NameCensus.

UK surname

Gifford

From an English place name meaning "the ford that yields a gift or reward."

In the 1881 census there were 2,601 people recorded with the Gifford surname, ranking it #1,713 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,886, ranked #2,327, down from #1,713 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lerwick and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lerwick North, Cornwall and Torridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gifford is 3,120 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.0%.

1881 census count

2,601

Ranked #1,713

Modern count

2,886

2016, ranked #2,327

Peak year

2000

3,120 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gifford had 2,601 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,713 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,886 in 2016, ranked #2,327.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,109 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gifford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gifford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gifford 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 1,859 #1,555
1861 historical 1,980 #1,471
1881 historical 2,601 #1,713
1891 historical 2,694 #1,764
1901 historical 3,109 #1,798
1911 historical 2,742 #1,889
1997 modern 3,010 #2,140
1998 modern 3,074 #2,183
1999 modern 3,070 #2,204
2000 modern 3,120 #2,157
2001 modern 3,000 #2,197
2002 modern 3,040 #2,216
2003 modern 2,927 #2,243
2004 modern 2,900 #2,269
2005 modern 2,835 #2,291
2006 modern 2,843 #2,285
2007 modern 2,849 #2,303
2008 modern 2,874 #2,304
2009 modern 2,924 #2,313
2010 modern 3,001 #2,303
2011 modern 2,957 #2,306
2012 modern 2,946 #2,274
2013 modern 2,984 #2,284
2014 modern 2,950 #2,316
2015 modern 2,929 #2,310
2016 modern 2,886 #2,327

Geography

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Where Giffords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lerwick, St Pancras and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lerwick North, Cornwall and Torridge. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lerwick Shetland
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lerwick North Shetland Islands
2 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
3 Torridge 008 Torridge
4 Torridge 004 Torridge
5 Cornwall 002 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gifford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gifford

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

London Fringe

Within London, Gifford 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

Gifford is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gifford falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gifford

The surname Gifford originated in England, derived from the Old English words "gif" meaning "gift" and "ford" meaning "a shallow place where a river or stream can be crossed." It is believed to have originated as a place name, referring to a location where a gift or benefaction was bestowed upon a religious establishment or community.

The earliest recorded instance of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Gifeford." This entry refers to a place in Suffolk, England, which was later known as Gifford's Hall. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 11th century.

In the 12th century, a prominent family with the surname Gifford held lands in Normandy and England. One notable member was Walter Gifford, who served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1072 to 1089. Another early bearer of the name was William Gifford (c. 1180-1253), who was Bishop of Winchester and a renowned scholar.

The name spread throughout England and Scotland, with various spellings emerging over time, such as Giffard, Gyfford, and Gyffard. In the 13th century, Sir John Gifford (c. 1235-1285) was a prominent knight and landowner in Gloucestershire, England.

During the 16th century, the Gifford family established itself in Devon, England. One notable member was George Gifford (c. 1520-1600), a Puritan theologian and writer. In the 17th century, William Gifford (1556-1629) was an English clergyman and Archbishop of Rheims.

In Scotland, the Giffords were a prominent family in East Lothian. William Gifford (1756-1826) was a renowned English critic, satirist, and editor of the Quarterly Review. Robert Gifford, 1st Baron Gifford (1779-1869), was a Scottish judge and politician who served as Lord Justice Clerk.

Throughout history, the surname Gifford has been associated with various notable individuals, including poets, authors, politicians, and religious figures, reflecting its long-standing presence and significance in England and Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gifford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gifford 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. Middlesex leads with 267 Giffords recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.05x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 267 1.05x
Lancashire 206 0.68x
Kent 199 2.30x
Cambridgeshire 178 11.06x
Somerset 167 4.08x
Shetland 154 59.36x
Devon 126 2.38x
Surrey 123 0.99x
Gloucestershire 102 2.05x
Dorset 99 5.94x
Midlothian 98 2.88x
Essex 88 1.76x
Huntingdonshire 77 15.27x
Hampshire 73 1.40x
Lanarkshire 62 0.75x
Yorkshire 47 0.19x
Glamorgan 46 1.04x
Staffordshire 40 0.47x
Sussex 30 0.70x
Warwickshire 28 0.44x
Fife 27 1.80x
Norfolk 26 0.67x
West Lothian 26 6.80x
Durham 25 0.33x
Cornwall 21 0.73x
Wiltshire 20 0.89x
Renfrewshire 17 0.86x
Wigtownshire 17 5.04x
Pembrokeshire 16 1.98x
Banffshire 14 2.66x
Monmouthshire 14 0.76x
Lincolnshire 12 0.30x
Northamptonshire 12 0.50x
Northumberland 12 0.32x
Caernarfonshire 11 1.07x
Suffolk 11 0.36x
Aberdeenshire 9 0.38x
Dunbartonshire 9 1.32x
Cumberland 8 0.37x
Dumfriesshire 8 1.43x
Perthshire 8 0.70x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.46x
Hertfordshire 7 0.40x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 1.90x
Royal Navy 7 2.31x
Westmorland 6 1.07x
Derbyshire 5 0.13x
Stirlingshire 5 0.53x
Worcestershire 5 0.15x
Argyllshire 4 0.57x
Brecknockshire 4 0.79x
Ayrshire 3 0.16x
Berkshire 3 0.16x
Channel Islands 3 0.40x
Angus 1 0.04x
Bedfordshire 1 0.08x
Berwickshire 1 0.33x
Caithness 1 0.29x
Cheshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bressay in Shetland leads with 81 Giffords recorded in 1881 and an index of 1985.29x.

