NameCensus.

UK surname

Geddes

A Scottish topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a ged, meaning a pike or a ditch.

In the 1881 census there were 3,615 people recorded with the Geddes surname, ranking it #1,249 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,287, ranked #1,276, down from #1,249 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Rathven. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterhead Harbour, Buckie West and Mains of Buckie and Buckie Central East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Geddes is 5,305 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.3%.

1881 census count

3,615

Ranked #1,249

Modern count

5,287

2016, ranked #1,276

Peak year

2010

5,305 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Geddes had 3,615 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,249 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,287 in 2016, ranked #1,276.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,569 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Geddes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Geddes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Geddes 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 2,221 #1,323
1861 historical 2,449 #1,191
1881 historical 3,615 #1,249
1891 historical 4,037 #1,187
1901 historical 4,569 #1,246
1911 historical 1,290 #3,693
1997 modern 5,082 #1,286
1998 modern 5,199 #1,307
1999 modern 5,203 #1,314
2000 modern 5,186 #1,310
2001 modern 5,061 #1,311
2002 modern 5,211 #1,305
2003 modern 5,066 #1,306
2004 modern 5,035 #1,312
2005 modern 5,078 #1,287
2006 modern 5,096 #1,281
2007 modern 5,121 #1,289
2008 modern 5,169 #1,285
2009 modern 5,273 #1,290
2010 modern 5,305 #1,310
2011 modern 5,228 #1,312
2012 modern 5,099 #1,314
2013 modern 5,220 #1,311
2014 modern 5,268 #1,305
2015 modern 5,245 #1,296
2016 modern 5,287 #1,276

Geography

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Where Geddes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Rathven, Glasgow and Boyndie. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Peterhead Harbour, Buckie West and Mains of Buckie, Buckie Central East, Arbroath Landward and North Speyside. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Rathven Banff
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Boyndie Banff

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Peterhead Harbour Aberdeenshire
2 Buckie West and Mains of Buckie Moray
3 Buckie Central East Moray
4 Arbroath Landward Angus
5 North Speyside Moray

Forenames

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First names often paired with Geddes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Geddes

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Geddes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Geddes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Geddes is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Geddes is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Geddes falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Geddes

The surname GEDDES is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name Gillie, which means "servant." The name first appeared in the late 12th century in the area of Perthshire, Scotland.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name was Geddas, found in the records of Moray in 1265. It was later spelled as Geddys, Geddes, and Geddies. The name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "gille," meaning a young man or servant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GEDDES is in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1334, which mentions a John Geddas. The Domesday Book, the great survey of England compiled in 1086, does not contain any references to the surname GEDDES, as it was primarily a Scottish name.

A notable figure with the surname GEDDES was Sir William Duguid Geddes (1828-1900), a Scottish sculptor and painter. He studied at the Trustees' Academy in Edinburgh and later became the President of the Royal Scottish Academy.

Another prominent individual was Patrick Geddes (1854-1932), a Scottish biologist, sociologist, and pioneering town planner. He is known for his concept of "regional survey" and his contribution to the development of modern town planning.

Sir Auckland Campbell Geddes (1879-1954), a British businessman and politician, served as the President of the Board of Trade and Minister of National Service during World War I.

In the literary world, Jennie Geddes (c. 1600-1660) was a Scottish Presbyterian who gained notoriety for her role in the events that led to the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. She allegedly threw a stool at the minister during a church service, protesting the introduction of the Book of Common Prayer.

Another notable figure was Sir Eric Campbell Geddes (1875-1937), a British businessman and politician who served as the First Lord of the Admiralty during World War I. He was instrumental in improving the efficiency of the British shipbuilding industry during the war.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Geddes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Geddes 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. Banffshire leads with 492 Geddes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.73x.

