NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilbertson

Son of Gilbert, an English patronymic surname derived from the Norman French personal name Gilbert, meaning "bright pledge."

In the 1881 census there were 879 people recorded with the Gilbertson surname, ranking it #4,315 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,291, ranked #4,639, down from #4,315 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lerwick, Gateshead and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selby, Liverpool and Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilbertson is 1,333 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.9%.

1881 census count

879

Ranked #4,315

Modern count

1,291

2016, ranked #4,639

Peak year

1999

1,333 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilbertson had 879 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,315 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,291 in 2016, ranked #4,639.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,070 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gilbertson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilbertson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gilbertson 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 639 #4,063
1861 historical 690 #3,907
1881 historical 879 #4,315
1891 historical 961 #4,303
1901 historical 1,070 #4,514
1911 historical 845 #5,249
1997 modern 1,293 #4,411
1998 modern 1,327 #4,468
1999 modern 1,333 #4,487
2000 modern 1,317 #4,514
2001 modern 1,304 #4,469
2002 modern 1,318 #4,520
2003 modern 1,291 #4,514
2004 modern 1,285 #4,530
2005 modern 1,256 #4,582
2006 modern 1,242 #4,637
2007 modern 1,247 #4,661
2008 modern 1,258 #4,650
2009 modern 1,263 #4,737
2010 modern 1,316 #4,657
2011 modern 1,278 #4,715
2012 modern 1,259 #4,703
2013 modern 1,313 #4,615
2014 modern 1,307 #4,653
2015 modern 1,300 #4,631
2016 modern 1,291 #4,639

Geography

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Where Gilbertsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lerwick, Gateshead, Toxteth Park, Edinburgh and Nesting. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selby, Liverpool, Sefton, Brent and South Leith. 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 Lerwick Shetland
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Nesting Shetland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selby 002 Selby
2 Liverpool 044 Liverpool
3 Sefton 022 Sefton
4 Brent 027 Brent
5 South Leith City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gilbertson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gilbertson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gilbertson, 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 Gilbertson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gilbertson 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Gilbertson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gilbertson is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gilbertson falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gilbertson

The surname Gilbertson is of English origin, derived from the personal name Gilbert and the patronymic suffix "-son", meaning "son of". The name Gilbert is an ancient Germanic name composed of the elements "gisil" (hostage or noble youth) and "berht" (bright or famous).

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Gilbertson dates back to the late 12th century in Yorkshire, England. The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any entries for the surname Gilbertson, suggesting that the name emerged later.

During the medieval period, the surname Gilbertson was predominantly found in the northern English counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Westmorland. Some early recorded variations of the spelling include Gilbertson, Gilbertsson, and Gylbertson.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Gilbertson was Robert Gilbertson, who was mentioned in the Yorkshire Assize Rolls in 1297. Another early bearer of the name was William Gilbertson, recorded in the Lancashire Inquests of 1310.

In the 16th century, the Gilbertson family had established a presence in the village of Lund, located in the historic county of Lancashire. A notable member of this branch was Thomas Gilbertson (c. 1570-1640), a wealthy landowner and benefactor who endowed a grammar school in Lund.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Gilbertson, including:

1. John Gilbertson (1789-1856), an English botanist and naturalist known for his studies of bryophytes (mosses and liverworts). 2. William Gilbertson (1788-1858), an English landscape painter renowned for his depictions of rural scenes in Yorkshire. 3. Frederic Gilbertson (1854-1933), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in Liverpool, including the Philharmonic Hall. 4. Eliza Gilbertson (1830-1891), an English author and educational reformer who advocated for improved education for women. 5. Hans Gilbertson (1928-2002), a Norwegian-American artist and illustrator best known for his illustrations in children's books.

The surname Gilbertson has been widely dispersed throughout the English-speaking world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, due to migration and settlement patterns of English families over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gilbertson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilbertson 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. Lancashire leads with 164 Gilbertsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.62x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 164 1.62x
Yorkshire 158 1.87x
Shetland 137 156.98x
Cumberland 59 8.02x
Durham 58 2.28x
Midlothian 57 4.98x
Dumfriesshire 49 25.96x
Middlesex 36 0.42x
Northumberland 31 2.44x
Kent 15 0.51x
Glamorgan 14 0.94x
Lanarkshire 11 0.40x
Kirkcudbrightshire 10 8.08x
Surrey 9 0.22x
Cheshire 7 0.37x
Sussex 7 0.49x
Caithness 6 5.13x
Hertfordshire 6 1.02x
Cardiganshire 4 1.92x
Devon 4 0.22x
Fife 4 0.79x
Isle of Man 4 2.52x
Montgomeryshire 4 2.04x
Angus 3 0.38x
East Lothian 3 2.65x
Leicestershire 2 0.21x
Northamptonshire 2 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.17x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.13x
Anglesey 1 0.66x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.18x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Essex 1 0.06x
Gloucestershire 1 0.06x
Merionethshire 1 0.64x
Monmouthshire 1 0.16x
Peeblesshire 1 2.49x
Sutherland 1 1.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunrossness in Shetland leads with 46 Gilbertsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 400.35x.

