NameCensus.

UK surname

Gayler

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "gayler", meaning jailer or keeper of a jail.

In the 1881 census there were 437 people recorded with the Gayler surname, ranking it #7,472 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 390, ranked #12,089, down from #7,472 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newport, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Teignbridge, Lincoln and Mid Sussex.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gayler is 641 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.8%.

1881 census count

437

Ranked #7,472

Modern count

390

2016, ranked #12,089

Peak year

1911

641 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gayler had 437 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,472 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 390 in 2016, ranked #12,089.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 641 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gayler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gayler surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gayler 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 237 #9,152
1861 historical 278 #8,998
1881 historical 437 #7,472
1891 historical 521 #7,183
1901 historical 583 #7,232
1911 historical 641 #6,510
1997 modern 462 #9,869
1998 modern 475 #9,982
1999 modern 482 #9,950
2000 modern 452 #10,394
2001 modern 446 #10,312
2002 modern 450 #10,452
2003 modern 448 #10,325
2004 modern 448 #10,355
2005 modern 429 #10,597
2006 modern 412 #10,976
2007 modern 403 #11,315
2008 modern 402 #11,419
2009 modern 405 #11,616
2010 modern 416 #11,627
2011 modern 409 #11,663
2012 modern 397 #11,780
2013 modern 415 #11,604
2014 modern 405 #11,880
2015 modern 403 #11,835
2016 modern 390 #12,089

Geography

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Where Gaylers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newport, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Wicken Bonant. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Teignbridge, Lincoln, Mid Sussex, Kensington and Chelsea and Uttlesford. 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 Newport Essex
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Wicken Bonant Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Teignbridge 004 Teignbridge
2 Lincoln 009 Lincoln
3 Mid Sussex 011 Mid Sussex
4 Kensington and Chelsea 021 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gayler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gayler

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Gayler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gayler household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gayler is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gayler is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gayler falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gayler 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 Gayler, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gayler

The surname Gayler is of English origin, believed to have derived from the Old English word "gæl," which means "to hinder" or "to stop." The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who was perceived as a hindrance or an obstacle, potentially due to their occupation or personality traits.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Gayler can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1195, where a certain William Gailere is mentioned. This historical record suggests that the name had already been well-established in England by the late 12th century.

During the 13th century, variations of the name, such as Gaylere and Gaylour, appeared in various records across different counties in England, including Essex, Huntingdonshire, and Lincolnshire. These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and the inconsistent spellings of that era.

In the 14th century, the surname Gayler began to appear more frequently in historical documents, indicating its continued presence and distribution throughout England. One notable example is John Gayler, a landowner in Oxfordshire who is mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273.

Over the centuries, the Gayler surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Robert Gayler, a member of the British Parliament who represented Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in the early 17th century (1624-1625). Another prominent individual was Sir Crispe Gayler, a baronet born in 1642, who served as the High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1668.

Moving forward to the 18th century, we find William Gayler (1707-1779), an English painter and engraver known for his portraits and historical scenes. In the 19th century, John Gayler (1810-1891) gained recognition as a prominent English cricketer who played for the Marylebone Cricket Club and other influential clubs of his time.

Additionally, the Gayler surname has been linked to various place names across England, such as Gayler's Green in Berkshire and Gayler's Park in Oxfordshire, further solidifying its historical roots in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gayler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gayler 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. Middlesex leads with 122 Gaylers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.86x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 122 2.86x
Essex 109 12.92x
Hertfordshire 60 20.37x
Surrey 45 2.16x
Northamptonshire 14 3.48x
Devon 11 1.24x
Kent 10 0.69x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.56x
Gloucestershire 8 0.95x
Norfolk 8 1.22x
Berkshire 7 2.18x
Lanarkshire 7 0.51x
Yorkshire 6 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.85x
Dorset 5 1.78x
Cheshire 4 0.42x
Hampshire 4 0.46x
Bedfordshire 2 0.90x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Shropshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newport in Essex leads with 23 Gaylers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1564.63x.

