NameCensus.

UK surname

Gathercole

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "bramble valley" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 619 people recorded with the Gathercole surname, ranking it #5,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 832, ranked #6,692, down from #5,695 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lakenheath and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest Heath, North Lincolnshire and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gathercole is 911 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.4%.

1881 census count

619

Ranked #5,695

Modern count

832

2016, ranked #6,692

Peak year

1911

911 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gathercole had 619 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,695 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 832 in 2016, ranked #6,692.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 911 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gathercole surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gathercole surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gathercole 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 554 #4,574
1861 historical 537 #4,889
1881 historical 619 #5,695
1891 historical 698 #5,614
1901 historical 868 #5,281
1911 historical 911 #4,901
1997 modern 883 #6,051
1998 modern 883 #6,262
1999 modern 890 #6,257
2000 modern 895 #6,200
2001 modern 871 #6,213
2002 modern 865 #6,386
2003 modern 835 #6,426
2004 modern 830 #6,466
2005 modern 829 #6,426
2006 modern 811 #6,548
2007 modern 827 #6,511
2008 modern 826 #6,565
2009 modern 832 #6,674
2010 modern 845 #6,727
2011 modern 849 #6,623
2012 modern 835 #6,621
2013 modern 840 #6,697
2014 modern 850 #6,655
2015 modern 846 #6,640
2016 modern 832 #6,692

Geography

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Where Gathercoles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lakenheath, Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict and Eriswell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest Heath, North Lincolnshire, Fenland, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and East Cambridgeshire. 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 Lakenheath Suffolk
4 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire
5 Eriswell Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest Heath 001 Forest Heath
2 North Lincolnshire 013 North Lincolnshire
3 Fenland 003 Fenland
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 013 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 East Cambridgeshire 001 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gathercole

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gathercole

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gathercole is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gathercole is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gathercole

The surname Gathercole has its origins in the British Isles, specifically in England. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "gæder" meaning "to gather" and "col" meaning "coal," suggesting a connection to an occupation related to coal mining or gathering coal.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where the name is recorded as "Gathercolle." This historical record provides evidence of the surname's existence in the late 13th century.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Gadercolle" and "Gathercolle," in records from counties like Sussex and Kent. These variations in spelling were common during that time period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

The Gathercole surname is also associated with certain place names in England. For instance, the village of Gathercoal in Kent is believed to be named after the surname, suggesting a connection between the name and a specific location.

Among notable individuals with the surname Gathercole throughout history, one can mention:

1. John Gathercole (c. 1590 - c. 1650), an English merchant and ship owner from Plymouth who was involved in the colonization of Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century.

2. William Gathercole (1751 - 1821), a British architect and surveyor who worked on various projects in London and the surrounding areas.

3. Elizabeth Gathercole (1765 - 1845), a prominent philanthropist and social reformer from Kent, known for her efforts in improving the living conditions of the poor.

4. James Gathercole (1811 - 1885), a British engineer and inventor who held several patents related to steam engines and agricultural machinery.

5. Mary Gathercole (1870 - 1958), a pioneering female doctor from Yorkshire who specialized in pediatrics and worked tirelessly to improve child health and welfare.

These examples illustrate the presence of the Gathercole surname across different regions of England and various professions throughout history, highlighting its enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gathercole families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gathercole 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. Norfolk leads with 138 Gathercoles recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.01x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 138 15.01x
Suffolk 92 12.63x
Middlesex 71 1.19x
Cambridgeshire 57 15.05x
Surrey 55 1.89x
Yorkshire 51 0.86x
Lancashire 38 0.54x
Warwickshire 23 1.53x
Hertfordshire 18 4.37x
Kent 15 0.74x
Essex 13 1.10x
Bedfordshire 9 2.91x
Huntingdonshire 7 5.90x
Lincolnshire 6 0.63x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.74x
Sussex 4 0.40x
Durham 3 0.17x
Somerset 3 0.31x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Gloucestershire 1 0.09x
Leicestershire 1 0.15x
Northamptonshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lakenheath in Suffolk leads with 44 Gathercoles recorded in 1881 and an index of 1142.86x.

