NameCensus.

UK surname

Gaster

An occupational surname derived from the Middle Low German word "gast", meaning a guest or innkeeper.

In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Gaster surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 142, ranked #24,625, down from #21,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and St Leonard Bromley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Wigan and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gaster is 166 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.1%.

1881 census count

83

Ranked #21,808

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

1999

166 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gaster had 83 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 161 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Gaster surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gaster surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gaster 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 60 #22,584
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 83 #21,808
1891 historical 123 #20,939
1901 historical 135 #19,203
1911 historical 161 #17,072
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 162 #20,673
1999 modern 166 #20,458
2000 modern 165 #20,501
2001 modern 161 #20,543
2002 modern 162 #20,839
2003 modern 158 #20,952
2004 modern 158 #21,077
2005 modern 152 #21,572
2006 modern 149 #22,013
2007 modern 146 #22,596
2008 modern 143 #23,160
2009 modern 146 #23,352
2010 modern 160 #22,487
2011 modern 149 #23,408
2012 modern 148 #23,457
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 147 #24,177
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Gasters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, St Leonard Bromley and All Saints Poplar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Wigan, Leeds and Wealden. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 St Leonard Bromley London (East Districts)
5 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 001 South Somerset
2 Wigan 020 Wigan
3 Leeds 009 Leeds
4 Wigan 015 Wigan
5 Wealden 008 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gaster

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gaster

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Gaster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Gaster 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Gaster is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gaster is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gaster falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gaster

The surname Gaster originated in England, with its earliest recorded uses dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "gæst," meaning a guest or stranger. This suggests that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was perceived as a newcomer or visitor in a particular area.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. This document mentions a William Gaster, who was a resident of the village of Bassingbourn at that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including Gester, Gestere, and Gestour, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in medieval times. These variations likely stemmed from the way the name was pronounced in different regions.

During the Tudor period, the Gaster surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk. The parish registers of Beccles, Suffolk, record the marriage of John Gaster and Alice Brice in 1568.

Notable individuals bearing the Gaster surname include:

1. Sir Edmund Gaster (c. 1500 - 1567), a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He served as Master of the Company in 1558.

2. John Gaster (1586 - 1649), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, from 1633 until his death.

3. Moses Gaster (1856 - 1939), a Romanian-born British scholar and writer who specialized in the study of Jewish literature and folklore. He was instrumental in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Sephardic Jewish community.

4. Theodore Gaster (1893 - 1971), a British anthropologist and scholar of comparative religion. He is best known for his work on ancient Near Eastern texts and their influence on the Bible.

5. Adrienne Gaster (1925 - 2022), a British author and playwright who wrote several children's books, including "The Green Children" and "The Salamander Spell."

While the Gaster surname has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. The name continues to be found in various English-speaking countries, as well as in communities with historical ties to Britain.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gaster families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gaster 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 43 Gasters recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.31x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 43 5.31x
Surrey 8 2.03x
Hampshire 6 3.62x
Sussex 6 4.40x
Midlothian 5 4.61x
Somerset 4 3.07x
Essex 3 1.88x
Nottinghamshire 3 2.75x
Kent 2 0.72x
Lancashire 2 0.21x
Gloucestershire 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Poplar London in Middlesex leads with 22 Gasters recorded in 1881 and an index of 143.98x.

Place Total Index
Poplar London 22 143.98x
Bromley London 14 78.61x
Islington London 6 7.65x
Whippingham 6 476.19x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 11.46x
Lewes St John Southover 5 543.48x
Lambeth 4 5.67x
Lyncombe Widcombe 4 117.30x
Bisley 3 1666.67x
Southwell 3 379.75x
West Ham 3 8.50x
Chatham 2 26.32x
Brighton 1 3.63x
Clifton 1 12.45x
Levenshulme 1 101.01x
St George Hanover Square 1 7.01x
Toxteth Park 1 3.07x
Wandsworth 1 12.84x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Gaster surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gaster surname in 1881?

In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Gaster surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gaster surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Gaster a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Gaster surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Middle Low German word "gast", meaning a guest or innkeeper.

What does the Gaster map show?

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