Place Total Index
Newport 23 1564.63x
Lambeth 18 4.83x
Islington London 16 3.86x
Stevenage 15 328.23x
Peterborough 14 48.13x
Bromley London 13 13.83x
St Marylebone London 13 5.70x
Writtle 12 347.83x
Albury 11 1195.65x
Ayott St Peter 11 3437.50x
Kensington London 11 4.63x
Shoreditch London 11 5.94x
Mile End Old Town London 10 11.00x
West Ham 10 5.37x
Elsenham 9 1323.53x
Hampstead London 9 13.53x
Wicken Bonant 9 3750.00x
Little Thurrock 8 1194.03x
Limehouse London 7 14.93x
Tilty 7 5000.00x
Broxbourne 6 102.74x
Cheshunt 6 58.31x
Exeter Heavitree 6 90.50x
Kirby Bedon 6 1538.46x
Manuden 6 571.43x
Nottingham St Mary 6 4.03x
Barking 5 20.26x
Bermondsey 5 3.93x
Chesilborne 5 961.54x
Sheffield 5 3.71x
St Andrewthe Less 5 16.17x
Barony 4 1.14x
Beckenham 4 20.99x
Bristol Temple 4 72.46x
Camberwell 4 1.47x
Chelmsford 4 27.64x
Croydon 4 3.46x
Finchley 4 24.42x
Hornsey 4 7.40x
Southwark Christchurch 4 19.98x
St Pancras London 4 1.16x
Streatham 4 12.62x
Tilehurst 4 61.73x
Beeston 3 45.32x
Frodsham 3 82.19x
Glasgow 3 1.22x
Great Warley 3 157.07x
Hammersmith London 3 2.85x
Minstead 3 238.10x
Shadwell London 3 25.08x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.49x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 3 49.59x
St George Hanover Square 3 3.99x
Standon 3 99.01x
Arkesden 2 327.87x
Battersea 2 1.27x
Bromley 2 9.00x
Hackney London 2 0.83x
Hemel Hempstead 2 15.07x
Hunstanton 2 90.09x
Romford 2 15.00x
Saffron Walden 2 22.45x
Sandy 2 51.28x
South Ockendon 2 114.29x
Stanstead Abbots 2 111.73x
Stapleton 2 12.58x
Tamerton Foliott 2 116.96x
Warfield 2 68.73x
Bury 1 1.73x
Chrishall 1 119.05x
Eling 1 11.27x
Grays Thurrock 1 12.76x
Hitchin 1 7.52x
Horndon On Hill 1 114.94x
Lee 1 4.72x
Newington 1 0.63x
Ripon 1 10.18x
Stansted Mountfitchet 1 46.95x
Thornbury 1 17.45x
Tonbridge 1 1.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 14
Emma 12
Emily 11
Alice 10
Ann 10
Eliza 8
Ellen 6
Martha 6
Caroline 5
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Hannah 5
Edith 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Harriett 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Maria 3
Rebecca 3
Selina 3
Amy 2
Clara 2
Esther 2
Julia 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Rose 2
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Carry 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clotilda 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Emely 1
Frances 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Katie 1
Lillian 1
Linda 1
Lizabeth 1
Lucy 1
Mariah 1
Trymphr 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 20
James 18
Alfred 11
Arthur 11
Henry 11
Charles 10
Thomas 10
George 9
Edward 8
Frederick 6
Joseph 6
Walter 5
Benjamin 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
David 3
Frank 3
Frederic 3
Herbert 3
Christopher 2
Elijah 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Percy 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Alfd. 1
Arther 1
Edwin 1
Geo. 1
Godfrey 1
Harold 1
J.A. 1
Jabez 1
Jim 1
Jos. 1
Mable 1
Reuben 1
Rueben 1
Saml. 1
Saml.E. 1
Sidney 1
Silvester 1
Sonya 1
Stanley 1
W. 1
Willm.H. 1

FAQ

Gayler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gayler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 437 people were recorded with the Gayler surname. That placed it at #7,472 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gayler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 390 in 2016. That gives Gayler a modern rank of #12,089.

What does the Gayler surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "gayler", meaning jailer or keeper of a jail.

What does the Gayler map show?

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