UK surname
A habitational surname derived from a place name, likely from the Old French "gelle" meaning brook or stream.
In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Gelly surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 45, ranked #35,162, down from #27,447 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolverhampton and Llanddarog. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gelly is 143 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.3%.
1881 census count
44
Ranked #27,447
Modern count
45
2016, ranked #35,162
Peak year
1861
143 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gelly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gelly surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 57 | #23,092 |
| 1861 | historical | 143 | #15,906 |
| 1881 | historical | 44 | #27,447 |
| 1891 | historical | 48 | #30,447 |
| 1901 | historical | 38 | #29,914 |
| 1911 | historical | 27 | #30,437 |
| 1997 | modern | 33 | #34,377 |
| 1998 | modern | 32 | #34,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 38 | #34,142 |
| 2000 | modern | 37 | #34,217 |
| 2001 | modern | 35 | #34,261 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 39 | #34,296 |
| 2004 | modern | 44 | #34,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 42 | #34,395 |
| 2006 | modern | 43 | #34,647 |
| 2007 | modern | 44 | #34,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 43 | #34,931 |
| 2009 | modern | 44 | #35,028 |
| 2010 | modern | 45 | #35,130 |
| 2011 | modern | 45 | #35,112 |
| 2012 | modern | 38 | #35,481 |
| 2013 | modern | 41 | #35,384 |
| 2014 | modern | 45 | #35,201 |
| 2015 | modern | 47 | #35,056 |
| 2016 | modern | 45 | #35,162 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolverhampton, Llanddarog, Govan Combination and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Llanddarog | Carmarthenshire |
| 4 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 5 | Gateshead | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gelly surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gelly, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Gelly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gelly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Gelly is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gelly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gelly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gelly is believed to have originated in France, possibly in the region of Burgundy or Franche-Comté. Its earliest recorded use dates back to the 12th century, and it is thought to be derived from the Old French word "gelée," meaning "frost" or "frozen ground."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gelly can be found in a document from 1195, which mentions a certain "Gilo de Gellay" in the region of Franche-Comté. This suggests that the name may have initially been spelled "Gellay" or a similar variation.
In the 13th century, there are records of a family named Gelly residing in the village of Gevrey-Chambertin, which is located in the renowned wine-producing region of Burgundy. This family is believed to have been involved in the wine trade, and their surname may have been associated with the frosty conditions that were favorable for grape cultivation.
During the medieval period, the name Gelly appeared in several documents and records, including parish registers and tax rolls. One notable bearer of the name was Guillaume Gelly, a 14th-century merchant from Dijon, who was involved in the trade of spices and luxury goods.
In the 16th century, a branch of the Gelly family settled in the town of Beaune, also located in Burgundy. One of their descendants, Jacques Gelly (1558-1626), became a prominent lawyer and served as a magistrate in the local court.
The name Gelly has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. In the 17th century, there was a French mathematician named Jean-Baptiste Gelly (1632-1705), who made contributions to the field of geometry and published several treatises on the subject.
Another individual of note was Louis Gelly (1788-1856), a French politician and lawyer who served as a deputy in the French National Assembly during the July Monarchy (1830-1848).
In the 19th century, there was a French painter named Paul Gelly (1842-1904), who was known for his landscape and genre paintings depicting scenes of rural life in France.
Moving into the 20th century, one of the most famous bearers of the Gelly surname was the French writer and philosopher Jean Gelly (1915-1995), who was a prominent figure in the existentialist movement and authored several books exploring themes of human existence and freedom.
Overall, the surname Gelly has a rich history stretching back centuries, with its origins rooted in the French regions of Burgundy and Franche-Comté. While the name may have initially been associated with the frosty conditions of these areas, it has since been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, lawyers, artists, and intellectuals.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gelly surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Midlothian leads with 9 Gellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.65x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Midlothian | 9 | 15.65x |
| Glamorgan | 8 | 10.71x |
| Lancashire | 6 | 1.18x |
| Carmarthenshire | 4 | 22.11x |
| Durham | 4 | 3.13x |
| Somerset | 4 | 5.79x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.94x |
| Fife | 3 | 11.81x |
| Cardiganshire | 1 | 9.55x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.23x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lasswade in Midlothian leads with 7 Gellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 534.35x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lasswade | 7 | 534.35x |
| Leeds | 4 | 16.66x |
| Minehead | 4 | 1538.46x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 4 | 65.90x |
| Swansea Higher | 4 | 512.82x |
| Ystradyfodwg | 4 | 61.07x |
| Stockton On Tees | 3 | 48.78x |
| Beath | 2 | 250.00x |
| Llannon | 2 | 800.00x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 24.75x |
| Cockpen | 1 | 149.25x |
| Dunfermline | 1 | 25.58x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 4.32x |
| Gateshead | 1 | 10.46x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 9.46x |
| Llanafan | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Llanarthney | 1 | 370.37x |
| Llanedy | 1 | 294.12x |
| West Derby | 1 | 6.71x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gelly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gelly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Gelly households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Coal Miner | 3 |
| Scholar | 3 |
| Cotton Dyer | 1 |
| Farm Serv Indoor | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Railway Plate Layer | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Scholar ? | 1 |
| Ship Carpenter | 1 |
| Smiths Labourer | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Gelly surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 45 in 2016. That gives Gelly a modern rank of #35,162.
A habitational surname derived from a place name, likely from the Old French "gelle" meaning brook or stream.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gelly bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.