UK surname
A surname possibly derived from the Welsh name "Gavin" meaning "hawk" or "white hawk".
In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Gaven surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33, ranked #35,829, down from #15,046 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Manchester and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gaven is 203 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 79.0%.
1881 census count
157
Ranked #15,046
Modern count
33
2016, ranked #35,829
Peak year
1861
203 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gaven surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gaven surname density by area, 1881 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 | 145 | #13,223 |
| 1861 | historical | 203 | #11,865 |
| 1881 | historical | 157 | #15,046 |
| 1891 | historical | 158 | #17,705 |
| 1901 | historical | 109 | #21,712 |
| 1911 | historical | 68 | #26,050 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 23 | #35,603 |
| 1999 | modern | 26 | #35,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 25 | #35,382 |
| 2001 | modern | 25 | #35,248 |
| 2002 | modern | 22 | #35,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 26 | #35,371 |
| 2004 | modern | 25 | #35,610 |
| 2005 | modern | 28 | #35,510 |
| 2006 | modern | 26 | #35,822 |
| 2007 | modern | 29 | #35,725 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 28 | #35,988 |
| 2010 | modern | 28 | #36,084 |
| 2011 | modern | 26 | #36,193 |
| 2012 | modern | 32 | #35,820 |
| 2013 | modern | 36 | #35,643 |
| 2014 | modern | 35 | #35,722 |
| 2015 | modern | 36 | #35,654 |
| 2016 | modern | 33 | #35,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Manchester, St Marylebone, Oldswinford 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Oldswinford | Worcestershire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gaven 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 Gaven, 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 Gaven surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gaven 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, Gaven 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 Gaven is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gaven, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gaven is believed to have originated in Scotland, with its roots traceable back to the 16th century. It is thought to be a variation of the Gaelic name Gobhan, which means "smith" or "blacksmith." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have been involved in metalworking trades.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gaven can be found in the Scottish parish records of Lanarkshire, where a John Gaven was mentioned in the year 1609. It is possible that the name was initially derived from a place name, such as Govan, a town located in the Glasgow area.
In the 17th century, the surname Gaven appeared in various Scottish records, including birth, marriage, and death registers. Notable individuals from this era include William Gaven, a merchant born in Edinburgh in 1645, and Margaret Gaven, who was married in Aberdeenshire in 1672.
As the centuries progressed, the Gaven family dispersed throughout Scotland and beyond. In the 18th century, James Gaven, a Scottish soldier born in 1712, served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. Another notable figure was Robert Gaven, a Scottish poet and writer who lived from 1765 to 1821.
In the 19th century, the Gaven surname gained further recognition with individuals like Sir John Gaven, a prominent Scottish industrialist and philanthropist (1810-1892), and Mary Gaven, an author and educator born in 1832 in Glasgow.
As the 20th century dawned, the name continued to be carried by notable individuals, such as William Gaven (1895-1967), a Scottish artist known for his landscape paintings, and John Gaven (1901-1978), a Scottish journalist and editor who worked for various newspapers in Glasgow.
Throughout history, the surname Gaven has been associated with various professions, including metalworking, trade, military service, literature, and the arts. While its origins can be traced back to Scotland, the name has since spread to other parts of the world, though its deep-rooted Scottish heritage remains a significant part of its legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gaven 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 66 Gavens recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.63x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 66 | 3.63x |
| Yorkshire | 17 | 1.12x |
| Worcestershire | 14 | 7.00x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 0.78x |
| Midlothian | 12 | 5.85x |
| Cheshire | 9 | 2.66x |
| Staffordshire | 7 | 1.35x |
| Durham | 3 | 0.66x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 0.61x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 1.32x |
| Fife | 2 | 2.21x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 0.75x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 2 | 9.02x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 0.87x |
| Banffshire | 1 | 3.15x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.42x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.32x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 1.46x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stourbridge in Worcestershire leads with 14 Gavens recorded in 1881 and an index of 271.84x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gaven 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 Gaven 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 Gaven households.
FAQ
In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Gaven surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 33 in 2016. That gives Gaven a modern rank of #35,829.
A surname possibly derived from the Welsh name "Gavin" meaning "hawk" or "white hawk".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gaven 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.