NameCensus.

UK surname

Gidney

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly related to the Old English words "gidig" (greedy) or "gyde" (guide).

In the 1881 census there were 277 people recorded with the Gidney surname, ranking it #10,283 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 339, ranked #13,492, down from #10,283 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hindringham, Gateshead and St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Norwich and Thornhill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gidney is 426 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.4%.

1881 census count

277

Ranked #10,283

Modern count

339

2016, ranked #13,492

Peak year

1999

426 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gidney had 277 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,283 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016, ranked #13,492.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 362 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Gidney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gidney surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gidney 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 193 #10,704
1861 historical 173 #13,553
1881 historical 277 #10,283
1891 historical 325 #10,426
1901 historical 362 #10,173
1911 historical 327 #10,742
1997 modern 395 #11,106
1998 modern 421 #10,954
1999 modern 426 #10,938
2000 modern 404 #11,306
2001 modern 408 #11,056
2002 modern 415 #11,133
2003 modern 402 #11,228
2004 modern 392 #11,453
2005 modern 395 #11,292
2006 modern 377 #11,743
2007 modern 380 #11,820
2008 modern 368 #12,238
2009 modern 383 #12,125
2010 modern 397 #12,068
2011 modern 382 #12,272
2012 modern 354 #12,851
2013 modern 349 #13,215
2014 modern 344 #13,426
2015 modern 345 #13,312
2016 modern 339 #13,492

Geography

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Where Gidneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hindringham, Gateshead, St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, Norwich, Thornhill, Harrow and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Hindringham Norfolk
2 Gateshead Durham
3 St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a Norfolk
4 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 011 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Norwich 007 Norwich
3 Thornhill Dumfries and Galloway
4 Harrow 028 Harrow
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 019 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gidney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gidney

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Gidney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Gidney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Gidney is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gidney 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

Gidney falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gidney

The surname Gidney has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "gid" or "gyd," meaning "ravine" or "valley," and "ey," meaning "island." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived on an island or near a ravine or valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gideneye." This document was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror.

In the 13th century, the name was recorded as "Gideneye" in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, which were administrative records of landowners and their holdings. This spelling variation further reinforces the connection to the Old English roots of the name.

A notable early bearer of the surname was Sir John Gidney, who lived in the 14th century and was a knight of the shire for Gloucestershire in the English Parliament. Another individual of historical significance was Thomas Gidney, born around 1535, who served as the Bishop of Lincoln from 1592 until his death in 1618.

In the 16th century, the name was sometimes spelled as "Gydney," as seen in records from the parish of Wilton in Somerset. This variation highlights the fluidity of spelling practices during that era.

Robert Gidney, born in 1608, was a notable English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Ickham in Kent. He published several religious works, including a treatise on the Book of Revelation.

Another prominent figure was Sir Sampson Gidney, who lived in the 17th century and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1692. He was also a member of the Worshipful Company of Salters, one of the livery companies of the City of London.

The surname Gidney has maintained a presence throughout the centuries, with various individuals bearing the name making noteworthy contributions in various fields, further enriching the history and legacy of this English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gidney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gidney 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. Norfolk leads with 129 Gidneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.05x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 129 31.05x
Middlesex 40 1.48x
Essex 18 3.37x
Durham 14 1.74x
Sussex 12 2.63x
Kent 10 1.08x
Warwickshire 9 1.32x
Cambridgeshire 7 4.09x
Lancashire 7 0.22x
Worcestershire 7 1.98x
Hertfordshire 4 2.15x
Midlothian 4 1.11x
Berkshire 3 1.48x
Northumberland 3 0.75x
Surrey 3 0.23x
Suffolk 2 0.61x
Devon 1 0.18x
Hampshire 1 0.18x
Leicestershire 1 0.33x
Lincolnshire 1 0.23x
Oxfordshire 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Norwich St Benedict in Norfolk leads with 20 Gidneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1081.08x.

Place Total Index
Norwich St Benedict 20 1081.08x
West Ham 14 11.89x
Langham 13 4333.33x
Hindringham 12 2222.22x
Bromley 9 64.06x
Westminster St John 9 27.35x
Birmingham 8 3.52x
Bow London 8 23.26x
Kings Norton 7 22.12x
Sheringham 7 654.21x
St Luke London 7 16.15x
Swanton Novers 7 2692.31x
Westoe 7 15.36x
Brighton 6 6.53x
Briston 6 759.49x
Liverpool 6 3.08x
Norwich St Paul 6 240.96x
Heigham 5 22.42x
Islington London 5 1.91x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 5 40.10x
Little Snoring 5 1923.08x
Stody 5 4166.67x
Witcham 5 1388.89x
Baconsthorpe 4 1481.48x
Burnham Norton 4 3076.92x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 2.75x
Gateshead 4 6.65x
Hove 4 20.01x
Leyton Low 4 36.90x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 4 158.10x
Watford 4 27.70x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 8.62x
Letheringsett 3 1153.85x
Melton Constable 3 2727.27x
New Windsor 3 43.99x
Burgh St Margaret 2 392.16x
Burnham Westgate 2 222.22x
Cley Next Sea 2 298.51x
East Dereham 2 38.10x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 2 26.81x
Norwich St Edmund 2 298.51x
Paddington London 2 2.01x
St George Hanover Square 2 4.20x
St Pancras London 2 0.92x
Aston 1 0.53x
Battersea 1 1.01x
Beckley 1 303.03x
Bedlington 1 7.45x
Betchworth 1 61.73x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.57x
Eastbourne 1 4.77x
Eaton St Andrew 1 86.96x
Fakenham 1 48.78x
Great Bowden 1 36.76x
Great Grimsby 1 3.65x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.91x
Hackney London 1 0.66x
Hastings St Clement 1 23.31x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 10.85x
Kidbrooke 1 192.31x
Lambeth 1 0.42x
Longbenton 1 5.87x
Lowestoft 1 6.43x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 232.56x
North Meols 1 3.19x
Norwich St Andrew 1 140.85x
Norwich St Giles 1 75.19x
Norwich St Julian 1 57.14x
Portsmouth 1 7.84x
Rougham 1 277.78x
Sharrington 1 500.00x
St George In East London 1 3.94x
St Marylebone London 1 0.69x
Stiffkey 1 250.00x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.54x
Thornage 1 333.33x
Twickenham 1 8.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 10
Elizabeth 8
Maria 8
Annie 7
Emily 7
Martha 6
Ann 5
Ellen 5
Hannah 5
Ada 3
Charlotte 3
Harriett 3
Matilda 3
Alice 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Nellie 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Barbara 1
Betsy 1
Clara 1
Clarisa 1
Dorothy 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Emiline 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Florry 1
Georgiana 1
Helen 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lyona 1
Mabel 1
Marion 1
Olive 1
Phoebe 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
James 14
John 14
Charles 11
Robert 10
Alfred 8
Thomas 6
Frederick 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Henry 4
Albert 3
George 3
Francis 2
Joseph 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Cyrus 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederik 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Jeremiah 1
Mortimer 1
Samuel 1
Wm.Jho. 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Gidney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gidney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 277 people were recorded with the Gidney surname. That placed it at #10,283 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gidney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016. That gives Gidney a modern rank of #13,492.

What does the Gidney surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly related to the Old English words "gidig" (greedy) or "gyde" (guide).

What does the Gidney map show?

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