NameCensus.

UK surname

Gidley

A variant spelling of a locational surname referring to someone from Gidley, a location in Devonshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 520 people recorded with the Gidley surname, ranking it #6,564 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 420, ranked #11,414, down from #6,564 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Throwley, London parishes and Heavitree. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Teignbridge and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gidley is 640 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.2%.

1881 census count

520

Ranked #6,564

Modern count

420

2016, ranked #11,414

Peak year

1911

640 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gidley had 520 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,564 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016, ranked #11,414.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 640 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Gidley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gidley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gidley 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 474 #5,250
1861 historical 394 #6,504
1881 historical 520 #6,564
1891 historical 573 #6,640
1901 historical 561 #7,427
1911 historical 640 #6,517
1997 modern 426 #10,490
1998 modern 453 #10,358
1999 modern 459 #10,310
2000 modern 467 #10,144
2001 modern 439 #10,447
2002 modern 454 #10,367
2003 modern 438 #10,507
2004 modern 435 #10,600
2005 modern 423 #10,713
2006 modern 423 #10,765
2007 modern 433 #10,662
2008 modern 432 #10,792
2009 modern 428 #11,112
2010 modern 429 #11,324
2011 modern 428 #11,219
2012 modern 415 #11,403
2013 modern 429 #11,280
2014 modern 429 #11,347
2015 modern 415 #11,583
2016 modern 420 #11,414

Geography

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Where Gidleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Throwley, London parishes, Heavitree and Buckfastleigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burnley, Teignbridge and South Somerset. 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 Throwley Devon
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Heavitree Devon
5 Buckfastleigh Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 005 Burnley
2 Burnley 006 Burnley
3 Teignbridge 016 Teignbridge
4 Burnley 011 Burnley
5 South Somerset 023 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gidley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gidley

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Gidley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gidley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Gidley is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Gidley is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gidley 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 Gidley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gidley

The surname Gidley is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from a place name, possibly from the Old English words "giddan," meaning "to speak," and "leah," meaning "a clearing or meadow." This suggests that the name may have referred to a person who lived in a clearing or meadow where people gathered to speak or converse.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, which dates back to 1273. Here, the name is written as "Giddeleye." This variation in spelling was common during that time, as standardized spelling was not yet established.

The Gidley surname appears to have been concentrated in the counties of Devon and Somerset in the southwestern part of England. In the late 16th century, a notable figure named John Gidley was recorded as a merchant and shipowner in the city of Exeter, Devon.

During the 17th century, the Gidley family established itself as landowners in the parish of Matford, near Exeter. Thomas Gidley (1619-1694) was a prominent member of this family and served as a Justice of the Peace for Devon.

In the 18th century, another notable figure was Reverend Sausmarez Gidley (1708-1793), who served as the Rector of Avington in Hampshire. He was also a Fellow of Winchester College and published several theological works.

The 19th century saw the birth of William Tanner Gidley (1811-1892), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel and St. Pancras railway station.

Another significant figure was Sir Sampson Gidley (1827-1905), who served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1891 to 1892. He was also a successful businessman and philanthropist, known for his charitable contributions to various causes.

The Gidley name has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Gidleigh in Devon, which was once a manor owned by the Gidley family. Additionally, there are records of "Gidleighton" and "Gidleighfarm" in the same county, further emphasizing the connection between the surname and geographical locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gidley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gidley 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. Devon leads with 292 Gidleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.50x.

