UK surname
A surname derived from the given name Gilbert, of Germanic origin meaning "bright" or "shining pledge".
In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Gilberts surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #30,339 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Walthamstow, Low Leyton, Merthyr Dovan, Highlight and Barford, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilberts is 133 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.0%.
1881 census count
23
Ranked #30,339
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1891
133 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gilberts surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gilberts surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 31 | #27,734 |
| 1861 | historical | 118 | #18,512 |
| 1881 | historical | 23 | #30,339 |
| 1891 | historical | 133 | #19,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 46 | #29,047 |
| 1911 | historical | 61 | #26,724 |
| 1997 | modern | 37 | #33,964 |
| 1998 | modern | 45 | #33,374 |
| 1999 | modern | 43 | #33,683 |
| 2000 | modern | 42 | #33,791 |
| 2001 | modern | 39 | #33,923 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 36 | #34,522 |
| 2004 | modern | 29 | #35,270 |
| 2005 | modern | 28 | #35,510 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 27 | #35,876 |
| 2008 | modern | 29 | #35,808 |
| 2009 | modern | 29 | #35,922 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 28 | #36,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 20 | #36,614 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Walthamstow, Low Leyton, Merthyr Dovan, Highlight, Barford, Great, Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity and Kensington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walthamstow, Low Leyton | Essex |
| 2 | Merthyr Dovan, Highlight | Glamorganshire |
| 3 | Barford, Great | Bedfordshire |
| 4 | Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity | Somerset |
| 5 | Kensington | London (West Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gilberts surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gilberts, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Gilberts surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gilberts household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Gilberts is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gilberts is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gilberts, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gilberts has its origins in medieval England, emerging during the 12th century. It is derived from the ancient Germanic personal name Gislberht or Gilberht, composed of the elements "gisil" meaning hostage or noble youth, and "berht" meaning bright or famous. This name was introduced to Britain by the Norman conquerors after 1066.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Gilberts can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears in its Latinized form "Gislebertus." This monumental survey commissioned by William the Conqueror recorded several individuals bearing variations of the name, such as Gilbertus and Ghilebertus, residing in various counties across England.
In the following centuries, the surname continued to evolve, with spellings like Gilbard, Gylberd, and Gilbright appearing in various historical records. One notable bearer of the name was William Gilberd (1544-1603), a renowned English scientist and physician who conducted pioneering work in the study of electricity and magnetism.
The Gilberts surname also has connections to several place names in England, including Gilbert's Green in Hertfordshire and Gilbert's Tomb in Wiltshire. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the surname who resided or held land there.
Another prominent figure was Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1539-1583), an English adventurer, explorer, and author who led several expeditions to Newfoundland and is credited with establishing the first English settlement in North America. His half-brother, Sir Walter Raleigh (1552-1618), is perhaps more widely known for his attempts to establish colonies in Virginia and his introduction of tobacco to England.
In the realm of literature, the Gilberts surname is associated with William Schwenck Gilbert (1836-1911), the renowned English dramatist, librettist, and illustrator best known for his collaborations with composer Arthur Sullivan, including the famous comic operas The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado.
Other notable individuals with the surname include Marie Dolores Eliza Rosanna Gilbert (1828-1892), better known as Lola Montez, an Irish-born dancer and actress who achieved notoriety as a Spanish dancer and became a celebrity across Europe and America. Additionally, Sir Alfred Gilbert (1854-1934) was a prestigious English sculptor and goldsmith known for his monuments and public sculptures, including the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain in London's Piccadilly Circus.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilberts surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cheshire leads with 12 Gilberts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.23x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire | 12 | 24.23x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 17.06x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.75x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.89x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.31x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 4.02x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lymm in Cheshire leads with 8 Gilberts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2222.22x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lymm | 8 | 2222.22x |
| Chaddesley Corbett | 5 | 4545.45x |
| Latchford | 4 | 1212.12x |
| Cheriton | 1 | 322.58x |
| Cottesbach | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 8.02x |
| Manchester | 1 | 8.35x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 8.35x |
| West Derby | 1 | 12.84x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gilberts surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gilberts surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Gilberts households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Fustian Cutter | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Labourer Railway | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Mantle Maker | 1 |
| Shepherd | 1 |
| Waiter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Gilberts surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Gilberts a modern rank of #36,679.
A surname derived from the given name Gilbert, of Germanic origin meaning "bright" or "shining pledge".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gilberts bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.