NameCensus.

UK surname

Gerber

An occupational surname referring to a tanner or dresser of animal skins, derived from the German word "gerben".

In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Gerber surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 292, ranked #15,022, up from #29,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Westminster and Whitecraigs and Broom.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gerber is 320 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 906.9%.

1881 census count

29

Ranked #29,484

Modern count

292

2016, ranked #15,022

Peak year

2010

320 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gerber had 29 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 292 in 2016, ranked #15,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 113 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Gerber surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gerber surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gerber 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 6 #32,278
1861 historical 22 #31,140
1881 historical 29 #29,484
1891 historical 51 #30,158
1901 historical 101 #22,726
1911 historical 113 #21,168
1997 modern 186 #18,448
1998 modern 193 #18,511
1999 modern 201 #18,179
2000 modern 215 #17,388
2001 modern 210 #17,425
2002 modern 242 #16,186
2003 modern 233 #16,394
2004 modern 251 #15,655
2005 modern 261 #15,216
2006 modern 264 #15,170
2007 modern 267 #15,225
2008 modern 281 #14,782
2009 modern 292 #14,700
2010 modern 320 #14,088
2011 modern 301 #14,563
2012 modern 316 #13,994
2013 modern 299 #14,780
2014 modern 307 #14,608
2015 modern 293 #15,005
2016 modern 292 #15,022

Geography

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Where Gerbers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Westminster, Whitecraigs and Broom, Camden and Haringey. 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 London parishes London 3
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 037 Barnet
2 Westminster 019 Westminster
3 Whitecraigs and Broom East Renfrewshire
4 Camden 006 Camden
5 Haringey 021 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gerber

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gerber

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Gerber surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Gerber 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gerber is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gerber is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gerber falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gerber 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Gerber

The surname Gerber originates from Germany, where it first appeared in the medieval period. It is derived from the Middle High German word "gerwe," which referred to a tanner or leather worker. The name likely emerged as an occupational surname, given to individuals who worked in the tanning or leather trade.

The earliest known record of the name Gerber dates back to the 13th century in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, located in the Franconia region of Germany. In 1275, a document mentions a "Cunradus Gerwer," which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the surname.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Gerber was Hans Gerber, a 15th-century Swiss military leader and politician. He served as the mayor of Bern and played a crucial role in the Old Zurich War between the Swiss Confederacy and the Duchy of Austria.

In the 16th century, the Gerber family gained prominence in the city of Nuremberg, where they were influential merchants and members of the city's patrician class. Johann Gerber (1500-1570) was a prominent merchant and councilor in Nuremberg during this time.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any reference to the surname Gerber. This suggests that the name did not have a significant presence in England during the Norman period.

Another notable figure with the surname Gerber was Johann Gerber (1591-1666), a German composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister at the court of the Prince-Abbot of Fulda in central Germany.

In the 18th century, Johann Sebastian Gerber (1738-1795) was a German lexicographer and music theorist. He is best known for his "Historisch-Biographisches Lexikon der Tonkünstler" (Historical-Biographical Dictionary of Musicians), a significant early work in the field of music biography.

The 19th century saw the rise of Adolf Gerber (1834-1914), a German politician and lawyer who served as the Minister of Justice for the Kingdom of Saxony from 1893 to 1901.

One of the most renowned individuals with the surname Gerber was Rudolph Gerber (1886-1950), an Austrian-American architect who played a significant role in the development of the Art Deco architectural style in the United States. He designed several iconic buildings in New York City, including the Barbizon Plaza Hotel and the McGraw-Hill Building.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gerber families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gerber 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 11 Gerbers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.89x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 11 3.89x
Yorkshire 8 2.85x
Surrey 6 4.35x
Cheshire 1 1.60x
Lancashire 1 0.30x
Sussex 1 2.10x
Worcestershire 1 2.71x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 5 Gerbers recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.61x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 5 31.61x
Newington 5 47.85x
St Marylebone London 4 26.49x
Clifford Cum Boston 2 800.00x
St Botolph Aldgate London 2 344.83x
Altrincham 1 91.74x
Astley 1 1250.00x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 104.17x
Bow London 1 27.78x
Bridewell Precinct London 1 3333.33x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 18.76x
Eastbourne 1 45.66x
Hammersmith London 1 14.35x
St George In East London 1 37.59x
St Pancras London 1 4.39x
Streatham 1 47.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 3
Berthe 1
Catherine 1
Christine 1
Elise 1
Elizabeth 1
Harriet 1
Lizzie 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 2
John 2
Richard 2
Edwin 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Jacob 1
Lewis 1
Max 1
Otto 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
William 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 Gerber households.

FAQ

Gerber surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gerber surname in 1881?

In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Gerber surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gerber surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 292 in 2016. That gives Gerber a modern rank of #15,022.

What does the Gerber surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a tanner or dresser of animal skins, derived from the German word "gerben".

What does the Gerber map show?

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