NameCensus.

UK surname

Gass

An English occupational surname for someone who worked with glass or made glass windows.

In the 1881 census there were 478 people recorded with the Gass surname, ranking it #7,000 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 474, ranked #10,385, down from #7,000 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hawick and Wilton, London parishes and Dumfries. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lockerbie, Gretna and Summerville.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gass is 609 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.8%.

1881 census count

478

Ranked #7,000

Modern count

474

2016, ranked #10,385

Peak year

1901

609 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gass had 478 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,000 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 474 in 2016, ranked #10,385.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 609 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Gass surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gass surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gass 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 328 #7,098
1861 historical 473 #5,497
1881 historical 478 #7,000
1891 historical 588 #6,497
1901 historical 609 #6,988
1911 historical 389 #9,470
1997 modern 476 #9,665
1998 modern 494 #9,693
1999 modern 483 #9,932
2000 modern 467 #10,144
2001 modern 457 #10,113
2002 modern 474 #10,027
2003 modern 469 #9,940
2004 modern 465 #10,046
2005 modern 450 #10,209
2006 modern 463 #10,015
2007 modern 454 #10,264
2008 modern 452 #10,369
2009 modern 465 #10,393
2010 modern 464 #10,633
2011 modern 462 #10,570
2012 modern 479 #10,176
2013 modern 487 #10,227
2014 modern 486 #10,309
2015 modern 478 #10,343
2016 modern 474 #10,385

Geography

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Where Gass' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hawick and Wilton, London parishes, Dumfries, Kirkpatrick-Fleming and Annan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lockerbie, Gretna, Summerville, Langholm and Eskdale and Carlisle. 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 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dumfries Dumfries
4 Kirkpatrick-Fleming Dumfries
5 Annan Dumfries

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lockerbie Dumfries and Galloway
2 Gretna Dumfries and Galloway
3 Summerville Dumfries and Galloway
4 Langholm and Eskdale Dumfries and Galloway
5 Carlisle 002 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gass

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gass

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gass 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

Gass is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gass

The surname GASS has its origins in the German language, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "gast," which meant "guest" or "stranger." This name was likely given to someone who had settled in a new area or was considered a newcomer.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname GASS can be found in a document from the German town of Esslingen, dated 1285. The document refers to a certain "Conradus dictus Gast," which translates to "Conrad, called Guest." This suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive nickname before becoming a hereditary surname.

In the 14th century, the surname GASS appeared in various forms, such as "Gast," "Gest," and "Geste," in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Swabia. The variations in spelling were common during this period, as standardized spellings were not yet established.

A notable early bearer of the surname was Johann Gass, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from 1498 to 1552. He was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and authored several influential works on theology and ethics.

Another significant figure was Johann Gass, a German composer and organist who lived from 1674 to 1737. He is remembered for his contributions to the development of the organ concerto and his works for the Lutheran church.

In the 18th century, the surname GASS spread beyond Germany to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. One notable bearer was Joachim Gass, a German-American pioneer and fur trader who lived from 1766 to 1835. He played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of the American West.

In the 19th century, the surname GASS was found in various regions of the United States, particularly in areas with significant German immigration. One notable figure from this period was Patrick Gass, an American soldier and explorer who lived from 1771 to 1870. He was a member of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition and kept a detailed journal of their journey across the western United States.

As the GASS surname spread across different regions and cultures, its spelling and pronunciation evolved. However, its origins can be traced back to the German word "gast," which served as a descriptive nickname for those who were considered newcomers or guests in a particular area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gass families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gass 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. Dumfriesshire leads with 81 Gass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.81x.

County Total Index
Dumfriesshire 81 78.81x
Lancashire 60 1.09x
Middlesex 52 1.12x
Cumberland 33 8.24x
Ayrshire 30 8.62x
Kirkcudbrightshire 28 41.57x
Lanarkshire 28 1.86x
Dunbartonshire 26 20.79x
Westmorland 18 17.60x
Roxburghshire 10 11.87x
Oxfordshire 9 3.13x
Cheshire 8 0.78x
Devon 8 0.83x
Hampshire 8 0.84x
Pembrokeshire 8 5.41x
Somerset 8 1.07x
Durham 7 0.51x
Kent 7 0.44x
Staffordshire 7 0.45x
Dorset 6 1.96x
Northumberland 6 0.87x
Essex 5 0.54x
Surrey 5 0.22x
Yorkshire 5 0.11x
Renfrewshire 3 0.83x
Gloucestershire 2 0.22x
Midlothian 2 0.32x
Norfolk 2 0.28x
Stirlingshire 2 1.17x
Hertfordshire 1 0.31x
Suffolk 1 0.18x
Sussex 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilmarnock in Ayrshire leads with 25 Gass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.31x.

