NameCensus.

UK surname

Gervais

French occupational surname referring to a servant or a spear servant.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Gervais surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 114, ranked #28,515, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tower Hamlets, Southwark and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gervais is 114 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11300.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

2014

114 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gervais had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 21 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Gervais surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gervais surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gervais 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 2 #33,133
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 8 #33,289
1911 historical 21 #31,179
1997 modern 80 #29,554
1998 modern 77 #30,289
1999 modern 84 #29,700
2000 modern 74 #30,785
2001 modern 73 #30,699
2002 modern 77 #30,709
2003 modern 78 #30,654
2004 modern 82 #30,468
2005 modern 79 #30,950
2006 modern 80 #31,149
2007 modern 84 #31,067
2008 modern 88 #30,857
2009 modern 91 #30,944
2010 modern 92 #31,366
2011 modern 94 #31,016
2012 modern 101 #30,078
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 114 #28,608
2015 modern 114 #28,478
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Gervais' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Westminster, Slough and Wokingham. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tower Hamlets 019 Tower Hamlets
2 Southwark 006 Southwark
3 Westminster 005 Westminster
4 Slough 010 Slough
5 Wokingham 014 Wokingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gervais

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gervais

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Gervais surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Gervais 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Gervais is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gervais 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

Gervais falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gervais 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Gervais

The surname GERVAIS is of ancient French origin, derived from the personal name Gervaise. It is believed to have emerged in the region of Normandy, France, during the early medieval period.

The name is thought to be a contracted form of the Germanic name Gervasius, which itself is derived from the elements "gair" meaning "spear" and "waidanjan" meaning "to hunt." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a skilled hunter or warrior.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GERVAIS can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This record mentions a landowner named Gervais de Cornhill, indicating that the name had already been established in Normandy before the Norman Conquest of England.

During the Middle Ages, the surname GERVAIS began to spread throughout France and England, with various spellings such as Gervays, Gerveys, and Gervase appearing in historical documents. One notable figure bearing this name was Gervais of Tilbury (c. 1150-1228), an English writer and clerk who served under King John of England.

In the 13th century, a French aristocrat named Gervais de Châteauneuf (c. 1230-1292) gained prominence as a diplomat and advisor to King Louis IX of France. He played a significant role in the negotiations that led to the Treaty of Paris in 1259, which resolved conflicts between France and England.

Another historical figure with the surname GERVAIS was Jean Gervais (c. 1370-1425), a French theologian and scholar who served as the Chancellor of the University of Paris. He was known for his writings on philosophy and his involvement in the Council of Constance, a key event in the resolution of the Western Schism in the Catholic Church.

In the 16th century, the name GERVAIS was borne by Claude Gervais (c. 1510-1585), a French Renaissance poet and playwright. His works, including the tragedy "La Tragédie de Sémélé," were influential in the development of early modern French literature.

Throughout its history, the surname GERVAIS has been associated with various locations, such as the village of Gervais in the Isère department of southeastern France, and the town of Gervasi in the Sardinia region of Italy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gervais families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gervais 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. Channel Islands leads with 1 Gervais' recorded in 1881 and an index of 175.44x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 1 175.44x
Surrey 1 10.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mortlake in Surrey leads with 1 Gervais' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Mortlake 1 2500.00x
St Saviour 1 3333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
(Sister) 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexis 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 Gervais households.

FAQ

Gervais surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gervais surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Gervais surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gervais surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Gervais a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Gervais surname mean?

French occupational surname referring to a servant or a spear servant.

What does the Gervais map show?

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