County Total Index
Banffshire 492 67.73x
Aberdeenshire 484 14.92x
Lanarkshire 393 3.47x
Midlothian 268 5.71x
Lancashire 192 0.46x
Caithness 185 38.58x
Morayshire 147 27.02x
Kirkcudbrightshire 127 25.05x
Middlesex 114 0.33x
Dumfriesshire 101 13.06x
Angus 92 2.84x
Ayrshire 87 3.32x
Durham 84 0.81x
Perthshire 76 4.84x
Fife 68 3.28x
Surrey 63 0.37x
Kent 54 0.45x
Cumberland 48 1.59x
Yorkshire 40 0.12x
Renfrewshire 38 1.40x
Stirlingshire 36 2.79x
Staffordshire 30 0.25x
West Lothian 28 5.31x
Inverness-shire 27 2.58x
Northumberland 25 0.48x
Selkirkshire 23 7.26x
Gloucestershire 22 0.32x
Kincardineshire 22 5.16x
Shetland 21 5.87x
Hampshire 18 0.25x
Peeblesshire 18 10.93x
Derbyshire 17 0.31x
Roxburghshire 17 2.68x
Wigtownshire 14 3.01x
Cheshire 13 0.17x
Dunbartonshire 11 1.17x
Worcestershire 9 0.20x
Argyllshire 8 0.82x
Berwickshire 8 1.89x
Devon 8 0.11x
Essex 8 0.12x
Westmorland 8 1.04x
Sutherland 7 2.60x
Berkshire 6 0.23x
East Lothian 5 1.08x
Shropshire 5 0.17x
Sussex 5 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.08x
Orkney 4 1.04x
Royal Navy 4 0.96x
Ross-shire 2 0.21x
Buteshire 1 0.47x
Hertfordshire 1 0.04x
Nairnshire 1 0.94x
Warwickshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rathven in Banffshire leads with 306 Geddes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 224.26x.

Place Total Index
Rathven 306 224.26x
Govan 147 5.25x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 115 6.09x
Peterhead 101 58.89x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 96 15.82x
Glasgow 96 4.77x
Barony 69 2.41x
Bellie 59 239.93x
Aberdeen Old Machar 56 8.27x
Wick 54 34.87x
South Leith 51 9.66x
Canisbay 49 155.65x
Fordyce 38 72.70x
Dundee 34 2.81x
Toxteth Park 30 2.13x
Gamrie 29 35.76x
Kelton 27 64.84x
Banff 24 38.04x
Cambusnethan 24 9.54x
Olrig 24 100.21x
Huntly 23 43.59x
Beith 21 26.85x
Hulme 20 2.31x
Abernethy Kincardine 19 102.98x
Kirkdale 19 2.72x
Warrington 19 3.86x
Cruden 18 43.10x
Falkirk 18 5.95x
Bromley London 17 2.21x
Fraserburgh 17 18.62x
Blairgowrie 16 25.74x
Deskford 16 153.99x
Dysart 16 11.46x
Camberwell 15 0.67x
Cheltenham 15 2.83x
Dalry 15 126.69x
Drainie 15 31.12x
Maryhill 15 6.77x
Newhills 15 22.59x
Alvah 14 85.57x
Kilbirnie 14 22.25x
Selkirk 14 15.68x
Thurso 14 18.72x
Urquhart 14 54.45x
Closeburn 13 72.06x
Edinburgh Greenside 13 20.97x
Irvine 13 17.86x
Kirkcudbright 13 30.98x
Lerwick 13 567.69x
Liff Benvie 13 2.64x
Litchurch 13 5.89x
Liverpool 13 0.52x
Marnoch 13 33.32x
Perth East Church 13 8.77x
Urr 13 19.71x
Westoe 13 2.20x
Carlaverock 12 95.09x
Cathcart 12 8.17x
Crathie Braemar 12 61.86x
Cromdale 12 27.41x
Dunnet 12 62.24x
Elgin 12 11.34x
Halkirk 12 36.99x
Logie 12 21.28x
Sculcoates 12 2.18x
West Bromwich 12 1.77x
Whitburn 12 15.75x
Arthuret 11 34.99x
Edinburgh St Georges 11 11.30x
Grange 11 51.72x
Inveresk 11 8.66x
Methlick 11 42.37x
Mile End Old Town London 11 1.48x
St Pancras London 11 0.39x
Blackburn 10 0.90x
Hougham 10 14.07x
Moffat 10 28.33x
Rathen 10 29.43x
Rusholme 10 9.02x
Turriff 10 19.10x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 58
William 52
James 37
Robert 20
George 18
Charles 17
Thomas 17
Alexander 16
David 14
Richard 10
Joseph 7
Henry 6
Alfred 5
Andrew 5
Arthur 5
Christopher 5
Herbert 4
Thos. 4
Archibald 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Hugh 3
Donald 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fredk. 2
Horatio 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Chas.Douglas 1
Elijah 1
Ellen 1
Eric 1
Frances 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Jno. 1
Leonard 1
Macolm 1
Minuit 1
Morrice 1
Moses 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Geddes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Geddes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,615 people were recorded with the Geddes surname. That placed it at #1,249 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Geddes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,287 in 2016. That gives Geddes a modern rank of #1,276.

What does the Geddes surname mean?

A Scottish topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a ged, meaning a pike or a ditch.

What does the Geddes map show?

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