NameCensus.

UK surname

Gentleman

An aristocratic or noble surname indicating elevated social status.

In the 1881 census there were 259 people recorded with the Gentleman surname, ranking it #10,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 315, ranked #14,258, down from #10,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dullingham, St Leonard Shoreditch and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selkirk, Burnfoot and Hawick Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gentleman is 327 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.6%.

1881 census count

259

Ranked #10,808

Modern count

315

2016, ranked #14,258

Peak year

2012

327 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gentleman had 259 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 315 in 2016, ranked #14,258.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 286 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gentleman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gentleman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gentleman 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 165 #12,053
1861 historical 176 #13,335
1881 historical 259 #10,808
1891 historical 265 #12,208
1901 historical 286 #12,029
1911 historical 127 #19,749
1997 modern 307 #13,328
1998 modern 316 #13,424
1999 modern 315 #13,524
2000 modern 315 #13,495
2001 modern 307 #13,539
2002 modern 314 #13,589
2003 modern 295 #13,964
2004 modern 294 #14,055
2005 modern 306 #13,657
2006 modern 304 #13,797
2007 modern 295 #14,198
2008 modern 297 #14,230
2009 modern 306 #14,218
2010 modern 316 #14,198
2011 modern 317 #14,059
2012 modern 327 #13,654
2013 modern 326 #13,893
2014 modern 326 #14,006
2015 modern 327 #13,871
2016 modern 315 #14,258

Geography

Back to top

Where Gentlemans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dullingham, St Leonard Shoreditch, Govan Combination, Muiravonside and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selkirk, Burnfoot, Hawick Central, Stevenston North West and Harthill and Salsburgh. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Dullingham Cambridgeshire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Muiravonside Stirling
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selkirk Scottish Borders
2 Burnfoot Scottish Borders
3 Hawick Central Scottish Borders
4 Stevenston North West North Ayrshire
5 Harthill and Salsburgh North Lanarkshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gentleman

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gentleman

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

London Fringe

Within London, Gentleman is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Gentleman 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gentleman

The surname "GENTLEMAN" is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "gente," which means "noble" or "well-born." The name was likely used to distinguish individuals of noble birth or status from commoners.

The earliest known reference to the name "GENTLEMAN" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a detailed survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Gentelman" in this document, indicating its early use.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1274-1275, which were surveys of landholdings and property rights. During this period, the name was often associated with individuals of higher social standing or those who held positions of authority.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "GENTLEMAN" was Sir John Gentleman, who lived in the late 14th century and was a prominent figure in the English court. He served as a member of the King's Council and was involved in various diplomatic missions.

Another notable figure with this surname was Sir Thomas Gentleman, a 16th-century English soldier and courtier who served under King Henry VIII. He played a significant role in the English Reformation and was appointed as a member of the Privy Council.

In the 17th century, the name "GENTLEMAN" was associated with the Gentleman family of Eversley, Hampshire. Sir Ferdinando Gentleman, born in 1599, was a prominent member of this family and served as a Member of Parliament for Hampshire.

During the English Civil War in the mid-17th century, Colonel William Gentleman fought on the Parliamentarian side and was instrumental in several key battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

Another individual of note was Sir Charles Gentleman, born in 1720, who was a British naval officer and served as the Governor of South Carolina from 1757 to 1761. He played a crucial role in the defense of the colony during the French and Indian War.

While the surname "GENTLEMAN" has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as a result of migration and colonization. However, the name remains closely tied to its English heritage and the idea of nobility and social status.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gentleman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gentleman 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. Stirlingshire leads with 74 Gentlemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.72x.

County Total Index
Stirlingshire 74 79.72x
Middlesex 54 2.15x
Clackmannanshire 25 120.25x
Lanarkshire 20 2.46x
Norfolk 20 5.17x
West Lothian 20 52.77x
Cambridgeshire 18 11.29x
Roxburghshire 10 21.93x
Surrey 5 0.41x
Essex 4 0.81x
Midlothian 3 0.89x
Sussex 3 0.71x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.48x
Kent 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Muiravonside in Stirlingshire leads with 25 Gentlemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1059.32x.

Place Total Index
Muiravonside 25 1059.32x
Tillicoultry 22 476.19x
Falkirk 21 96.64x
Dullingham 17 2361.11x
Torphichen 15 1136.36x
Shoreditch London 14 12.83x
Bethnal Green London 12 10.98x
Hackney London 11 7.80x
Stirling 11 94.02x
Govan 9 4.47x
Denny 8 161.94x
Wilton 8 160.00x
Toftrees 7 11666.67x
Bromley London 6 10.84x
Lambeth 5 2.28x
Polmont 5 145.77x
Bathgate 4 48.60x
Cambusnethan 4 22.12x
Slamannan 4 78.74x
Stoke Newington London 4 20.41x
Alloa 3 29.76x
Barony 3 1.46x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 2.21x
Leyton 3 35.05x
Sculthorpe 3 588.24x
Shereford 3 4285.71x
Tatterford 3 3750.00x
Ealing 2 8.89x
Hawick 2 19.61x
Hempton 2 408.16x
Isleworth 2 17.87x
Shotts 2 20.53x
Wivelsfield 2 120.48x
Eastbourne 1 5.12x
Fakenham 1 52.36x
Glasgow 1 0.69x
Greenwich 1 2.50x
Heston 1 11.96x
New Monkland 1 4.16x
Old Kilpatrick 1 12.52x
St Martin In Fields 1 6.64x
Upton With Fishley 1 217.39x
Westley Waterless 1 666.67x
Westminster St John 1 3.26x
Whitburn 1 18.25x
Woodford 1 17.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 7
Jane 5
Annie 3
Alice 2
Lucy 2
Abeline 1
Ann 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Charthien 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Jemima 1
Julia 1
Juliet 1
Katherine 1
Margaret 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
George 6
Thomas 6
William 4
James 3
Robert 3
Henry 2
Richard 2
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Edwd.John 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
M.G. 1
Markham 1
Mathew 1
Rbt. 1
Thos. 1
W. 1

FAQ

Gentleman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gentleman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 259 people were recorded with the Gentleman surname. That placed it at #10,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gentleman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 315 in 2016. That gives Gentleman a modern rank of #14,258.

What does the Gentleman surname mean?

An aristocratic or noble surname indicating elevated social status.

What does the Gentleman map show?

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