NameCensus.

UK surname

Gibbon

A surname likely referring to a person with a hunched or bent back.

In the 1881 census there were 3,044 people recorded with the Gibbon surname, ranking it #1,473 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,883, ranked #2,332, down from #1,473 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire, Doncaster and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gibbon is 3,506 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.3%.

1881 census count

3,044

Ranked #1,473

Modern count

2,883

2016, ranked #2,332

Peak year

1911

3,506 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gibbon had 3,044 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,473 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,883 in 2016, ranked #2,332.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,506 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Gibbon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gibbon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gibbon 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 1,933 #1,501
1861 historical 2,148 #1,357
1881 historical 3,044 #1,473
1891 historical 3,288 #1,444
1901 historical 3,342 #1,669
1911 historical 3,506 #1,490
1997 modern 2,926 #2,212
1998 modern 3,011 #2,241
1999 modern 3,029 #2,242
2000 modern 2,963 #2,276
2001 modern 2,874 #2,293
2002 modern 2,893 #2,327
2003 modern 2,838 #2,313
2004 modern 2,868 #2,296
2005 modern 2,850 #2,281
2006 modern 2,833 #2,295
2007 modern 2,853 #2,298
2008 modern 2,836 #2,325
2009 modern 2,908 #2,327
2010 modern 2,966 #2,324
2011 modern 2,928 #2,327
2012 modern 2,854 #2,339
2013 modern 2,947 #2,310
2014 modern 2,939 #2,326
2015 modern 2,915 #2,317
2016 modern 2,883 #2,332

Geography

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Where Gibbons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Gateshead, 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 Carmarthenshire, Doncaster, Calderdale and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 027 Carmarthenshire
2 Carmarthenshire 012 Carmarthenshire
3 Doncaster 002 Doncaster
4 Calderdale 004 Calderdale
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 014 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gibbon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gibbon

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Gibbon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Gibbon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gibbon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Gibbon is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gibbon falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gibbon

The surname Gibbon originates from England and traces its roots back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "gibun," meaning a hunchback or a crooked person. This nickname likely referred to someone with a hunched back or a deformed physique.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various medieval records from the 13th and 14th centuries. For example, the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk from 1273 mention a "Walter Gibun." Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 include a "Thomas Gyboun."

The Gibbons were particularly prevalent in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and Warwickshire. The name also appeared in various forms, such as Gybbun, Gibbun, and Gybbon, reflecting the variations in spelling during that period.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was John Gibbon, an English Catholic prelate who lived from 1543 to 1589. He served as the Bishop of Llandaff and was a prominent figure during the English Reformation.

Another significant individual was Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721), a renowned English sculptor and woodcarver who achieved fame for his intricate and detailed carvings in wood. His works adorned numerous churches and royal palaces, including St. Paul's Cathedral and Hampton Court Palace.

In the literary realm, Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) stands out as the author of the monumental work "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." This seminal work, published in six volumes between 1776 and 1788, established Gibbon as one of the most influential historians of all time.

Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625) was a prominent English composer during the Renaissance period. He served as an organist at the Chapel Royal and is regarded as one of the most significant composers of keyboard music and sacred compositions of his era.

Another notable figure was Sir Samuel Gibbon (1826-1906), a British naval officer and explorer. He is best known for his explorations in the Arctic regions, where he charted previously uncharted waters and made significant contributions to the understanding of the region's geography and climate.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gibbon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gibbon 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. Durham leads with 607 Gibbons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.90x.

County Total Index
Durham 607 6.90x
Lancashire 416 1.18x
Glamorgan 379 7.36x
Yorkshire 345 1.18x
Cheshire 188 2.88x
Middlesex 148 0.50x
Lanarkshire 98 1.02x
Pembrokeshire 90 9.57x
Kent 89 0.88x
Carmarthenshire 86 6.90x
Northumberland 77 1.75x
Monmouthshire 74 3.46x
Aberdeenshire 50 1.82x
Surrey 44 0.31x
Hampshire 38 0.63x
Lincolnshire 22 0.47x
Warwickshire 22 0.29x
Staffordshire 21 0.21x
Gloucestershire 20 0.34x
Derbyshire 15 0.32x
Essex 14 0.24x
Hertfordshire 13 0.64x
Sussex 13 0.26x
Cumberland 12 0.47x
Fife 12 0.69x
Kincardineshire 9 2.50x
Devon 8 0.13x
Norfolk 8 0.18x
Renfrewshire 8 0.35x
Stirlingshire 8 0.73x
Angus 7 0.26x
Suffolk 7 0.19x
Worcestershire 7 0.18x
Ayrshire 6 0.27x
Brecknockshire 6 1.01x
Flintshire 6 0.75x
Somerset 6 0.13x
West Lothian 6 1.35x
Banffshire 5 0.81x
Berkshire 5 0.23x
Cardiganshire 5 0.69x
Midlothian 5 0.13x
Northamptonshire 5 0.18x
Bedfordshire 3 0.20x
Perthshire 3 0.23x
Shropshire 3 0.12x
Anglesey 2 0.38x
Morayshire 2 0.44x
Argyllshire 1 0.12x
Cornwall 1 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.05x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.15x
Herefordshire 1 0.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.03x
Roxburghshire 1 0.19x
Royal Navy 1 0.28x
Wiltshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stretford in Lancashire leads with 45 Gibbons recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.30x.

