NameCensus.

UK surname

Gennard

A variant of the French surname Gerard, meaning "strong with a spear".

In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Gennard surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 317, ranked #14,198, up from #28,715 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dudley, Darlaston and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gennard is 328 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 805.7%.

1881 census count

35

Ranked #28,715

Modern count

317

2016, ranked #14,198

Peak year

2014

328 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gennard had 35 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,715 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 317 in 2016, ranked #14,198.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 106 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Gennard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gennard surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gennard 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 32 #29,944
1881 historical 35 #28,715
1891 historical 69 #28,188
1901 historical 84 #24,759
1911 historical 106 #21,948
1997 modern 287 #13,912
1998 modern 297 #13,967
1999 modern 299 #14,000
2000 modern 310 #13,618
2001 modern 315 #13,291
2002 modern 321 #13,378
2003 modern 302 #13,752
2004 modern 311 #13,549
2005 modern 296 #13,947
2006 modern 302 #13,863
2007 modern 311 #13,703
2008 modern 299 #14,177
2009 modern 302 #14,353
2010 modern 316 #14,198
2011 modern 324 #13,839
2012 modern 314 #14,063
2013 modern 324 #13,961
2014 modern 328 #13,951
2015 modern 319 #14,118
2016 modern 317 #14,198

Geography

Back to top

Where Gennards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dudley, Darlaston, Wigan, Manchester and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley and Barnsley. 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 Dudley Staffordshire
2 Darlaston Staffordshire
3 Wigan Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 017 Dudley
2 Dudley 020 Dudley
3 Barnsley 030 Barnsley
4 Dudley 022 Dudley
5 Dudley 018 Dudley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gennard

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gennard

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Gennard 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

Gennard is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gennard falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gennard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gennard

The surname Gennard is of English origin, predominantly traced back to the medieval period. Its etymology suggests it may be derived from Old French and Germanic roots, specifically from the Old German name “Gérard” or “Gerhard,” which means “strong spear.” This name was introduced to England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066. The Normans brought many given names that became surnames, evolving through the centuries and integrating into the English lexicon.

The name Gennard appears in various historical documents and records from medieval England. One of the earliest instances can be found in the records of the Domesday Book of 1086, though not directly as Gennard but rather a derivation like Gerard. This reference points to the potential Norman influence on the name's earlier forms. Over time, the name underwent phonetic transformations, leading to variations such as Gernard and Ginnard.

A notable early mention is that of William Gennard, recorded in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, dated 1274. Such records were crucial as surnames became hereditary and began to represent familial connections and property holdings. Another instance includes Thomas Gennard, listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, revealing the spread of the surname across different regions of England during the 14th century.

In the subsequent centuries, the name continued to appear in various forms and spellings. One prominent figure from the 16th century is Richard Gennard, born in 1512 in Worcestershire. His family owned substantial agricultural land, and he was documented in local tax records. The surname's presence in official documents denotes its holders’ participation in local governance and community responsibilities, reflecting their standing in societal hierarchies.

The 17th century saw the emergence of John Gennard in London, born in 1592 and recorded in the city’s guild registers. His association with the Worshipful Company of Grocers highlights the role of Gennards in the burgeoning trade and commerce of early modern England. Additionally, his testamentary records found in London archives from 1651 provide insights into the family’s assets and social stature.

In the 18th century, another notable bearer is Samuel Gennard, born in 1733 in Lincolnshire, who served as a clerk in the expanding British colonial administration. His name appears in correspondence and administrative records preserved in colonial archives. This period reflects the geographical and occupational diversification that occurred as the British Empire expanded.

The surname Gennard, though less common in contemporary times, carries a rich tapestry of history reflected through centuries of documented records, prominent individuals, and their contributions to various facets of society. These historical references collectively underscore the adaptive nature of surnames and their embeddedness in cultural and societal developments throughout English history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gennard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gennard 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. Staffordshire leads with 17 Gennards recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.34x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 17 14.34x
Worcestershire 14 30.53x
Lancashire 2 0.48x
Durham 1 0.96x
Middlesex 1 0.28x
Surrey 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingswinford in Staffordshire leads with 15 Gennards recorded in 1881 and an index of 348.84x.

Place Total Index
Kingswinford 15 348.84x
Dudley 14 251.35x
Cannock 2 96.62x
Chorley 2 85.47x
St Bartholomew Great 1 312.50x
Stranton 1 28.41x
Sutton 1 80.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 4
Sarah 3
Eliza 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Clara 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Louise 1
M. 1
Margaret 1
Pamela 1
Polly 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Adam 2
William 2
Alfred 1
Isiah 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Noah 1
Thomas 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 Gennard households.

FAQ

Gennard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gennard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Gennard surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gennard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 317 in 2016. That gives Gennard a modern rank of #14,198.

What does the Gennard surname mean?

A variant of the French surname Gerard, meaning "strong with a spear".

What does the Gennard map show?

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