UK surname
A surname likely derived from the Old English word "geac" meaning a cuckoo.
In the 1881 census there were 43 people recorded with the Gaugh surname, ranking it #27,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #27,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), and Aberdare. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gaugh is 367 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 88.4%.
1881 census count
43
Ranked #27,575
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1861
367 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gaugh surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gaugh 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 | 159 | #12,400 |
| 1861 | historical | 367 | #6,963 |
| 1881 | historical | 43 | #27,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 184 | #15,869 |
| 1901 | historical | 65 | #26,917 |
| 1911 | historical | 96 | #23,193 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 3 | #38,546 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 2 | #38,791 |
| 2015 | modern | 3 | #38,558 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),, Aberdare, Cannock and Liverpool. 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 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 2 | Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), | Berkshire |
| 3 | Aberdare | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | Cannock | Staffordshire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gaugh 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 Gaugh, 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 Gaugh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gaugh 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, Gaugh 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 Gaugh is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gaugh, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GAUGH is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "gau," which means "valley" or "ravine." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a valley or ravine.
The earliest recorded instances of the name GAUGH can be traced back to the 13th century, with one of the earliest known bearers being Robert de Gaugh, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. The name was also found in various other medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, where a John de Gaugh was listed in 1379.
In the 14th century, the name appeared with various spellings, including Gough, Goughe, and Gowghe, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that time. The variant spelling "Gough" was particularly prominent in the counties of Shropshire and Worcestershire.
One notable figure bearing the name GAUGH was Sir Henry Gough (1517-1573), an English politician and landowner from Wolverhampton who served as a Member of Parliament for Staffordshire in the 16th century.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Field Marshal Sir Hugh Gough (1779-1869), a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in India. He played a significant role in the First Anglo-Sikh War and the Second Anglo-Sikh War.
In the literary world, the name GAUGH is associated with John Gough (1805-1881), an American temperance orator and activist who was renowned for his powerful speeches advocating against the consumption of alcohol.
The GAUGH surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Gough's Coppice in Worcestershire and Gough's Plantation in Shropshire, further reinforcing the name's connection to the landscape and geography of the regions where it originated.
While the surname GAUGH may not be as common today as it once was, its historical roots and associations with notable figures and places serve as a testament to the rich and varied tapestry of English surnames.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gaugh 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 Gaughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.05x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 9 | 2.05x |
| Dorset | 5 | 20.57x |
| Monmouthshire | 5 | 18.67x |
| Durham | 4 | 3.63x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 4.13x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 7.19x |
| Denbighshire | 2 | 14.30x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.54x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 6.11x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.22x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 1.72x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.68x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.55x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Salford in Lancashire leads with 7 Gaughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.14x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Salford | 7 | 54.14x |
| Bedwellty | 5 | 105.71x |
| Swanage | 5 | 1666.67x |
| Westoe | 4 | 64.00x |
| Hardwicke | 3 | 3750.00x |
| Clewer | 2 | 175.44x |
| Swindon | 2 | 78.74x |
| Bersham | 1 | 166.67x |
| Bradford | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Breadsall | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Broughton | 1 | 181.82x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 4.23x |
| Enfield | 1 | 41.15x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 4.86x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 3.75x |
| Nether Peover | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Withington | 1 | 70.42x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gaugh 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 Gaugh 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 Gaugh households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Scholar (Student) | 3 |
| Agricultural Lab | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Booking Clerk Railway Station | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| General Ser | 1 |
| General Warehouseman | 1 |
| Genl Ser Dom | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Dom) | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Railway Porter G N Railway | 1 |
| Road Lab Foreman To Local Board | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 43 people were recorded with the Gaugh surname. That placed it at #27,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Gaugh a modern rank of #38,264.
A surname likely derived from the Old English word "geac" meaning a cuckoo.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gaugh 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.