Place Total Index
Lakenheath 44 1142.86x
Eriswell 19 2111.11x
Lower Upper Holker 18 1855.67x
Lambeth 16 3.07x
Wisbech St Peter 16 84.25x
Feltwell 14 786.52x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 13 78.69x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 13 47.10x
Brandon 12 242.92x
Tottenham 12 12.60x
Broxbourne 11 134.64x
Gooderstone 11 1100.00x
Shoreditch London 10 3.86x
Thearne 10 5000.00x
Luton 9 16.79x
Streatham 9 20.28x
Wandsworth 9 15.64x
Arrow 8 1126.76x
Camberwell 8 2.09x
Feltwell Feltwell Anchor 8 479.04x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 8 194.65x
Little Bealings 8 1666.67x
South Lynn 8 77.07x
Birmingham 7 1.39x
Bury St Edmunds St James 7 35.99x
Greenwich 7 7.35x
Hammersmith London 7 4.75x
Hemingford Grey 7 384.62x
St George Hanover Square 7 6.64x
Stanford 7 1944.44x
Battersea 6 2.73x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.31x
Paglesham 6 571.43x
Stoke Ferry 6 428.57x
Wretton 6 895.52x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 5 65.96x
Croydon 5 3.09x
Doncaster 5 11.55x
Islington London 5 0.86x
Leamington Priors 5 13.47x
Little Amwell 5 347.22x
Mattishall 5 271.74x
Methwold 5 168.35x
Nottingham St Mary 5 2.40x
Sutton St Mary 5 55.31x
West Ham 5 1.92x
Chattisham 4 888.89x
Elm 4 107.82x
Emneth 4 195.12x
Kensington London 4 1.20x
Lotherton Cum Aberford 4 439.56x
Newchurch 4 6.89x
Ringstead 4 425.53x
South Cowton 4 1739.13x
St Marylebone London 4 1.25x
Woolwich 4 5.31x
Armley 3 11.48x
Brightside Bierlow 3 2.58x
Charlton Next Woolwich 3 14.10x
Chatteris 3 31.06x
Dulverton 3 106.38x
Goole 3 30.21x
March 3 23.66x
Marske In Guisbrough 3 28.52x
Melbourne 3 315.79x
Ruislip 3 100.67x
Saham Toney 3 120.97x
St Andrewthe Less 3 6.93x
St Olave Hart Street 3 576.92x
St Pancras London 3 0.62x
Thornley 3 46.58x
Aston 2 0.48x
Beverley St Nicholas 2 41.15x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 2 14.63x
Chelsea London 2 1.11x
Finchley 2 8.72x
Heigham 2 4.05x
Reddish 2 20.47x
St Marythe Less 2 86.96x
Wiggenhall St Mary 2 140.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Sarah 34
Elizabeth 31
Eliza 11
Hannah 11
Emma 10
Ann 8
Annie 8
Susan 8
Ellen 7
Jane 7
Martha 7
Matilda 6
Rebecca 6
Ada 5
Charlotte 5
Fanny 5
Rose 5
Alice 4
Amelia 4
Esther 4
Harriet 4
Edith 3
Emily 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Sophia 3
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Eliz. 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Laura 2
Lavinia 2
Lillie 2
Margaret 2
Nancy 2
Susannah 2
Adeleade 1
Alma 1
Bdg. 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 45
John 41
James 31
George 24
Robert 17
Thomas 11
Henry 9
Charles 8
Joseph 7
Frederick 6
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Matthew 5
Richard 5
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
Fredk. 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Ambrose 2
Ebenezer 2
Francis 2
Lewis 2
Michael 2
Stephen 2
Titus 2
W. 2
Walter 2
Watson 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Archie 1
Chas. 1
Clifton 1
David 1
Ezra 1
Frank. 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Hennels 1
Jno. 1
Jonah 1
Jonathan 1
Mark 1
Philip 1
Ruben 1
Saml. 1
Wm.Hy.Joseph 1

FAQ

Gathercole surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gathercole surname in 1881?

In 1881, 619 people were recorded with the Gathercole surname. That placed it at #5,695 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gathercole surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 832 in 2016. That gives Gathercole a modern rank of #6,692.

What does the Gathercole surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "bramble valley" in Old English.

What does the Gathercole map show?

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