NameCensus.

UK surname

Geller

A Jewish occupational surname derived from the Yiddish word "gel" meaning "yellow," referring to a dealer of yellow wares or gold.

In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Geller surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 222, ranked #18,277, up from #29,911 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kingston-on-Thames, Manchester and Woolwich. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wokingham, Bury and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Geller is 223 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 753.8%.

1881 census count

26

Ranked #29,911

Modern count

222

2016, ranked #18,277

Peak year

2014

223 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • • Geller had 26 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,911 surname in that year.
  • • The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016, ranked #18,277.
  • • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 126 in 1911.
  • • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Map

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Geller surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Geller surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Geller 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 31 #30,058
1881 historical 26 #29,911
1891 historical 39 #31,257
1901 historical 94 #23,588
1911 historical 126 #19,831
1997 modern 151 #21,034
1998 modern 156 #21,144
1999 modern 159 #21,030
2000 modern 166 #20,426
2001 modern 167 #20,060
2002 modern 191 #18,817
2003 modern 192 #18,568
2004 modern 193 #18,622
2005 modern 180 #19,395
2006 modern 178 #19,666
2007 modern 179 #19,811
2008 modern 189 #19,315
2009 modern 196 #19,274
2010 modern 208 #18,956
2011 modern 202 #19,154
2012 modern 190 #19,864
2013 modern 216 #18,543
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 223 #18,165
2016 modern 222 #18,277

Geography

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Where Gellers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kingston-on-Thames, Manchester, Woolwich, London parishes and West Ham,Wanstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wokingham, Bury, Barnet, Epping Forest and Stroud. 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 Kingston-on-Thames Surrey
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Woolwich London (South Districts)
4 London parishes London 2
5 West Ham,Wanstead Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wokingham 003 Wokingham
2 Bury 026 Bury
3 Barnet 034 Barnet
4 Epping Forest 001 Epping Forest
5 Stroud 010 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Geller

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

Historical female names

Elizabeth Annie Caroline Mary Sarah Margaret Jane Martha Fanny Florence

Historical male names

John Frederick William George Charles Isaac Samuel Henry Sidney Abraham

Recent female names

Louise Hannah Rebecca Lisa Barbara Katie Siobhan Jacqueline Isabel Lorraine

Recent male names

Ross Simon David Daniel Mark Michael Alan James John Jonathan

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Geller

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Geller surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Geller household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Geller 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

Geller 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

Geller 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 Geller 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 - Other

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

Origin

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Meaning and origin of Geller

The surname Geller is derived from the German occupational name "Geller" or "Gellner," which means "bell maker" or "bell founder." This name originated in the German-speaking regions of Central and Eastern Europe during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Geller can be traced back to the 13th century in various German-language records and chronicles. One notable example is the mention of a "Heinrich der Geller" in the city of Nuremberg in 1289. This suggests that the profession of bell making was established and recognized at that time.

As the name Geller spread across German-speaking lands, it often took on local variations in spelling, such as Gellner, Gellert, or Gellert. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the names of towns or regions where bell makers lived and worked.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Geller surname appears in various historical records, including tax rolls and guild documents. For instance, a bell maker named Hans Geller is mentioned in a guild register in the city of Augsburg, dating back to 1427.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Geller was Johann Geller, a renowned bell founder born in Nuremberg in 1486. He crafted numerous bells for churches and municipalities throughout Germany and neighboring regions.

Another notable figure was Georg Geller (1590-1645), a German Protestant theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Wittenberg. His writings and teachings had a significant impact on the intellectual discourse of his time.

In the 18th century, the Geller surname gained prominence in the field of metalworking and bell casting. Johann Christoph Geller (1707-1786), a master bell founder from Saxony, was renowned for his exceptional craftsmanship and contributed to the development of bell-making techniques.

As the surname spread across Europe and beyond, it also became associated with other professions and areas of expertise. For instance, Uri Geller (born 1946) is an Israeli-British illusionist and self-proclaimed psychic, known for his alleged ability to bend spoons and other metal objects through "mind power."

Throughout its history, the surname Geller has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, scholars, and public figures, all tracing their roots back to the skilled bell makers of medieval Germany.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Geller families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Geller 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 8 Gellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.15x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 8 3.15x
Essex 5 9.99x
Lancashire 5 1.66x
Kent 4 4.62x
Denbighshire 2 20.88x
Surrey 1 0.81x
Yorkshire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 6 Gellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.41x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 6 24.41x
Everton 4 41.71x
West Ham 4 36.20x
Woolwich 4 125.00x
Ruabon 2 151.52x
Braintree 1 222.22x
Leeds 1 7.05x
St Martin In Fields 1 65.79x
Stoke 1 172.41x
West Derby 1 11.36x
Westminster St James 1 38.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Caroline 2
Beatrice 1
Cecilia 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Florence 1
Frederica 1
Hannah 1
Jessie 1
Mabble 1
Margaret 1
Nett 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Frederick 2
Charles 1
Edward 1
Fredrick 1
Henry 1
Marks 1
Sidney 1

Top occupations

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 Geller households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 5
Merchants Son 2
Blacksmith 1
Blacksmith Wife 1
Butcher Employing 1 Man 1
Butcher Employing 2 Men 1
Cabinet Makers Apprentice 1
Governess Priv 1
Housemaid 1
Mercantile Clerk 1
Merchants Daur 1
Merchants Wife 1
Provision Mercht 1
Shopwoman Draper 1
Tailors Presser 1

FAQ

Geller surname: questions and answers

How common was the Geller surname in 1881?

In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Geller surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Geller surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016. That gives Geller a modern rank of #18,277.

What does the Geller surname mean?

A Jewish occupational surname derived from the Yiddish word "gel" meaning "yellow," referring to a dealer of yellow wares or gold.

What does the Geller map show?

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