County Total Index
Devon 292 27.50x
Middlesex 69 1.35x
Kent 24 1.38x
Warwickshire 23 1.79x
Yorkshire 23 0.45x
Lancashire 22 0.36x
Cornwall 15 2.60x
Surrey 9 0.36x
Cumberland 7 1.59x
Lincolnshire 7 0.86x
Sussex 7 0.81x
Hampshire 6 0.57x
Durham 4 0.26x
Essex 3 0.30x
Gloucestershire 3 0.30x
Somerset 3 0.37x
Wiltshire 2 0.44x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.31x
Channel Islands 1 0.66x
Isle of Man 1 1.06x
Royal Navy 1 1.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 38 Gidleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.45x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 38 46.45x
Buckfastleigh 26 530.61x
Exeter Heavitree 21 265.15x
Birmingham 20 4.66x
Plymouth Charles The 20 42.75x
Islington London 18 3.64x
Tormoham 15 33.39x
South Tawton 13 593.61x
Woodbury 12 380.95x
Drewsteignton 11 780.14x
East Stonehouse 10 47.80x
Ashburton 9 177.17x
Bowling 9 17.97x
Dean Prior 9 1636.36x
Hulme 9 7.12x
Shoreditch London 9 4.07x
Stoke Damerel 9 12.11x
Tavistock 9 74.38x
Lee 8 31.66x
Meavy 8 1600.00x
St Pauls Cray 8 601.50x
Christow 7 679.61x
Dearham 7 120.90x
Horton In Bradford 7 8.87x
Kensington London 7 2.47x
Mile End Old Town London 7 6.45x
Dawlish 6 75.76x
Paddington London 6 3.20x
Plumstead 6 10.34x
Ratcliffe London 6 21.30x
Great Grimsby 5 9.66x
Kingskerswell 5 284.09x
Lezant 5 387.60x
Pett 5 1020.41x
Withycombe Rawleigh 5 90.42x
Camberwell 4 1.23x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 4.16x
Clerkenwell London 4 3.32x
Exeter St David 4 44.10x
Gidleigh 4 1818.18x
Littleham 4 51.55x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 13.50x
Thorverton 4 248.45x
York St John Micklegate 4 327.87x
Dartington 3 270.27x
Exeter Allhallows On The 3 172.41x
Exeter St Mary Major 3 46.88x
Gwennap 3 27.52x
Habergham Eaves 3 5.42x
Old Stratford 3 41.21x
Salford 3 1.69x
South Stoneham 3 13.23x
Topsham 3 59.88x
Westbury On Trym 3 8.85x
Wolborough 3 22.35x
Bedminster 2 2.59x
Bromley London 2 1.78x
Chagford 2 78.74x
Clee With Weelsby 2 11.20x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 8.22x
Frimley 2 28.25x
Honiton 2 34.01x
Ilfracombe 2 18.30x
Lambeth 2 0.45x
Leeds 2 0.70x
Manaton 2 344.83x
Portsea 2 0.98x
Salisbury The Close 2 180.18x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.22x
St Pancras London 2 0.49x
Stokenham 2 66.89x
Truro St Mary 2 41.24x
West Teignmouth 2 24.63x
Whitechapel London 2 3.98x
Royal Navy 1 1.92x
Ruan Minor 1 196.08x
Speldhurst 1 11.29x
St Andrewthe Less 1 2.71x
St Sampson 1 14.68x
Stoke 1 23.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 35
Elizabeth 27
Eliza 15
Ann 13
Sarah 12
Annie 11
Alice 9
Emma 9
Bessie 8
Charlotte 8
Emily 7
Maria 7
Fanny 5
Jane 5
Amelia 4
Ellen 4
Isabella 4
Jessie 4
Kate 4
Sophia 4
Susan 4
Edith 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Margaret 3
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Eva 2
Harriett 2
Lilian 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Priscilla 2
Rebecca 2
Ada 1
Bessy 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Elizabth. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.C. 1
Emiley 1
Harriette 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Jemima 1
Venus 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 37
William 34
George 24
Charles 11
James 11
Richard 9
Samuel 9
Albert 7
Thomas 7
Frederick 5
Gustavus 5
Alfred 4
Bartholomew 4
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Henry 4
Walter 4
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Robert 3
Arthur 2
Bartholemew 2
Chas. 2
Lewis 2
Oliver 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Allen 1
Barthlomew 1
Clement 1
Courtenay 1
Fransis 1
Fredrick 1
Gustanes 1
Gustavous 1
Horace 1
Joseph 1
May 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Theodore 1
Thos. 1
Thos.H. 1
Tom 1
W. 1
W.J. 1
Wm.F. 1

FAQ

Gidley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gidley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 520 people were recorded with the Gidley surname. That placed it at #6,564 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gidley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016. That gives Gidley a modern rank of #11,414.

What does the Gidley surname mean?

A variant spelling of a locational surname referring to someone from Gidley, a location in Devonshire, England.

What does the Gidley map show?

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