Place Total Index
Stretford 45 23.30x
Culcheth 41 178.26x
Stranton 40 13.50x
Ystradyfodwg 40 8.85x
Flamborough 37 260.56x
Ford 37 140.31x
Altrincham 34 29.79x
Llantrisant 34 26.18x
Llanwonno 33 17.83x
Aberdare 32 9.05x
Roath 32 13.68x
Crook Billy Row 30 26.61x
Leeds 29 1.75x
Llandaff 29 16.92x
Eglwysilan 28 31.32x
Hammersmith London 28 3.84x
Islington London 27 0.94x
Rutherglen 26 18.52x
Stockton On Tees 26 6.13x
Cardiff St Mary 25 8.81x
Merthyr Tydfil 25 5.05x
Darlington 24 7.06x
Eccleston In Prescot 24 13.62x
Glasgow 24 1.41x
Barony 23 0.95x
Coundon 22 61.66x
Handforth 22 295.30x
Middlesbrough 22 5.76x
Thornley 22 69.07x
Liverpool 21 0.98x
Hulme 19 2.59x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 18 4.72x
Lymm 18 37.91x
North Meols 18 5.24x
Hinderwell 17 67.92x
Macclesfield 17 5.86x
Birkenhead 16 3.07x
Heworth 16 9.22x
Morton Palms 16 1509.43x
Aberdeen Old Machar 15 2.62x
Bedwas 15 96.71x
Bishop Auckland 15 12.70x
Hetton Le Hole 15 13.45x
Monkwearmouth Shore 15 8.73x
Llawhaden 14 255.94x
Manchester 14 0.89x
Pendleton In Salford 14 3.35x
Warrington 14 3.36x
Brandon Byshottles 13 11.79x
Portsea 13 1.09x
Stanhope 13 14.30x
Stillington 13 2549.02x
Cheetham 12 4.58x
Govan 12 0.51x
High Leigh 12 139.37x
Leeds 12 163.04x
Llanboidy 12 76.53x
Melsonby 12 222.63x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 12 4.56x
Skinningrove 12 66.70x
Aberavon 11 23.20x
Ardwick 11 3.47x
Bradford 11 1.55x
Coyty Lower 11 32.89x
Elie 11 159.65x
Llangattock 11 428.02x
Llanglydwen 11 364.24x
Seaton Delaval 11 28.45x
St Woollos 11 4.61x
Aldershot 10 4.92x
Barton Upon Irwell 10 3.78x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 10 9.97x
Cilymaenllwyd 10 202.43x
Greatham 10 134.05x
Hartley 10 85.18x
Maidstone 10 3.33x
Seacroft 10 72.05x
Shildon 10 14.14x
St Luke London 10 2.11x
Westgate 10 3.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 255
Elizabeth 154
Sarah 93
Margaret 81
Ann 73
Jane 68
Annie 38
Alice 30
Martha 30
Catherine 29
Hannah 29
Emma 27
Ellen 26
Eliza 22
Isabella 22
Anne 19
Frances 17
Edith 15
Emily 15
Charlotte 11
Harriet 11
Louisa 10
Margt. 10
Maria 10
Agnes 9
Esther 9
Anna 8
Caroline 8
Clara 8
Amelia 7
Eleanor 7
Florence 7
Kate 7
Ada 6
Barbara 6
Fanny 6
Jessie 6
Beatrice 5
Dorothy 5
Harriett 5
Helen 5
Janet 5
Margret 5
Minnie 5
Rachel 5
Rebecca 5
Winifred 5
Amy 4
Bridget 4
Susannah 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 192
William 179
Thomas 130
James 83
George 72
Henry 49
Joseph 45
Charles 43
Robert 34
Edward 29
Matthew 20
David 17
Stephen 17
Alfred 15
Arthur 15
Frederick 15
Richard 13
Benjamin 12
Herbert 12
Daniel 11
Isaac 11
Frank 10
Samuel 10
Thos. 10
Walter 10
Harry 9
Patrick 9
Peter 9
Wm. 8
Albert 7
Edwin 7
Ralph 7
Edmund 6
Fred 6
Geo. 6
Michael 6
Windsor 6
Griffith 5
Evan 4
Hugh 4
Jacob 4
Jno. 4
Mathew 4
Phillip 4
Robt. 4
Willie 4
Aaron 3
Chas. 3
Christopher 3
Joel 3

FAQ

Gibbon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gibbon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,044 people were recorded with the Gibbon surname. That placed it at #1,473 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gibbon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,883 in 2016. That gives Gibbon a modern rank of #2,332.

What does the Gibbon surname mean?

A surname likely referring to a person with a hunched or bent back.

What does the Gibbon map show?

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