NameCensus.

UK surname

Gibbons

Derived from the medieval diminutive of Gilbert, meaning "bright pledge," or from a nickname for someone with a cheerful disposition.

In the 1881 census there were 9,605 people recorded with the Gibbons surname, ranking it #447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15,062, ranked #423, up from #447 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Herefordshire and Thurrock.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gibbons is 15,621 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.8%.

1881 census count

9,605

Ranked #447

Modern count

15,062

2016, ranked #423

Peak year

1998

15,621 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gibbons had 9,605 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #447 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 15,062 in 2016, ranked #423.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12,228 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gibbons surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gibbons surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gibbons 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 5,192 #532
1861 historical 5,532 #497
1881 historical 9,605 #447
1891 historical 9,833 #445
1901 historical 12,121 #432
1911 historical 12,228 #401
1997 modern 14,877 #408
1998 modern 15,621 #404
1999 modern 15,553 #409
2000 modern 15,409 #412
2001 modern 15,035 #411
2002 modern 15,391 #412
2003 modern 15,114 #410
2004 modern 15,143 #407
2005 modern 14,818 #412
2006 modern 14,834 #411
2007 modern 14,864 #415
2008 modern 14,902 #416
2009 modern 15,191 #416
2010 modern 15,530 #415
2011 modern 15,357 #413
2012 modern 14,980 #420
2013 modern 15,326 #418
2014 modern 15,370 #420
2015 modern 15,219 #422
2016 modern 15,062 #423

Geography

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Where Gibbons' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Herefordshire, Thurrock, Bolsover and Flintshire. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 015 Powys
2 Herefordshire 022 Herefordshire, County of
3 Thurrock 018 Thurrock
4 Bolsover 004 Bolsover
5 Flintshire 003 Flintshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gibbons

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gibbons

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Gibbons 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

Gibbons 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

Gibbons falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gibbons

The surname Gibbons has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is derived from the old English word "gibbe", meaning a male cat or tomcat. The name likely referred to someone with cat-like features or characteristics.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gibbons can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, where a Robert Gibbons is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Curia Regis Rolls of Wiltshire from 1221, which mentions a Robert Gibbun.

The Gibbons surname is also found in various medieval records and manuscripts, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Roger Gybun in Oxfordshire. The name is also mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John Gibbon is listed.

In the 16th century, the Gibbons surname can be found in various parish records and local histories. One notable example is William Gibbons, a prominent clockmaker who lived in London from 1583 to 1624. Another famous bearer of the name was Orlando Gibbons, an English composer and organist who lived from 1583 to 1625.

During the 17th century, the Gibbons family established themselves in various parts of England, including Buckinghamshire, where a branch of the family owned estates near Olney. One notable member of this branch was Grinling Gibbons, a renowned English sculptor and wood carver who lived from 1648 to 1721.

Other notable individuals with the surname Gibbons include John Gibbons, an English actor and playwright who lived from 1615 to 1667, and Thomas Gibbons, an English Catholic priest and author who lived from 1720 to 1785.

