NameCensus.

UK surname

Gibbins

An English surname derived from a diminutive form of the given name Gilbert.

In the 1881 census there were 2,296 people recorded with the Gibbins surname, ranking it #1,946 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,385, ranked #2,009, down from #1,946 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheltenham, East Devon and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gibbins is 3,694 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.4%.

1881 census count

2,296

Ranked #1,946

Modern count

3,385

2016, ranked #2,009

Peak year

1999

3,694 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gibbins had 2,296 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,946 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,385 in 2016, ranked #2,009.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,574 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gibbins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gibbins surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gibbins 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 1,687 #1,708
1861 historical 1,760 #1,644
1881 historical 2,296 #1,946
1891 historical 2,578 #1,845
1901 historical 2,815 #1,980
1911 historical 3,574 #1,461
1997 modern 3,561 #1,819
1998 modern 3,671 #1,836
1999 modern 3,694 #1,843
2000 modern 3,645 #1,859
2001 modern 3,556 #1,862
2002 modern 3,636 #1,864
2003 modern 3,564 #1,849
2004 modern 3,574 #1,849
2005 modern 3,445 #1,891
2006 modern 3,397 #1,913
2007 modern 3,425 #1,913
2008 modern 3,440 #1,927
2009 modern 3,492 #1,947
2010 modern 3,590 #1,939
2011 modern 3,558 #1,933
2012 modern 3,420 #1,969
2013 modern 3,465 #1,980
2014 modern 3,481 #1,985
2015 modern 3,418 #2,000
2016 modern 3,385 #2,009

Geography

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Where Gibbins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheltenham, East Devon, Central Bedfordshire and Tewkesbury. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheltenham 004 Cheltenham
2 East Devon 006 East Devon
3 East Devon 004 East Devon
4 Central Bedfordshire 021 Central Bedfordshire
5 Tewkesbury 005 Tewkesbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gibbins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gibbins

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Gibbins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gibbins 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Gibbins 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

Gibbins is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gibbins falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gibbins

The surname Gibbins originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "gibb," which means "a hill" or "a ridge." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived on or near a prominent hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ghibbins." This entry indicates that the name was already in use before the Norman Conquest of 1066, lending credence to its Anglo-Saxon origins.

Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including Gibbins, Gibbons, and Gibons. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the scribes who recorded the names in official documents.

The Gibbins surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire in southwestern England. In the 13th century, a William Gibbins was recorded as owning land in the village of Corston, near Bath in Somerset.

One notable historical figure bearing the Gibbins name was John Gibbins (c. 1613-1677), an English Puritan minister and author. He served as the rector of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk and wrote several religious works, including "Apology for the Present Government" (1659).

Another prominent individual was Sir William Gibbins (1649-1728), a British judge and politician. He served as the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1718 until his death and was a member of Parliament for Arundel.

In the 19th century, Joseph Gibbins (1822-1892) was a renowned British architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Church of St. Augustine in Birmingham.

Edward Gibbins (1805-1876) was a British explorer and naturalist who traveled extensively in South America. He is credited with discovering several new species of plants and animals during his expeditions.

Finally, Henry Gibbins (1864-1927) was a respected British historian and author. He served as a professor of history at the University of London and wrote several influential works on ancient and medieval history, including "The History of Commerce in Europe" (1891) and "The Industrial History of England" (1896).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gibbins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gibbins 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 335 Gibbins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.50x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 335 1.50x
Surrey 205 1.88x
Northamptonshire 201 9.55x
Yorkshire 188 0.85x
Lancashire 180 0.68x
Gloucestershire 152 3.46x
Warwickshire 149 2.64x
Leicestershire 136 5.48x
Kent 93 1.22x
Sussex 84 2.23x
Lincolnshire 60 1.68x
Devon 50 1.07x
Hampshire 50 1.09x
Staffordshire 48 0.64x
Cheshire 41 0.83x
Durham 41 0.62x
Somerset 36 1.00x
Essex 29 0.66x
Glamorgan 29 0.74x
Oxfordshire 19 1.37x
Cumberland 15 0.78x
Lanarkshire 15 0.21x
Worcestershire 12 0.41x
Huntingdonshire 11 2.47x
Angus 10 0.48x
Bedfordshire 10 0.86x
Wiltshire 10 0.51x
Berkshire 9 0.54x
Shropshire 9 0.47x
Northumberland 8 0.24x
Selkirkshire 8 3.95x
Dorset 6 0.41x
Herefordshire 5 0.54x
Renfrewshire 5 0.29x
Norfolk 4 0.12x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.56x
Suffolk 4 0.15x
Cornwall 3 0.12x
Derbyshire 3 0.09x
Hertfordshire 3 0.19x
Ayrshire 2 0.12x
Monmouthshire 2 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.07x
Royal Navy 2 0.75x
Banffshire 1 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.07x
Channel Islands 1 0.15x
Denbighshire 1 0.12x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.20x
East Lothian 1 0.34x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 64 Gibbins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.12x.

