NameCensus.

UK surname

Gauntlett

An occupational surname historically relating to the maker of armoured gauntlets or gloves.

In the 1881 census there were 558 people recorded with the Gauntlett surname, ranking it #6,201 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 856, ranked #6,542, down from #6,201 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Trowbridge, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torfaen, Chichester and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gauntlett is 874 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.4%.

1881 census count

558

Ranked #6,201

Modern count

856

2016, ranked #6,542

Peak year

2000

874 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gauntlett had 558 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,201 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 856 in 2016, ranked #6,542.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 770 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Gauntlett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gauntlett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gauntlett 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 325 #7,157
1861 historical 311 #8,151
1881 historical 558 #6,201
1891 historical 584 #6,539
1901 historical 703 #6,266
1911 historical 770 #5,629
1997 modern 804 #6,516
1998 modern 829 #6,567
1999 modern 839 #6,552
2000 modern 874 #6,316
2001 modern 863 #6,261
2002 modern 866 #6,378
2003 modern 819 #6,526
2004 modern 797 #6,687
2005 modern 786 #6,695
2006 modern 760 #6,908
2007 modern 777 #6,858
2008 modern 762 #7,024
2009 modern 787 #6,983
2010 modern 824 #6,851
2011 modern 834 #6,706
2012 modern 836 #6,613
2013 modern 849 #6,643
2014 modern 866 #6,569
2015 modern 847 #6,631
2016 modern 856 #6,542

Geography

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Where Gauntletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Trowbridge, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torfaen, Chichester and South Gloucestershire. 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 Trowbridge Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torfaen 003 Torfaen
2 Torfaen 002 Torfaen
3 Chichester 001 Chichester
4 Torfaen 004 Torfaen
5 South Gloucestershire 024 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gauntlett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gauntlett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gauntlett, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Gauntlett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Gauntlett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Gauntlett is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gauntlett is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gauntlett falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gauntlett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gauntlett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gauntlett

The surname Gauntlett originated in England during the 12th century. It is believed to be an occupational name derived from the Old French word "gantelet," meaning a small glove or gauntlet. The name likely referred to a maker or seller of gauntlets, which were protective gloves worn by knights and soldiers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Surrey from 1194, where a person named Simon Gantelet is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, listing a William Gauntlet.

During the Middle Ages, the name was primarily concentrated in the southern counties of England, particularly in Surrey, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. It is possible that some of the earliest bearers of the name were associated with the production or trade of gauntlets for military purposes.

In the 13th century, the name can be found in various historical records, such as the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1262, which mentions a John Gantelet. The Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1327 also list a William Gauntelet.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Gauntlett (c. 1530-1593), an English courtier and military officer who served under Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the suppression of the Northern Rebellion in 1569.

Another prominent individual was Henry Gauntlett (1805-1876), an English composer and organist who is best known for his hymn tunes, including the widely popular "Irby" and "Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven."

In the 17th century, the surname Gauntlett appeared in various parish records, such as those of St. Botolph without Aldgate in London, where a marriage between Daniell Gauntlett and Elizabeth Harman was recorded in 1633.

The Gauntlett family also had a presence in Ireland, as evidenced by the birth of Richard Gauntlett in Dublin in 1762. He later became a renowned composer and organist, known for his works for the Anglican church.

Another notable figure was Sir Willoughby Gauntlett (1809-1888), a British lawyer and judge who served as a puisne judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia, from 1858 to 1880.