Over time, the Gibbons surname has spread across the English-speaking world, with many descendants settling in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, its origins can be traced back to medieval England and the old English word "gibbe".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gibbons families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gibbons 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. Lancashire leads with 1,371 Gibbons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.23x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,371 1.23x
Middlesex 1,218 1.30x
Staffordshire 519 1.64x
Surrey 480 1.05x
Warwickshire 413 1.74x
Kent 404 1.26x
Yorkshire 357 0.38x
Cheshire 342 1.65x
Gloucestershire 326 1.77x
Durham 322 1.15x
Lincolnshire 280 1.86x
Somerset 264 1.75x
Devon 229 1.17x
Essex 229 1.24x
Berkshire 226 3.21x
Hampshire 208 1.08x
Oxfordshire 160 2.76x
Lanarkshire 149 0.49x
Herefordshire 141 3.66x
Derbyshire 135 0.92x
Wiltshire 130 1.57x
Worcestershire 130 1.06x
Buckinghamshire 124 2.18x
Norfolk 116 0.80x
Suffolk 103 0.90x
Leicestershire 101 0.97x
Northumberland 98 0.70x
Nottinghamshire 97 0.77x
Sussex 90 0.57x
Dorset 62 1.01x
Northamptonshire 62 0.70x
Shropshire 59 0.73x
Bedfordshire 57 1.17x
Monmouthshire 52 0.77x
Midlothian 51 0.41x
Cumberland 50 0.62x
Glamorgan 49 0.30x
Renfrewshire 49 0.67x
Angus 45 0.52x
Cambridgeshire 38 0.64x
Flintshire 36 1.43x
Fife 29 0.52x
Denbighshire 24 0.68x
Hertfordshire 23 0.36x
Cornwall 22 0.21x
Royal Navy 22 1.97x
Perthshire 19 0.45x
Huntingdonshire 18 0.97x
Channel Islands 16 0.58x
Dunbartonshire 13 0.52x
Westmorland 8 0.39x
Brecknockshire 7 0.37x
West Lothian 7 0.50x
East Lothian 6 0.48x
Ayrshire 5 0.07x
Inverness-shire 5 0.18x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.13x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.03x
Morayshire 3 0.21x
Radnorshire 3 0.40x
Ross-shire 3 0.12x
Stirlingshire 3 0.09x
Cardiganshire 2 0.09x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.05x
Isle of Man 2 0.11x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.09x
Banffshire 1 0.05x
Berwickshire 1 0.09x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.13x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 201 Gibbons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.55x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 201 2.55x
Liverpool 170 2.51x
Wolverhampton 117 4.80x
Manchester 115 2.29x
Islington London 97 1.07x
Aston 94 1.44x
Lambeth 88 1.07x
Kensington London 81 1.55x
Bishopwearmouth 72 3.00x
Shoreditch London 71 1.74x
Stockport 71 6.66x
Bermondsey 67 2.40x
St Marylebone London 65 1.30x
St Pancras London 64 0.85x
Warrington 63 4.77x
Camberwell 58 0.97x
Darlaston 57 13.01x
Paddington London 57 1.65x
Toxteth Park 55 1.46x
Chelsea London 54 1.91x
Cheltenham 52 3.66x
Everton 51 1.44x
Salford 51 1.56x
Bethnal Green London 49 1.20x
Govan 47 0.63x
Leeds 45 0.86x
Mile End Old Town London 45 2.25x
Hackney London 44 0.84x
St George Hanover Square 43 2.60x
St Luke London 43 2.85x
Glasgow 42 0.78x
Battersea 41 1.19x
Ormskirk 41 19.23x
Maidstone 40 4.19x
Walcot 40 4.97x
West Ham 40 0.98x
Belchamp St Paul 37 162.57x
Heaton Norris 36 5.68x
Sedgley 36 3.06x
Cookham 35 15.93x
St Mary Bourne 34 97.39x
Westminster St James 34 3.52x
Clerkenwell London 32 1.44x
Stafford St Mary 32 7.13x
Hammersmith London 31 1.34x
Nottingham St Mary 31 0.95x
Poplar London 31 1.75x
Sheffield 31 1.05x
Barony 30 0.39x
Fulham London 30 2.20x
Hulme 30 1.29x
Reading St Giles 30 4.34x
Swindon 30 4.66x
Bilston 29 4.72x
Great Bolton 29 1.96x
Newington 29 0.84x
Brampton 28 13.62x
Egham 28 9.97x
Pudsey 28 5.63x
Bedminster 27 1.90x
Chorlton On Medlock 27 1.53x
Willenhall 26 4.38x
Tonbridge 25 2.16x
Bromley London 24 1.16x
Much Marcle 24 86.52x
Preston 24 0.81x
Batcombe 23 115.40x
Corsham 23 18.98x
Lyncombe Widcombe 23 5.81x
Stoke Upon Trent 23 0.68x
Colerne 22 64.63x
Wood Ditton 22 44.24x
Blackburn 21 0.71x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 21 0.41x
Newton Abbot St Mary 21 12.81x
Plumstead 21 1.97x
Portsea 21 0.56x
Shawell 21 318.66x
Dunfermline 20 2.34x
Wantage 20 17.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 688
Elizabeth 352
Sarah 309
Ann 196
Ellen 152
Jane 151
Alice 141
Eliza 139
Emma 123
Margaret 119
Annie 117
Emily 112
Catherine 89
Hannah 83
Martha 71
Bridget 65
Louisa 58
Charlotte 54
Harriet 53
Florence 51
Ada 50
Caroline 49
Maria 48
Fanny 47
Kate 47
Frances 43
Amelia 39
Edith 38
Lucy 36
Clara 34
Julia 34
Anne 32
Esther 27
Amy 26
Rose 26
Agnes 25
Susan 23
Harriett 22
Lydia 22
Gertrude 21
Isabella 21
Rebecca 20
Minnie 18
Sophia 18
Jessie 17
Selina 17
Elizth. 16
Eleanor 15
Matilda 13
Rachel 13

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 567
William 527
Thomas 345
George 315
James 299
Joseph 188
Henry 177
Charles 157
Alfred 106
Edward 105
Robert 96
Richard 88
Frederick 87
Arthur 84
Patrick 75
Samuel 75
Walter 74
Michael 62
Albert 52
Frank 51
Harry 40
Peter 38
Francis 35
Ernest 30
Benjamin 28
Martin 26
Thos. 26
Wm. 26
David 24
Herbert 24
Daniel 23
Stephen 22
Isaac 21
Edwin 18
Matthew 15
Fred 14
Fredk. 14
Anthony 11
Austin 10
Philip 10
Edmund 8
Fredrick 8
Percy 8
Alexander 7
Geo. 7
Jesse 7
Job 7
Mark 7
Phillip 7
Tom 7

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 Gibbons households.

FAQ

Gibbons surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gibbons surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9,605 people were recorded with the Gibbons surname. That placed it at #447 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gibbons surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 15,062 in 2016. That gives Gibbons a modern rank of #423.

What does the Gibbons surname mean?

Derived from the medieval diminutive of Gilbert, meaning "bright pledge," or from a nickname for someone with a cheerful disposition.

What does the Gibbons map show?

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