NameCensus.

UK surname

Gatrell

An English surname derived from an Old French term for gatekeeper or toll collector.

In the 1881 census there were 216 people recorded with the Gatrell surname, ranking it #12,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 262, ranked #16,256, down from #12,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lymington, St Mary Whitechapel and Newchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Isle of Wight and Basildon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gatrell is 311 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.3%.

1881 census count

216

Ranked #12,222

Modern count

262

2016, ranked #16,256

Peak year

1997

311 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gatrell had 216 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016, ranked #16,256.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 265 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gatrell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gatrell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gatrell 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 122 #14,966
1861 historical 133 #16,835
1881 historical 216 #12,222
1891 historical 226 #13,668
1901 historical 239 #13,489
1911 historical 265 #12,422
1997 modern 311 #13,217
1998 modern 303 #13,809
1999 modern 300 #13,958
2000 modern 295 #14,070
2001 modern 277 #14,474
2002 modern 289 #14,341
2003 modern 281 #14,443
2004 modern 264 #15,156
2005 modern 256 #15,407
2006 modern 254 #15,560
2007 modern 255 #15,687
2008 modern 254 #15,903
2009 modern 262 #15,888
2010 modern 259 #16,386
2011 modern 259 #16,237
2012 modern 250 #16,523
2013 modern 258 #16,421
2014 modern 263 #16,334
2015 modern 263 #16,224
2016 modern 262 #16,256

Geography

Back to top

Where Gatrells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lymington, St Mary Whitechapel, Newchurch, South Stoneham and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Isle of Wight, Basildon, Wycombe and Southampton. 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 Lymington Hampshire
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 Newchurch Hampshire
4 South Stoneham Hampshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 025 Sunderland
2 Isle of Wight 018 Isle of Wight
3 Basildon 006 Basildon
4 Wycombe 011 Wycombe
5 Southampton 008 Southampton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gatrell

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gatrell

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

Gatrell is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gatrell

The surname Gatrell originated in England, specifically in Lancashire, during the late medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "gat," meaning a goat, and "relle," referring to a stream or a small watercourse. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a stream where goats were kept or grazed.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Lancashire Inquests of 1311, where a certain Adam del Gatrylle is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 16th century, the Gatrell surname appeared in various records across Lancashire and the neighboring counties of Yorkshire and Cheshire. For instance, in 1567, a John Gatrell was recorded as a resident of Bolton, Lancashire.

The Domesday Book, the great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Gatrell name. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the formation of the surname, such as Gaterid in Lincolnshire and Gateley in Staffordshire.

Throughout history, there have been notable individuals bearing the Gatrell surname. One such figure was Richard Gatrell (1650-1723), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Eccleston, Lancashire.

Another notable Gatrell was John Gatrell (1792-1853), a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in Liverpool, including the Liverpool Royal Institution and the Mersey Tunnel.

In the realm of literature, William Gatrell (1857-1924) was a respected English poet and author, known for his works celebrating the beauty of the English countryside.

Moving into the 20th century, Charles Gatrell (1909-1973) was a distinguished British historian and academic, known for his expertise in the history of the English Civil War.

Finally, it is worth mentioning Elizabeth Gatrell (1924-2008), a pioneering British social worker and campaigner for women's rights, who played a crucial role in the establishment of several support services for victims of domestic violence.

While the Gatrell surname may have evolved over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the pastoral landscapes of medieval Lancashire, where it originated as a descriptive name for those residing near streams frequented by goats.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gatrell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gatrell 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. Hampshire leads with 118 Gatrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.32x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 118 27.32x
Middlesex 41 1.95x
Sussex 26 7.32x
Kent 9 1.25x
Surrey 8 0.78x
Staffordshire 7 0.98x
Dorset 2 1.45x
Lincolnshire 2 0.59x
Yorkshire 2 0.10x
Cornwall 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. Ryde in Hampshire leads with 22 Gatrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 237.07x.

Place Total Index
Ryde 22 237.07x
Lymington 16 504.73x
St Helens 15 477.71x
South Stoneham 12 128.07x
Barnham 11 8461.54x
Newchurch 9 918.37x
Bethnal Green London 8 8.74x
Fordingbridge 8 340.43x
Arreton 7 507.25x
Shalfleet 7 843.37x
Wolverhampton 7 12.80x
Cuckfield 6 167.13x
Shoreditch London 6 6.57x
Worplesdon 6 483.87x
Brixton 5 1388.89x
Hackney London 5 4.23x
St Anne Soho London 5 41.56x
Felpham 4 975.61x
Lee 4 38.31x
St Pancras London 4 2.36x
Westminster St Margaret 4 39.37x
Bromley London 3 6.47x
Canterbury St Gregory 3 315.79x
Millbrook 3 27.57x
Portsmouth 3 30.18x
Great Grimsby 2 9.35x
Hanwell 2 53.48x
Hordle 2 266.67x
Hougham 2 46.84x
Kensington London 2 1.71x
Milton 2 186.92x
Rockbourne 2 606.06x
Tarrant Keynston 2 1000.00x
York St Lawrence 2 91.74x
Brighton 1 1.40x
Calbourne 1 217.39x
Camberwell 1 0.74x
Funtington 1 125.00x
Hampstead London 1 3.05x
Holdenhurst 1 8.83x
Hove 1 6.41x
Lambeth 1 0.54x
Oving 1 83.33x
Portslade 1 46.08x
Saltash 1 54.05x
Shanklin 1 77.52x
Southampton All Sts 1 13.50x
Sway 1 172.41x
Westminster St John 1 3.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Charles 13
William 11
James 9
Henry 8
Frederick 7
George 7
Frank 6
Thomas 6
Joseph 5
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
John 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Wm. 2
Chas. 1
Edward 1
F. 1
Geo.F. 1
Jesse 1
Lewis 1
Maris 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
O. 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Gatrell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gatrell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 216 people were recorded with the Gatrell surname. That placed it at #12,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gatrell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016. That gives Gatrell a modern rank of #16,256.

What does the Gatrell surname mean?

An English surname derived from an Old French term for gatekeeper or toll collector.

What does the Gatrell map show?

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