Place Total Index
Dunrossness 46 400.35x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 45 9.77x
Toxteth Park 41 11.94x
Lerwick Gulberwick 30 222.06x
Great Crosby 26 94.03x
Northmavine 26 390.98x
Cawood 23 709.88x
Annan 22 135.72x
Ryther Cum Ossendyke 16 1882.35x
Biggin 15 4166.67x
Caldewgate 15 37.21x
Preston 14 5.16x
Rhyndwyclydach 14 135.66x
Benfieldside 13 77.75x
Liverpool 13 2.11x
Tynemouth 13 19.09x
Unst 12 188.09x
Leeds 11 2.30x
Nesting Lunnas Whalsay 11 143.04x
Holbeck 10 17.83x
St Pancras London 10 1.45x
Yell Mid 10 347.22x
Holme On Spalding Moor 9 162.16x
Kirkdale 9 5.28x
St Cuthbert W O 9 25.10x
Woolwich 9 8.36x
Barrow In Furness 8 5.80x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 8 27.62x
Cummertrees 8 250.00x
Egremont 8 45.61x
Little Bolton 8 6.14x
Liversedge 8 21.22x
Widdrington 8 263.16x
York St Sampson 8 441.99x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 8.69x
Hart 7 113.09x
Lambeth 7 0.94x
Oulton 7 642.20x
Poplar London 7 4.34x
Sunderland 7 15.59x
West Derby 7 2.36x
Ardwick 6 6.56x
Blencogo 6 1071.43x
Hammersmith London 6 2.85x
Kirkpatrick Fleming 6 139.21x
Marske In Guisbrough 6 39.89x
Newabbey 6 226.42x
Arthuret 5 65.19x
High Low Catton 5 500.00x
Lewes St Ann 5 101.83x
Monkton Moor 5 684.93x
North Cave Drewton 5 150.15x
North Leith 5 9.44x
North Newbald 5 263.16x
Olrig 5 85.62x
Tranmere 5 7.21x
Aberystwith 4 22.30x
Aintree 4 493.83x
Aismunderby Cum 4 167.36x
Bishopwearmouth 4 1.83x
Brickendon 4 146.52x
Cramond 4 46.08x
Darlington 4 4.08x
Elvet 4 21.80x
Hoddam 4 87.91x
Inverkeithing 4 52.49x
Little Crosby 4 245.40x
Little Heaton 4 165.29x
Machynlleth 4 56.58x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 8.06x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 5.27x
Plymouth Charles The 4 5.10x
Ruthwell 4 157.48x
Southwick 4 16.61x
St Anne 4 233.92x
Westoe 4 2.78x
Ampleforth St Peter 3 441.18x
Islington London 3 0.36x
Monifieth 3 10.73x
North Meols 3 3.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 48
Elizabeth 25
Jane 20
Margaret 18
Sarah 16
Ellen 14
Annie 9
Ann 8
Ada 5
Agnes 5
Alice 5
Catherine 5
Isabella 5
Caroline 4
Edith 4
Hannah 4
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Sophia 3
Anne 2
E. 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Hester 2
Isabel 2
Kate 2
Rachel 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Anna 1
Bridget 1
C. 1
Catharin 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Elza. 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Etel 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hilda 1
Isabell 1
Janet 1
Jean 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 40
William 39
Thomas 28
Joseph 22
Robert 18
Richard 16
George 14
Charles 10
Henry 10
James 9
Edward 8
Arthur 7
Peter 6
Francis 5
David 4
Wm. 4
Andrew 3
Lewis 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Isaac 2
M. 2
Quarton 2
Ralph 2
Tom 2
Alexander 1
Arnold 1
Chas. 1
Colin 1
D. 1
Earnest 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
G.J. 1
Geoffrey 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jno 1
Jos. 1
L. 1
Lawrance 1
Margaret 1
Martin 1
Matthias 1
Nathan 1
Percival 1

FAQ

Gilbertson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilbertson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 879 people were recorded with the Gilbertson surname. That placed it at #4,315 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilbertson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,291 in 2016. That gives Gilbertson a modern rank of #4,639.

What does the Gilbertson surname mean?

Son of Gilbert, an English patronymic surname derived from the Norman French personal name Gilbert, meaning "bright pledge."

What does the Gilbertson map show?

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