NameCensus.

UK surname

Gaston

A French topographic surname for someone who lived near a large house, from Old French gaste meaning "residence."

In the 1881 census there were 548 people recorded with the Gaston surname, ranking it #6,297 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 868, ranked #6,467, down from #6,297 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ringmer, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Sussex, Gateshead and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gaston is 879 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.4%.

1881 census count

548

Ranked #6,297

Modern count

868

2016, ranked #6,467

Peak year

2013

879 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gaston had 548 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,297 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 868 in 2016, ranked #6,467.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 705 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gaston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gaston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gaston 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 238 #9,120
1861 historical 350 #7,295
1881 historical 548 #6,297
1891 historical 657 #5,915
1901 historical 698 #6,305
1911 historical 705 #6,048
1997 modern 781 #6,668
1998 modern 805 #6,719
1999 modern 813 #6,709
2000 modern 825 #6,617
2001 modern 813 #6,560
2002 modern 810 #6,703
2003 modern 781 #6,787
2004 modern 792 #6,733
2005 modern 784 #6,708
2006 modern 781 #6,759
2007 modern 803 #6,661
2008 modern 795 #6,786
2009 modern 849 #6,570
2010 modern 851 #6,683
2011 modern 856 #6,578
2012 modern 842 #6,573
2013 modern 879 #6,469
2014 modern 878 #6,492
2015 modern 871 #6,474
2016 modern 868 #6,467

Geography

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Where Gastons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ringmer, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, Berkeley and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Sussex, Gateshead, South Cambridgeshire and Gloucester. 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 Ringmer Sussex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Berkeley Gloucestershire
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Sussex 014 Mid Sussex
2 Gateshead 001 Gateshead
3 South Cambridgeshire 017 South Cambridgeshire
4 Gloucester 001 Gloucester
5 Mid Sussex 013 Mid Sussex

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gaston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gaston

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Gaston is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gaston is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gaston

The surname Gaston originated in France during the late medieval period, arising from the personal name Gaston, which itself derived from the Germanic elements "gast" meaning "stranger" or "guest" and "hun" meaning "warrior" or "fighter." This combination suggests the name may have been given to a foreigner or outsider who displayed prowess in battle.

Records indicate the name was particularly prevalent in the Gascony region of southwestern France, where it likely emerged as a distinguishing surname among the local nobility and landed gentry. One of the earliest documented instances is found in the 12th century Cartulary of Conques, which mentions a Gastonis de Bearnio.

The surname gained prominence through the illustrious Gastons of the Foix-Béarn dynasty, who ruled over the County of Foix and later the Kingdom of Navarre from the 11th to the 16th centuries. Notable bearers include Gaston IV of Béarn (c. 1225-1290), a powerful military leader during the Albigensian Crusade, and Gaston de Foix (1489-1512), a renowned French military commander praised for his bravery at the Battle of Ravenna.

Other early mentions can be found in the 13th century English Pipe Rolls, which record a Willelmus Gaston and a Robertus Gaston. Meanwhile, the 14th century Poll Tax records of Yorkshire list several individuals with the Gaston surname, suggesting it had spread beyond France by that point.

In later centuries, the name continued to be associated with notable figures, such as the French philosopher and satirist Jacques Gaston (1657-1733), and the British naval officer Sir Gaston Lefebvre (1809-1889), who played a key role in the Crimean War. The American artist Tessa Gaston (1844-1923) was also a renowned portraitist during the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gaston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gaston 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. Sussex leads with 199 Gastons recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.04x.

County Total Index
Sussex 199 22.04x
Surrey 57 2.18x
Gloucestershire 56 5.33x
Kent 51 2.79x
Middlesex 37 0.69x
Hampshire 25 2.28x
Lanarkshire 22 1.27x
Renfrewshire 18 4.34x
Yorkshire 9 0.17x
Lancashire 8 0.13x
Angus 7 1.41x
Derbyshire 7 0.83x
Essex 7 0.66x
Worcestershire 7 1.00x
Northamptonshire 6 1.19x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.83x
Berkshire 4 1.00x
Devon 4 0.36x
Warwickshire 4 0.30x
Cheshire 3 0.25x
Durham 3 0.19x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.46x
Dorset 1 0.28x
Leicestershire 1 0.17x
Northumberland 1 0.13x
Perthshire 1 0.42x
Royal Navy 1 1.57x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x
Suffolk 1 0.15x
West Lothian 1 1.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 72 Gastons recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.53x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 72 39.53x
Lindfield 19 497.38x
Waldron 16 650.41x
Barony 15 3.42x
Camberwell 15 4.39x
Berkeley 14 239.73x
Deptford St Paul 13 9.22x
Keymer 12 188.09x
Eastbourne 11 26.47x
Newington 11 5.56x
Croydon 10 6.90x
Ringmer 10 393.70x
Berkeley Hamfallow 9 473.68x
Clayton 9 264.71x
Cuckfield 9 98.68x
Stroud 9 44.03x
Beddingham 8 975.61x
Deptford St Nicholas 8 55.17x
Renfrew 8 58.39x
Christchurch 7 29.41x
Mayfield 7 131.09x
Panbride 7 271.32x
Port Glasgow 7 34.90x
St Martin In Fields 7 21.83x
West Ham 7 3.00x
Wolverley 7 114.01x
Battersea 6 3.04x
Great Addington 6 1034.48x
Newick 6 301.51x
Slimbridge 6 384.62x
Tonbridge 6 9.10x
Tuxford 6 338.98x
Bow London 5 7.33x
Fulham London 5 6.44x
Glasgow 5 1.63x
Greenwich 5 5.87x
Portsea 5 2.32x
Southampton St Mary 5 7.24x
Allestree 4 373.83x
Birmingham 4 0.89x
Clayton 4 30.79x
Ifield 4 106.10x
Lambeth 4 0.86x
Lewisham 4 4.11x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 3.71x
St Lawrence 4 31.85x
St Marylebone London 4 1.40x
Woolwich 4 5.93x
Abbey 3 4.74x
Batley 3 5.95x
Betchworth 3 93.17x
Birkenhead 3 3.18x
Cheltenham 3 3.70x
Clewer 3 18.21x
Everton 3 1.48x
Gloucester St Nicholas 3 61.73x
Kensington London 3 1.01x
Newchurch 3 120.48x
North Waltham 3 394.74x
Poplar London 3 2.97x
Rotherfield 3 37.74x
Sawley 3 118.58x
Stockton On Tees 3 3.91x
Stoke 3 66.52x
Walton On Hill 3 8.72x
Chelsea London 2 1.24x
Chiddingstone 2 83.68x
Govan 2 0.47x
Lewes St John Southover 2 33.00x
Mangotsfield 2 19.10x
South Hamlet 2 30.77x
Strood 2 19.19x
Wadhurst 2 33.73x
Warnham 2 102.56x
Wickwar 2 118.34x
Winterbourne 2 34.48x
Dover St James 1 12.48x
Holy Trinity 1 0.78x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 2.10x
Paddington London 1 0.51x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Gaston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gaston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 548 people were recorded with the Gaston surname. That placed it at #6,297 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gaston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 868 in 2016. That gives Gaston a modern rank of #6,467.

What does the Gaston surname mean?

A French topographic surname for someone who lived near a large house, from Old French gaste meaning "residence."

What does the Gaston map show?

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