NameCensus.

UK surname

Gerrish

An English surname derived from an Old French word meaning "spearman" or "lancer".

In the 1881 census there were 645 people recorded with the Gerrish surname, ranking it #5,530 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 732, ranked #7,440, down from #5,530 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Melksham and Trowbridge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Powys and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gerrish is 980 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.5%.

1881 census count

645

Ranked #5,530

Modern count

732

2016, ranked #7,440

Peak year

1911

980 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gerrish had 645 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,530 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 732 in 2016, ranked #7,440.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 980 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gerrish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gerrish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gerrish 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 494 #5,061
1861 historical 400 #6,412
1881 historical 645 #5,530
1891 historical 772 #5,191
1901 historical 909 #5,107
1911 historical 980 #4,616
1997 modern 852 #6,227
1998 modern 890 #6,212
1999 modern 884 #6,297
2000 modern 884 #6,252
2001 modern 862 #6,264
2002 modern 866 #6,378
2003 modern 842 #6,383
2004 modern 851 #6,345
2005 modern 814 #6,518
2006 modern 813 #6,530
2007 modern 809 #6,622
2008 modern 801 #6,738
2009 modern 815 #6,785
2010 modern 815 #6,912
2011 modern 779 #7,098
2012 modern 729 #7,385
2013 modern 761 #7,257
2014 modern 765 #7,245
2015 modern 750 #7,303
2016 modern 732 #7,440

Geography

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Where Gerrishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Melksham, Trowbridge, London parishes 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 Wiltshire, Powys and South Gloucestershire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Melksham Wiltshire
3 Trowbridge Wiltshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 021 Wiltshire
2 Wiltshire 020 Wiltshire
3 Powys 017 Powys
4 Wiltshire 027 Wiltshire
5 South Gloucestershire 031 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gerrish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gerrish

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gerrish, 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 Gerrish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gerrish 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, Gerrish 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

Gerrish is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gerrish falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gerrish 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 Gerrish, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gerrish

The surname Gerrish is of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name "Gærræd" or "Gærric," composed of the elements "gær" meaning "spear" and "ræd" or "ric" meaning "counsel" or "power." It likely originated in the southern counties of England during the Anglo-Saxon period, as many surnames evolved from personal names.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gerrish can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named "Garericus" in Gloucestershire. Over time, the spelling evolved to Gerrishe, Gerryshe, and eventually Gerrish.

In the 13th century, records show a John Gerrysh residing in Berkshire, while a Walter Gerrisch was recorded in Oxfordshire during the same period. These early mentions suggest the name was well-established in the southern counties by the medieval era.

The name Gerrish is also associated with various place names in England, such as Gerrish's Farm in Oxfordshire and Gerrish's Coppice in Worcestershire, hinting at the presence of families bearing this surname in those areas.

Notable individuals with the surname Gerrish include:

1. Sir John Gerrish (c. 1601-1677), an English politician and member of Parliament during the English Civil War. 2. Benjamin Gerrish (1666-1737), a colonial physician and surgeon in Boston, Massachusetts, known for his medical writings. 3. Joseph Gerrish (1677-1723), a British military officer and member of the Massachusetts General Court. 4. Samuel Gerrish (1719-1795), an American minister and educator who served as the first president of Harvard College (now Harvard University). 5. Theodore Gerrish (1840-1918), an American businessman and politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Hampshire from 1909 to 1911.

The surname Gerrish has a rich history dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period and has been prevalent in various regions of England, particularly the southern counties. Over time, it has been associated with notable individuals in various fields, including politics, medicine, and education.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gerrish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gerrish 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. Wiltshire leads with 204 Gerrishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.89x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 204 36.89x
Gloucestershire 145 11.82x
Somerset 84 8.35x
Middlesex 62 0.99x
Monmouthshire 28 6.19x
Kent 27 1.27x
Glamorgan 23 2.11x
Hampshire 21 1.64x
Surrey 15 0.49x
Devon 9 0.69x
Lancashire 6 0.08x
Cornwall 3 0.42x
Lincolnshire 3 0.30x
Worcestershire 3 0.37x
Suffolk 2 0.26x
Essex 1 0.08x
Flintshire 1 0.59x
Hertfordshire 1 0.23x
Leicestershire 1 0.14x
Northamptonshire 1 0.17x
Sussex 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Melksham in Wiltshire leads with 52 Gerrishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 541.67x.