Place Total Index
Bressay 81 1985.29x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 43 3.14x
Ramsgate 42 29.69x
Cottenham 41 191.77x
St Pancras London 39 1.91x
Stoke Upon Trent 32 3.52x
Lerwick Gulberwick 31 77.21x
Frampton Cotterell 30 171.53x
Great Shelford 30 355.03x
Lambeth 30 1.35x
Battersea 29 3.10x
Dunfermline 27 11.68x
Blackburn 22 2.74x
Kirkliston 22 98.61x
Tottenham 22 5.44x
West Ham 22 1.99x
Birmingham 21 0.98x
Brixham 20 32.64x
Hackney London 20 1.40x
Bromley London 19 3.40x
North Leith 18 11.43x
Thorpe 18 339.62x
Kensington London 17 1.20x
Chelsea London 16 2.09x
Everton 16 1.67x
South Leith 16 4.18x
South Petherton 16 75.79x
Chelmsford 15 17.44x
Manchester 15 1.11x
Newland 15 35.83x
Over 15 156.90x
Barony 14 0.67x
Delting 14 95.96x
Islington London 14 0.57x
Newington 14 1.49x
Over Wyresdale 14 313.90x
Tenby St Mary In 14 34.07x
Unst 14 73.80x
Maidstone 13 5.04x
Preston 13 1.61x
Wellow 13 108.06x
West Knighton 13 479.70x
Bristol St George 12 5.21x
Clerkenwell London 12 2.00x
Colne 12 419.58x
Glasgow 12 0.82x
Liverpool 12 0.66x
North Cadbury 12 153.26x
Southampton St Mary 12 3.67x
St John Near Swansea 12 21.94x
Chatham 11 4.61x
Ealing 11 4.85x
Frome 11 11.25x
Govan 11 0.54x
Hemingford Grey 11 142.49x
Llantwit Lower 11 28.29x
Sydling St Nicholas 11 226.34x
West Derby 11 1.25x
West Pennard 11 167.43x
Bishopwearmouth 10 1.54x
Brighton 10 1.16x
Christchurch 10 8.86x
Little Shelford 10 222.72x
Norwich St Benedict 10 57.44x
Penninghame 10 29.07x
Stoke Newington London 10 5.05x
Stretham 10 86.88x
Woolwich 10 3.12x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 9 9.85x
Clapton 9 486.49x
East Stonehouse 9 8.64x
Fen Stanton 9 96.88x
Holdenhurst 9 6.59x
Quernmore 9 176.82x
Scotforth 9 45.94x
Somersham 9 73.47x
St Lawrence 9 15.10x
Stodmarsh 9 769.23x
Waterbeach 9 68.60x
Westminster St John 9 2.91x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 119
John 108
James 88
George 73
Thomas 54
Henry 48
Charles 43
Edward 29
Joseph 29
Frederick 27
Harry 19
Samuel 19
Richard 18
Robert 18
Alfred 16
Alexander 12
Arthur 12
Wm. 12
Walter 11
Frank 10
Edwin 9
Isaac 8
Mark 7
David 6
Ernest 6
Stephen 5
Ansell 4
Fred 4
Percy 4
Thos. 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Earnest 3
Frederic 3
Fredk. 3
Fredrick 3
Horace 3
Sadler 3
Stanley 3
C. 2
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Evan 2
Francis 2
Infant 2
Jno. 2
Job 2
Phineas 2
Richd. 2
Zachariah 2

FAQ

Gifford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gifford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,601 people were recorded with the Gifford surname. That placed it at #1,713 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gifford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,886 in 2016. That gives Gifford a modern rank of #2,327.

What does the Gifford surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "the ford that yields a gift or reward."

What does the Gifford map show?

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