NameCensus.

UK surname

Giffen

An anglicized Scottish occupational surname derived from the Gaelic gibioneach meaning "the art of making gibbons" or leggings.

In the 1881 census there were 244 people recorded with the Giffen surname, ranking it #11,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 308, ranked #14,479, down from #11,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Beith, Govan Combination and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gallowgate North and Bellgrove, Crawley and Basingstoke and Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Giffen is 367 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.2%.

1881 census count

244

Ranked #11,258

Modern count

308

2016, ranked #14,479

Peak year

1901

367 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Giffen had 244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 308 in 2016, ranked #14,479.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 367 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Giffen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Giffen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Giffen 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 191 #10,808
1861 historical 307 #8,262
1881 historical 244 #11,258
1891 historical 329 #10,320
1901 historical 367 #10,076
1911 historical 153 #17,633
1997 modern 299 #13,563
1998 modern 307 #13,690
1999 modern 312 #13,615
2000 modern 329 #13,090
2001 modern 306 #13,565
2002 modern 310 #13,697
2003 modern 307 #13,614
2004 modern 302 #13,833
2005 modern 291 #14,105
2006 modern 294 #14,092
2007 modern 301 #14,022
2008 modern 299 #14,177
2009 modern 308 #14,161
2010 modern 319 #14,110
2011 modern 308 #14,356
2012 modern 306 #14,327
2013 modern 305 #14,577
2014 modern 309 #14,533
2015 modern 312 #14,347
2016 modern 308 #14,479

Geography

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Where Giffens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Beith, Govan Combination, Glasgow, Paisley Abbey and Bassingbourn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gallowgate North and Bellgrove, Crawley, Basingstoke and Deane, Overtown and Rosebank and Waterside. 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 Beith Ayr
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Paisley Abbey Renfrew
5 Bassingbourn Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gallowgate North and Bellgrove Glasgow City
2 Crawley 009 Crawley
3 Basingstoke and Deane 022 Basingstoke and Deane
4 Overtown North Lanarkshire
5 Rosebank and Waterside East Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Giffen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Giffen

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Giffen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Giffen 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 are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Giffen 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

Giffen is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Giffen falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Giffen

The surname Giffen is of Scottish origin, derived from the Old English words "gif" meaning "to give" and "fen" meaning "a marsh or bog". This suggests that the name may have originated from a location or settlement near a marshy or boggy area.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Giffen can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists people who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. One such entry is "Johannes de Giffin", indicating that the name was present in Scotland in the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the Giffen family was prominent in the parish of Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland. Records from this time period mention individuals such as John Giffen, who was a landowner in the area, and Robert Giffen, who was a prominent merchant.

The Giffen surname is also associated with the village of Giffen in North Ayrshire, Scotland. This village likely derived its name from the same origins as the surname, suggesting that the name may have originated from this location or a similar place name.

Notable individuals with the surname Giffen throughout history include:

1. Sir Robert Giffen (1837-1910), a Scottish statistician and economist who is credited with identifying the "Giffen paradox", a phenomenon in economics where demand for a good increases as its price rises.

2. Hubert van Giffen (1839-1904), a Dutch chemist and entrepreneur who founded the company that later became known as Philips Electronics.

3. Peyton C. Giffen (1879-1962), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma.

4. Archie Giffen (1904-1996), a Scottish footballer who played as a defender for Rangers F.C. and the Scottish national team in the 1920s and 1930s.

5. Bruce Giffen (born 1955), a Canadian actor and voice artist known for his work in animated series such as X-Men and Dragon Ball Z.

While the surname Giffen has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and other English-speaking countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Giffen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Giffen 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. Lanarkshire leads with 65 Giffens recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.48x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 65 8.48x
Renfrewshire 35 19.05x
Middlesex 29 1.22x
Ayrshire 24 13.53x
Midlothian 15 4.72x
Argyllshire 12 18.18x
Hertfordshire 12 7.34x
Cambridgeshire 11 7.33x
West Lothian 8 22.41x
Roxburghshire 7 16.30x
Dunbartonshire 6 9.42x
Essex 5 1.07x
Hampshire 5 1.03x
Kent 2 0.25x
Stirlingshire 2 2.29x
Surrey 2 0.17x
Banffshire 1 2.03x
Cumberland 1 0.49x
Yorkshire 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. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 17 Giffens recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.49x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 17 12.49x
Govan 17 8.97x
Abbey 15 53.51x
Avondale 15 334.82x
Beith 10 189.04x
Barony 9 4.64x
Campbeltown 9 113.07x
Edinburgh St Marys 9 145.87x
Paisley Low Church 8 137.46x
Whitburn 8 155.04x
Morebattle 7 853.66x
Shoreditch London 7 6.81x
Auckinleck 6 109.29x
Chelsea London 6 8.40x
Alverstoke 5 28.43x
Bonhill 5 48.88x
Hackney London 5 3.76x
Limehouse London 5 19.22x
Mearns 5 155.28x
South Leith 5 13.99x
Ardrossan 4 65.15x
Bishop Stortford 4 73.26x
Hamilton 4 18.71x
Meldreth 4 689.66x
Balsham 3 365.85x
Cathcart 3 30.18x
Reed 3 2000.00x
St Albans St Peter 3 54.45x
Arkesden 2 588.24x
Deptford St Nicholas 2 31.15x
Harston 2 312.50x
Kensington London 2 1.52x
Kilmalcolm 2 90.91x
Kilmore Kilbride 2 47.73x
Paisley Middle Church 2 18.69x
Royston 2 143.88x
Thaxted 2 129.03x
Acton 1 7.19x
Aikton 1 156.25x
Cambuslang 1 12.94x
Campsie 1 20.83x
Carmunnock 1 169.49x
Dreghorn 1 31.15x
Dunoon 1 73.53x
East Kilbride 1 30.49x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.78x
Enfield 1 6.43x
Hampstead London 1 2.71x
Harwich St Nicholas 1 27.70x
Irvine 1 20.28x
Keith 1 19.08x
Kilmarnock 1 4.74x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 53.19x
Limpsfield 1 90.91x
Loudoun 1 23.42x
Melbourn 1 68.49x
Paddington London 1 1.15x
Row 1 12.14x
St Andrewthe Less 1 5.83x
Stirling 1 9.07x
Wimbledon 1 7.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Ann 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Laura 2
Agnes 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lottis 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Mary 1
Miriam 1
Phillis 1
Rachel 1
Sarah 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Giffen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Giffen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 244 people were recorded with the Giffen surname. That placed it at #11,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Giffen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 308 in 2016. That gives Giffen a modern rank of #14,479.

What does the Giffen surname mean?

An anglicized Scottish occupational surname derived from the Gaelic gibioneach meaning "the art of making gibbons" or leggings.

What does the Giffen map show?

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