While the surname Gauntlett has evolved in spelling over the centuries, with variations such as Gantelet, Gauntlet, and Gantlet, its origins can be traced back to the occupational name associated with the production or trade of gauntlets in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gauntlett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gauntlett 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 180 Gauntletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.05x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 180 16.05x
Middlesex 87 1.59x
Wiltshire 61 12.60x
Surrey 52 1.95x
Monmouthshire 26 6.57x
Devon 23 2.02x
Berkshire 21 5.11x
Sussex 14 1.52x
Yorkshire 13 0.24x
Kent 12 0.64x
Lancashire 12 0.18x
Glamorgan 11 1.15x
Warwickshire 9 0.65x
Cumberland 7 1.49x
Essex 6 0.56x
Somerset 6 0.68x
Staffordshire 5 0.27x
Durham 4 0.25x
Gloucestershire 4 0.37x
Royal Navy 3 4.60x
Suffolk 3 0.45x
Dorset 1 0.28x
Leicestershire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 78 Gauntletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.48x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 78 35.48x
Bramshott 27 974.73x
Trowbridge 27 126.23x
Trevethin 26 69.59x
Headley 19 622.95x
St Pancras London 17 3.86x
Salford 11 5.76x
Camberwell 10 2.86x
Millbrook 10 35.40x
Urchfont 10 505.05x
Westminster St Margaret 10 37.88x
Aston 9 2.37x
Kensington London 9 2.96x
Kingston On Thames 9 14.05x
Linthorpe 9 27.81x
Paddington London 9 4.47x
Clewer 8 47.53x
Exeter St Sidwell 8 30.66x
Grove 8 769.23x
Merthyr Tydfil 8 8.74x
Islington London 7 1.32x
Lambeth 7 1.47x
St Maurice Winchester 7 150.21x
Workington 7 25.95x
Mile End Old Town London 6 5.15x
South Stoneham 6 24.66x
West Ham 6 2.52x
Whippingham 6 70.67x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.10x
Bromley 5 17.57x
Kingston 5 318.47x
Selborne 5 219.30x
Wednesbury 5 10.83x
Bishopwearmouth 4 2.86x
Brighton 4 2.15x
Chelsea London 4 2.43x
Chichester St Pancras 4 144.93x
Damerham 4 344.83x
Exeter St Thomas The 4 34.45x
Holdenhurst 4 13.60x
Stoke Damerel 4 5.02x
Wantage 4 61.07x
Wilton 4 116.96x
Woolwich 4 5.80x
Bedminster 3 3.62x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 2.97x
Devizes St John 3 82.64x
Downton 3 47.39x
Eastbourne 3 7.07x
Egham 3 18.33x
Hackney London 3 0.98x
Hammersmith London 3 2.23x
Mortlake 3 25.25x
Newington 3 1.48x
Rattlesden 3 153.85x
Royal Navy 3 5.38x
St Luke London 3 3.42x
Swansea Town 3 3.84x
Witley 3 159.57x
Alverstoke 2 4.93x
Battersea 2 0.99x
Clapham 2 2.92x
Croydon 2 1.35x
Ealing 2 4.09x
Farnham 2 9.65x
Friern Barnet 2 16.60x
Hale 2 714.29x
Hythe St Leonard 2 30.30x
Liss 2 87.72x
Little Bedwyn 2 210.53x
Lymington 2 24.27x
Market Lavington 2 76.34x
Middlesbrough 2 2.83x
Ottery St Mary 2 26.77x
Publow 2 200.00x
Sculcoates 2 2.33x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 1.82x
Southwark St John 2 11.95x
St Bartholomew Hyde 2 74.63x
Winkfield With Rowley 2 298.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Sarah 17
Elizabeth 15
Eliza 14
Ann 10
Annie 10
Emily 10
Louisa 10
Jane 9
Emma 8
Ellen 7
Alice 6
Caroline 6
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Florence 5
Hannah 5
Kate 5
Maria 5
Ada 4
Adelaide 4
Amelia 4
Clara 4
Frances 4
Harriett 4
Helen 4
Lilian 4
Martha 4
Rose 4
Georgina 3
Rosa 3
Susannah 3
A. 2
Amy 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Catherine 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Flarence 2
Henrietta 2
Josephine 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Minna 2
Sophia 2
Therrisa 2
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 32
William 29
John 18
Charles 16
James 16
Arthur 15
Henry 15
Alfred 9
Joseph 9
Thomas 9
Francis 8
Edward 5
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Edgar 2
Eli 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Mark 2
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Cedric 1
Cornelius 1
Earnest 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Hn. 1
Hugh 1
Jaques 1
Jas. 1
Jeremia 1
Jeremiah 1
Jerry 1
Jesse 1
Maude 1
Owen 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gauntlett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gauntlett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 558 people were recorded with the Gauntlett surname. That placed it at #6,201 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gauntlett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 856 in 2016. That gives Gauntlett a modern rank of #6,542.

What does the Gauntlett surname mean?

An occupational surname historically relating to the maker of armoured gauntlets or gloves.

What does the Gauntlett map show?

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