UK surname
A surname derived from the Middle English word "gaudy", meaning showy or extravagant.
In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Gaudy surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #29,218 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newcastle All Saints, Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gaudy is 113 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 77.4%.
1881 census count
31
Ranked #29,218
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1891
113 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gaudy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gaudy surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 42 | #25,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 28 | #30,405 |
| 1881 | historical | 31 | #29,218 |
| 1891 | historical | 113 | #22,162 |
| 1901 | historical | 29 | #30,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 2 | #38,725 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 9 | #37,679 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newcastle All Saints, Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity, Edinburgh, Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), and Fordyce. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 2 | Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity | Cheshire |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), | Berkshire |
| 5 | Fordyce | Banff |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gaudy surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gaudy, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Gaudy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gaudy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Gaudy is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gaudy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gaudy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GAUDY is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for a maker or seller of gaudy, a type of colored cloth or a bright, showy fabric used for clothing and tapestries.
The word "gaudy" itself is derived from the Old French "gaudir," meaning "to rejoice" or "to make merry," reflecting the vibrant and festive nature of the fabrics associated with this name. The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to 1273, when a certain William le Gaudi was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various manuscripts and records across England. One notable example is the mention of John Gaudy in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1332. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname were likely involved in the textile trade or related occupations during that period.
Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Gawdy, Gaudye, and Gaudey, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in early modern times. One of the earliest recorded examples of the modern spelling "Gaudy" can be found in the Parish Registers of St. Mary, Newington, Surrey, where a certain Elizabeth Gaudy was baptized in 1587.
Several notable individuals have borne the surname GAUDY throughout history. One such figure was Sir John Gaudy (1516-1588), a prominent English judge who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another was Sir Bassingbourne Gaudy (1585-1638), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Suffolk.
In the realm of literature, Henry Gaudy (1779-1850) was an English writer and clergyman who published works on theology and philosophy. Additionally, Sir George Gaudy (1862-1925) was a British Army officer who served in the Second Boer War and World War I, rising to the rank of Lieutenant General.
One of the more recent notable figures with the surname GAUDY was Sir John Acworth Gaudy (1909-1992), a British civil servant who served as the Governor of the Falkland Islands from 1946 to 1949.
The surname GAUDY, with its rich history and associations with the textile trade, has left an indelible mark on the tapestry of English surnames, reflecting the vibrant and colorful heritage of those who bore this name throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gaudy surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 9 Gaudys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.51x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 9 | 2.51x |
| Norfolk | 5 | 10.76x |
| Midlothian | 4 | 9.87x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 1.33x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 4.84x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 3.80x |
| Angus | 1 | 3.57x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.33x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 2.45x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 5.36x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Trowse Cum Newton in Norfolk leads with 5 Gaudys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4545.45x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Trowse Cum Newton | 5 | 4545.45x |
| South Leith | 4 | 87.72x |
| West Derby | 4 | 38.10x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 3 | 49.26x |
| Southampton St Mary | 3 | 76.92x |
| Penarth | 2 | 392.16x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 16.46x |
| Dundee | 1 | 9.56x |
| Garston | 1 | 94.34x |
| Gorton | 1 | 29.67x |
| Heaton Norris | 1 | 49.02x |
| Henley On Thames | 1 | 263.16x |
| Kilnsea | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Radcliffe On Trent | 1 | 1666.67x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 6.20x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gaudy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gaudy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Gaudy households.
FAQ
In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Gaudy surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Gaudy a modern rank of #37,967.
A surname derived from the Middle English word "gaudy", meaning showy or extravagant.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gaudy bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.