NameCensus.

UK surname

Gegg

A surname potentially derived from a geographical location or an older occupational term.

In the 1881 census there were 183 people recorded with the Gegg surname, ranking it #13,596 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 132, ranked #25,882, down from #13,596 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cerney, North, Cheltenham and Rendcomb. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, Wiltshire and Cotswold.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gegg is 226 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.9%.

1881 census count

183

Ranked #13,596

Modern count

132

2016, ranked #25,882

Peak year

1901

226 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gegg had 183 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,596 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016, ranked #25,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 226 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gegg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gegg surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gegg 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 137 #13,812
1861 historical 165 #14,112
1881 historical 183 #13,596
1891 historical 211 #14,366
1901 historical 226 #14,006
1911 historical 211 #14,467
1997 modern 150 #21,119
1998 modern 155 #21,227
1999 modern 154 #21,455
2000 modern 152 #21,603
2001 modern 151 #21,375
2002 modern 145 #22,392
2003 modern 138 #22,823
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 139 #22,887
2006 modern 140 #22,948
2007 modern 140 #23,231
2008 modern 139 #23,635
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 137 #24,907
2011 modern 124 #26,367
2012 modern 121 #26,829
2013 modern 133 #25,655
2014 modern 128 #26,490
2015 modern 125 #26,808
2016 modern 132 #25,882

Geography

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Where Geggs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cerney, North, Cheltenham, Rendcomb, Withington and Carluke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, Wiltshire and Cotswold. 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 Cerney, North Gloucestershire
2 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
3 Rendcomb Gloucestershire
4 Withington Gloucestershire
5 Carluke Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 002 Stroud
2 Stroud 010 Stroud
3 Wiltshire 009 Wiltshire
4 Cotswold 005 Cotswold
5 Cotswold 011 Cotswold

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gegg

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gegg

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Gegg is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Gegg 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

Gegg 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 Gegg 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 Gegg, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gegg

The surname GEGG is believed to have originated in England during the 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "gegge," which means "a fellow" or "a companion." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname for someone who was known to be a loyal friend or companion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GEGG can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a person named Walter Gegge is listed. This document provides evidence that the surname was in use during the 14th century in the West Midlands region of England.

In the late 15th century, the name GEGG appeared in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence between members of the Paston family in Norfolk. The letters mention a certain John Gegg, who was a servant or retainer to the Pastons during that time period.

The GEGG surname is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such individual was Sir Samuel Gegg (1621-1697), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Middlesex in the late 17th century.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Gegg (1748-1828), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He achieved the rank of Rear Admiral and was awarded several honors for his service.

In the 19th century, there was John Gegg (1834-1914), a British architect who designed numerous buildings in the Gothic Revival style, including churches and country houses across England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GEGG outside of England can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Islington, Ireland, where a certain William Gegg is mentioned in the late 17th century.

While the GEGG surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and dispersal. However, the name remains relatively uncommon, and its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "gegge" and the early recorded instances in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gegg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gegg 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. Gloucestershire leads with 103 Geggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.42x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 103 29.42x
Lanarkshire 26 4.50x
Buckinghamshire 8 7.41x
Staffordshire 7 1.16x
Yorkshire 7 0.40x
Hampshire 6 1.64x
Surrey 6 0.69x
Glamorgan 5 1.61x
Warwickshire 5 1.11x
Lancashire 4 0.19x
Middlesex 3 0.17x
Devon 1 0.27x
Northumberland 1 0.38x
Worcestershire 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Cerney in Gloucestershire leads with 22 Geggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 5789.47x.

Place Total Index
North Cerney 22 5789.47x
Carluke 15 286.26x
Bisley 10 315.46x
Cadder 10 234.74x
Badgington 8 7272.73x
Cirencester 8 168.78x
Rendcombe 8 6153.85x
Winstone 8 5714.29x
Wycombe 8 99.50x
Upper Arley 7 1555.56x
Cheltenham 6 22.21x
Clapham 6 26.89x
Duntisbourne Rouse 6 7500.00x
Fareham 6 136.36x
Hawling 6 6666.67x
Leeds 6 6.01x
Withington 6 1578.95x
Alcester 5 337.84x
Llanwonno 4 35.81x
West Derby 4 6.45x
Colesbourne 3 1764.71x
Acton 2 19.12x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 2 152.67x
Sevenhampton 2 645.16x
Bristol St James In 1 19.42x
Carstairs 1 83.33x
Churchdown 1 142.86x
Cowley 1 555.56x
Cutsdean 1 1000.00x
Dawlish 1 36.10x
Duntisbourne Abbotts 1 555.56x
Fairford 1 107.53x
Mangotsfield 1 28.65x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 7.26x
North Cave Drewton 1 142.86x
Rhosilly 1 500.00x
Shipton 1 476.19x
St Bride London 1 96.15x
Stratton 1 238.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 10
Elizabeth 8
Ann 4
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Alice 2
Emma 2
Gertrude 2
Martha 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Arabella 1
Auguste 1
Catherine 1
Charlot 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Kate 1
Maria 1
Susanah 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 9
Alfred 7
George 7
Joseph 5
Edmund 4
Henry 4
Robert 3
Aaron 2
Charles 2
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Walter 1
Edmond 1
Emmanuel 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Leonard 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Gegg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gegg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 183 people were recorded with the Gegg surname. That placed it at #13,596 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gegg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016. That gives Gegg a modern rank of #25,882.

What does the Gegg surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from a geographical location or an older occupational term.

What does the Gegg map show?

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