Place Total Index
Melksham 52 541.67x
Bitton 33 309.28x
Trowbridge 33 135.02x
Bradford On Avon 24 135.59x
Broughton Gifford 22 1679.39x
Bitton Oldland 20 159.49x
North Bradley 20 495.05x
Bristol St George 19 33.50x
Westbury 17 131.68x
Poplar London 14 11.86x
Gillingham 13 29.55x
Rumney 13 1368.42x
St Mellons 13 1015.63x
Batheaston 12 347.83x
Paddington London 12 5.22x
Islington London 11 1.82x
Axminster 9 147.54x
Lyncombe Widcombe 9 34.16x
Roath 9 18.20x
Westwood 9 782.61x
Cardiff St Mary 8 13.34x
Freshford 8 919.54x
Portsea 8 3.18x
Stapleton 8 34.39x
Westbury On Trym 8 19.25x
Bath St Michael 7 137.52x
Clifton 7 11.29x
Keynsham 7 96.82x
Monckton Combe 7 217.39x
St George Hanover Square 7 6.35x
Wandsworth 7 11.63x
Basingstoke 6 40.71x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 6 53.72x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 5.20x
Bromley London 6 4.36x
Corsham 6 74.35x
Hurstbourne Tarrant 6 335.20x
St Pancras London 6 1.19x
Camerton 5 170.65x
Chipping Sodbury 5 218.34x
Deptford St Paul 5 3.04x
Easton In Gordano 5 123.46x
Everton 5 2.11x
Frampton On Severn 5 241.55x
Painswick 5 57.67x
Bristol St Paul In 4 12.24x
Frome 4 16.62x
Hewelsfield 4 465.12x
Lambeth 4 0.73x
Mangotsfield 4 32.73x
Milford 4 135.14x
Burcombe 3 447.76x
Charterhouse Hinton 3 254.24x
Deptford St Nicholas 3 17.72x
Devizes St James 3 40.82x
Ewenny 3 483.87x
Lewisham 3 2.64x
Llandaff 3 8.28x
Northfield 3 19.37x
Wainfleet All Sts 3 103.09x
Woolaston 3 162.16x
Wotton St Mary 3 47.17x
Barrow Gurney 2 303.03x
Bristol St James In 2 11.09x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 4.89x
Colerne 2 88.11x
Farnham 2 8.44x
Feock 2 45.15x
Kensington London 2 0.58x
Lullington 2 689.66x
Newmarket St Mary 2 34.19x
Portbury 2 119.05x
Southwark Christchurch 2 6.83x
Sutton Veney 2 129.03x
Upton Lovell 2 454.55x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 2 24.66x
Colchester St Giles 1 8.20x
Semington 1 109.89x
St Peters 1 10.13x
Wells St Andrew 1 111.11x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 41
John 31
Thomas 21
George 20
James 20
Charles 15
Henry 14
Albert 13
Edward 11
Frederick 11
Samuel 10
Frank 8
Harry 7
Edwin 5
Arthur 4
Sidney 4
Alfred 3
Emerson 3
Joseph 3
Saml. 3
Stephen 3
Wm. 3
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Isaac 2
Job 2
Mark 2
Oliver 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Wesley 2
Albinus 1
Auther 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Frederich 1
Fredrick 1
Gilbert 1
Herbert 1
Lewis 1
Matthew 1
Onslow 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1
Reuben 1
Zacchaeus 1

FAQ

Gerrish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gerrish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 645 people were recorded with the Gerrish surname. That placed it at #5,530 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gerrish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 732 in 2016. That gives Gerrish a modern rank of #7,440.

What does the Gerrish surname mean?

An English surname derived from an Old French word meaning "spearman" or "lancer".

What does the Gerrish map show?

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