Place Total Index
Aston 64 4.12x
Cheltenham 52 15.35x
Lambeth 46 2.36x
Leicester St Margaret 46 7.60x
Northampton Priory St 29 22.95x
Bermondsey 26 3.90x
Birmingham 25 1.33x
Daventry 25 83.92x
St Marylebone London 25 2.09x
St Pancras London 25 1.39x
Stoughton 23 479.17x
Hackney London 22 1.75x
Heston 22 29.59x
Withycombe Rawleigh 22 90.61x
Greenwich 21 5.89x
Holy Trinity 21 3.94x
Sheffield 21 2.97x
Nether Hallam 20 6.66x
Colne 19 24.01x
Kingsthorpe 19 81.20x
Edgbaston 18 10.28x
Edmonton 18 9.98x
Oxhill 18 865.38x
Bethnal Green London 17 1.75x
Bishopwearmouth 17 2.97x
Harpole 17 266.88x
Richmond 17 11.12x
Rotherhithe 17 6.15x
Camberwell 16 1.12x
Portsea 16 1.78x
Bedminster 15 4.43x
Brighton 15 1.97x
Liverpool 15 0.93x
Miserdine 15 453.17x
Paddington London 15 1.82x
Allostock 14 364.58x
Ecclesall Bierlow 14 3.10x
Leeds 14 1.12x
Chelsea London 13 1.93x
St George Hanover Square 13 3.30x
St Martin In Fields 13 9.70x
Warrington 13 4.13x
Gloucester Barton St 12 46.64x
Poplar London 12 2.84x
Shoreditch London 12 1.24x
St Andrew Holborn London 12 12.38x
Bridekirk 11 71.43x
Brightside Bierlow 11 2.53x
Canterbury St Mary 11 21.46x
Deptford St Paul 11 1.87x
Humberstone 11 53.95x
Kensington London 11 0.88x
Leyton 11 14.45x
Newington 11 1.33x
Northampton All Sts 11 15.40x
Northampton St Giles 11 13.71x
Sunderland 11 9.35x
Charwelton 10 719.42x
Dundee 10 1.29x
Dyffryn Clydach 10 106.72x
Godmanchester 10 59.49x
Grange De Lings 10 1960.78x
Lewisham 10 2.46x
Northampton St Sepulchre 10 9.33x
Preston On Stour 10 478.47x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 1.25x
Westminster St Margaret 10 9.26x
Bedford 9 16.20x
Bedhampton 9 165.75x
Bradford 9 1.68x
Brindle 9 98.25x
Great Grimsby 9 3.96x
Islington London 9 0.41x
Southcoates 9 7.31x
Southwark Christchurch 9 8.58x
Speen 9 32.73x
Westminster St James 9 3.91x
Bisley 8 20.11x
Peatling Parva 8 707.96x
Selkirk 8 14.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 163
Elizabeth 86
Sarah 81
Ellen 45
Emma 42
Eliza 39
Ann 38
Jane 31
Annie 30
Louisa 29
Emily 28
Alice 26
Martha 23
Catherine 22
Margaret 20
Ada 18
Fanny 17
Edith 14
Hannah 14
Harriet 14
Kate 14
Charlotte 12
Lucy 12
Bridget 11
Caroline 11
Florence 11
Agnes 9
Anne 9
Esther 9
Maria 9
Sophia 9
Clara 8
Rose 8
Amy 7
Julia 7
Minnie 7
Frances 6
Susan 6
Amelia 5
E. 5
Harriett 5
Matilda 5
Susannah 5
Bessie 4
Rachel 4
Rosa 4
Eleanor 3
Henrietta 3
Isabella 3
Nellie 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 151
John 129
George 87
Thomas 81
Henry 53
James 48
Charles 43
Alfred 31
Edward 30
Joseph 29
Arthur 28
Frederick 28
Richard 21
Walter 19
Harry 16
Albert 14
Samuel 13
Edwin 12
Frank 11
Herbert 11
Robert 11
Ernest 8
Patrick 8
Thos. 8
Benjamin 7
Francis 7
Michael 7
Wm. 7
Fredk. 6
Geo. 6
Tom 6
Fred 5
Peter 5
Fredrick 4
Martin 4
Saml. 4
Stephen 4
Williams 4
Christopher 3
Edmund 3
J. 3
David 2
Frederic 2
Jno. 2
Leonard 2
Matthew 2
Ned 2
Reginald 2
Richardson 2
Robt. 2

FAQ

Gibbins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gibbins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,296 people were recorded with the Gibbins surname. That placed it at #1,946 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gibbins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,385 in 2016. That gives Gibbins a modern rank of #2,009.

What does the Gibbins surname mean?

An English surname derived from a diminutive form of the given name Gilbert.

What does the Gibbins map show?

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