NameCensus.

UK surname

Gazeley

A locational surname derived from the village of Gazeley in Suffolk, England.

In the 1881 census there were 195 people recorded with the Gazeley surname, ranking it #13,054 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 291, ranked #15,062, down from #13,054 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Westoning, Tingrith, London parishes and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, Kettering and Luton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gazeley is 366 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.2%.

1881 census count

195

Ranked #13,054

Modern count

291

2016, ranked #15,062

Peak year

1911

366 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gazeley had 195 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,054 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 291 in 2016, ranked #15,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 366 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Gazeley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gazeley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gazeley 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 105 #16,618
1861 historical 120 #18,255
1881 historical 195 #13,054
1891 historical 251 #12,729
1901 historical 334 #10,818
1911 historical 366 #9,936
1997 modern 318 #13,024
1998 modern 326 #13,146
1999 modern 323 #13,315
2000 modern 316 #13,460
2001 modern 313 #13,361
2002 modern 322 #13,354
2003 modern 307 #13,614
2004 modern 309 #13,618
2005 modern 308 #13,590
2006 modern 310 #13,603
2007 modern 318 #13,503
2008 modern 311 #13,800
2009 modern 318 #13,863
2010 modern 308 #14,452
2011 modern 300 #14,591
2012 modern 268 #15,745
2013 modern 280 #15,530
2014 modern 287 #15,342
2015 modern 287 #15,235
2016 modern 291 #15,062

Geography

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Where Gazeleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Westoning, Tingrith, London parishes, St Mary Islington and Luton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, Kettering, Luton, North Devon and Tunbridge Wells. 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 Westoning, Tingrith Bedfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
4 Luton Bedfordshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 015 Central Bedfordshire
2 Kettering 011 Kettering
3 Luton 020 Luton
4 North Devon 014 North Devon
5 Tunbridge Wells 001 Tunbridge Wells

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gazeley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gazeley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gazeley, 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 Gazeley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Gazeley 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Gazeley is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gazeley is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gazeley falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gazeley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gazeley

The surname Gazeley is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the village of Gazeley, which is situated in the county of Suffolk, England. The name of the village itself is derived from the Old English words "gaers" meaning "grass" and "leah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow."

The earliest recorded mention of the surname Gazeley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk from the year 1166, where a certain William de Garsele is listed. This suggests that the name was already established in the area by the 12th century.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a John de Garsele, who held lands in the village of Gazeley. This provides further evidence of the surname's deep roots in the region.

Another early record of the name can be found in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk from 1310, where a Robert de Garseleye is mentioned as a landholder.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was John Gazeley, who was born in Gazeley, Suffolk, around 1480. He served as a yeoman farmer and is mentioned in local records from the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname was Thomas Gazeley (c. 1520-1589), who was a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. He played an active role in local affairs and served as a churchwarden for several years.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Captain William Gazeley (c. 1610-1670) fought on the Parliamentarian side under the command of Oliver Cromwell. He was from a branch of the family that had settled in Essex.

In the 18th century, a distinguished member of the Gazeley family was Reverend John Gazeley (1711-1789), who was a respected clergyman and served as the Vicar of Saxlingham Nethergate in Norfolk for over four decades.

Another notable individual was Sir Robert Gazeley (1759-1842), who was a successful businessman and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1809. He was born in Gazeley, Suffolk, and went on to make his fortune in the City of London.

Throughout history, various spellings of the surname have been used, such as Garsele, Garseleye, and Garsely, before the modern spelling of Gazeley became more standardized.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gazeley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gazeley 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. Bedfordshire leads with 68 Gazeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.04x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 68 69.04x
Hertfordshire 56 42.71x
Middlesex 27 1.42x
Surrey 11 1.19x
Cambridgeshire 7 5.81x
Essex 6 1.60x
Hampshire 4 1.03x
Kent 4 0.62x
Lancashire 4 0.18x
Northamptonshire 3 1.68x
Sussex 3 0.94x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.87x
Leicestershire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westoning in Bedfordshire leads with 28 Gazeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6511.63x.

Place Total Index
Westoning 28 6511.63x
St Albans St Peter 21 475.11x
Islington London 10 5.42x
Luton 10 58.65x
Enfield 7 56.09x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 7 534.35x
Pirton 7 945.95x
Redbourn 7 489.51x
Walkern 7 1272.73x
Battersea 6 8.57x
Caddington 6 416.67x
Offley 6 705.88x
Shefford 5 714.29x
Shoreditch London 5 6.06x
Bedford St Mary 4 157.48x
Christchurch 4 47.34x
Flitwick 4 754.72x
Harlington 4 1142.86x
Richmond 4 30.79x
St Albans St Michael 4 273.97x
Brighton 3 4.64x
Flamstead 3 247.93x
Great Wakering 3 357.14x
Hammersmith London 3 6.40x
Towcester 3 162.16x
West Ham 3 3.62x
Woburn 3 352.94x
Bedford St Paul 2 29.59x
Cranfield 2 210.53x
Deptford St Paul 2 4.00x
Greenwich 2 6.61x
Manchester 2 1.97x
Toxteth Park 2 2.62x
Croydon 1 1.94x
Hendon 1 14.62x
Hitchin 1 16.89x
Loughborough 1 10.45x
Simpson 1 208.33x
St Pancras London 1 0.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 13
Sarah 10
Emma 8
Mary 8
Martha 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Florence 3
Rosina 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Matilda 2
(Mrs) 1
Ada 1
Agatha 1
Ann 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jenny 1
Julia 1
Maria 1
Miriam 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Susanah 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
George 11
James 9
John 8
Thomas 7
Joseph 5
Frederick 4
Charles 3
Henry 3
Ebenezer 2
Jabez 2
Jesse 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Amos 1
Arthur 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Elijah 1
Fredk. 1
Gehazi 1
Harry 1
Jonas 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Gazeley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gazeley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 195 people were recorded with the Gazeley surname. That placed it at #13,054 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gazeley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 291 in 2016. That gives Gazeley a modern rank of #15,062.

What does the Gazeley surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the village of Gazeley in Suffolk, England.

What does the Gazeley map show?

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