Place Total Index
Kilmarnock 25 60.31x
Barony 18 4.73x
Kirkpatrick Fleming 17 723.40x
Dalton 14 1521.74x
Annan 13 147.23x
Barrow In Furness 12 15.98x
Dornock 12 923.08x
Row 11 67.99x
Shoreditch London 11 5.45x
Bonhill 10 49.83x
Hawick 10 53.02x
Liverpool 9 2.68x
Mile End New Town London 9 97.93x
Oxford St Giles 9 65.65x
St Pancras London 9 2.40x
Bruton 8 271.19x
Morton 8 234.60x
Penally 8 816.33x
Rickergate 8 94.34x
Govan 7 1.88x
Kirkpatrick Durham 7 333.33x
Openshaw 7 27.07x
Sanguhar 7 510.95x
Whitehaven 7 32.79x
Wolverhampton 7 5.80x
Crossmichael 6 281.69x
Little Bolton 6 8.45x
Sturminster 6 202.70x
Troqueer 6 67.87x
Bewcastle 5 352.11x
Birkenhead 5 6.11x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 5.70x
Dalmellington 5 48.83x
East Chevington 5 217.39x
Gillingham 5 15.28x
Grayrigg 5 1388.89x
New Kilpatrick 5 42.05x
Portsea 5 2.68x
St Luke London 5 6.70x
St Marylebone London 5 2.01x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.98x
Dawdon 4 23.49x
Kirkland 4 183.49x
Tormoham 4 9.76x
Broadhempston 3 333.33x
Buittle 3 189.87x
Burgh By Sands 3 232.56x
Camberwell 3 1.01x
Cartmel Fell 3 638.30x
Cathcart 3 15.38x
Ellel 3 105.26x
Great Crosby 3 19.93x
Hampstead London 3 4.14x
Kendal 3 16.03x
Limehouse London 3 5.87x
Low Holme 3 132.74x
Poulton Barre 3 47.77x
Birkdale 2 14.32x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 2.33x
Caldewgate 2 9.11x
Dacre 2 194.17x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 0.80x
Elmstead 2 135.14x
Everton 2 1.14x
Falkirk 2 4.98x
Glasgow 2 0.75x
Great Yarmouth 2 3.38x
Gretna 2 103.63x
Hoddam 2 80.65x
Kelton 2 36.17x
Kirkcudbright 2 35.91x
Portsmouth 2 9.11x
Tranmere 2 5.30x
West Ham 2 0.99x
Hesket In Forest 1 31.95x
Loughton 1 22.03x
New Fishbourne 1 200.00x
Ruthwell 1 72.46x
Underbarrow Bradley 1 135.14x
Wormley 1 85.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 8
Margaret 8
Jane 7
Isabella 5
Alice 4
Emma 4
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Christina 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Jessie 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Teresa 2
Bertha 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eppy 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Ida 1
Jannet 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lucy 1
Marguaret 1
Maria 1
May 1
Nancy 1
Nellie 1
Patience 1
Phoebe 1
Prothesia 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Ruth 1
Sara 1
Sophie 1
Thomasina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 23
William 18
Thomas 10
George 8
Henry 8
James 8
Robert 8
Edward 6
Joseph 5
Walter 5
David 3
Peter 3
Alex 2
Charles 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
A. 1
Alexander 1
Amos 1
Arthur 1
Chas.Edwd. 1
Courtney 1
Daniel 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Garnet 1
Geo. 1
Geo.C. 1
Gustav 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Idm.Hus. 1
Louis 1
Misen 1
Richd. 1
Robertson 1
Saml. 1
Theodorus 1
Thos. 1
W. 1

FAQ

Gass surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gass surname in 1881?

In 1881, 478 people were recorded with the Gass surname. That placed it at #7,000 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gass surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 474 in 2016. That gives Gass a modern rank of #10,385.

What does the Gass surname mean?

An English occupational surname for someone who worked with glass or made glass windows.

What does the Gass map show?

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