 27
Emma 25
Ann 22
Jane 22
Annie 19
Louisa 16
Alice 15
Martha 14
Ellen 13
Emily 13
Hannah 10
Fanny 9
Ada 8
Caroline 7
Edith 7
Margaret 7
Charlotte 6
Clara 6
Frances 6
Harriet 6
Harriett 6
Agnes 5
Amelia 5
Catherine 5
Esther 5
Maria 5
Rose 5
Bertha 4
Gertrude 4
Jessie 4
Lucy 4
Lydia 4
Susan 4
Anne 3
Ethel 3
Francis 3
Kate 3
Maud 3
Minnie 3
Phoebe 3
Ruth 3
Selina 3
Susannah 3
E. 2
Lavinia 2
May 2
Pemila 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 66
George 56
William 56
Thomas 35
James 27
Henry 24
Charles 20
Robert 20
Edward 18
Arthur 15
Samuel 14
Alfred 13
Richard 13
Frederick 11
Joseph 11
Walter 8
Albert 7
Harry 7
Herbert 7
Isaac 6
Frank 5
Percy 5
Wm. 5
Benjamin 4
Edwin 4
Gilbert 3
Jesse 3
Willie 3
Abraham 2
Alexander 2
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Donald 2
Ernest 2
Frederic 2
Fredrick 2
Hugh 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Peter 2
Seth 2
Auther 1
Dick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.A. 1
Geo.Robt. 1
Lawrence 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Wm.Herbert 1

FAQ

Gaskin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gaskin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,121 people were recorded with the Gaskin surname. That placed it at #3,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gaskin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,271 in 2016. That gives Gaskin a modern rank of #2,856.

What does the Gaskin surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a stream or watercourse.

What does the Gaskin map show?

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