NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilbey

A locational surname derived from a place in Essex, England.

In the 1881 census there were 716 people recorded with the Gilbey surname, ranking it #5,087 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,622, ranked #3,836, up from #5,087 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Birchanger, London parishes and Great and Little Sampford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilbey is 1,737 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 126.5%.

1881 census count

716

Ranked #5,087

Modern count

1,622

2016, ranked #3,836

Peak year

1999

1,737 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilbey had 716 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,087 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,622 in 2016, ranked #3,836.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,549 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gilbey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilbey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gilbey 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 229 #9,390
1861 historical 194 #12,310
1881 historical 716 #5,087
1891 historical 942 #4,394
1901 historical 1,295 #3,850
1911 historical 1,549 #3,129
1997 modern 1,653 #3,590
1998 modern 1,716 #3,605
1999 modern 1,737 #3,592
2000 modern 1,709 #3,625
2001 modern 1,665 #3,641
2002 modern 1,669 #3,701
2003 modern 1,629 #3,707
2004 modern 1,629 #3,710
2005 modern 1,569 #3,799
2006 modern 1,598 #3,739
2007 modern 1,596 #3,778
2008 modern 1,626 #3,741
2009 modern 1,665 #3,754
2010 modern 1,708 #3,742
2011 modern 1,691 #3,723
2012 modern 1,667 #3,712
2013 modern 1,679 #3,744
2014 modern 1,689 #3,737
2015 modern 1,672 #3,740
2016 modern 1,622 #3,836

Geography

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Where Gilbeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Birchanger, London parishes, Great and Little Sampford and Soham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, County Durham and Balmullo and Gauldry. 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 Birchanger Hertfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Great and Little Sampford Essex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Soham Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
2 Nuneaton and Bedworth 013 Nuneaton and Bedworth
3 County Durham 064 County Durham
4 Balmullo and Gauldry Fife
5 Nuneaton and Bedworth 015 Nuneaton and Bedworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gilbey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gilbey

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

Gilbey is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gilbey 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 Gilbey 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 Gilbey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gilbey

The surname Gilbey originates from England and can be traced back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old French name "Gilebert" or the Old German name "Gislberht," which combined the elements "gisil" meaning hostage and "berht" meaning bright or famous.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gilberd" and "Gilleberd." These entries suggest that the name was already well-established in various regions of England, including Essex, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire.

During the 13th century, the name began to take on various spellings, such as "Gilberd," "Gilberd," and "Gilbey." This diversity in spelling was common in an era when standardized spelling conventions were not yet established.

One notable historical figure bearing the Gilbey name was Sir John Gilbey (1508-1584), a prominent English politician and landowner. He served as a Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire and was known for his involvement in local affairs.

Another individual of note was William Gilbey (1587-1648), a clergyman and author who published several religious works, including a treatise on the Book of Revelation.

In the 18th century, the Gilbey family established themselves as successful wine merchants in London. Walter Gilbey (1753-1825) founded the Gilbey's Wine and Spirit Company, which became one of the largest and most respected wine merchants in Britain.

One of the most famous bearers of the Gilbey name was Sir Walter Gilbey (1831-1914), the grandson of the company's founder. He was a renowned philanthropist, horse breeder, and patron of the arts, and was knighted for his contributions to society.

Another notable figure was Charles Gilbey (1865-1942), a businessman and author who wrote several books on wine and viticulture. He played a significant role in the family's wine business and helped establish its reputation for quality and excellence.

Throughout history, the Gilbey surname has been associated with various place names, such as Gilbey's Yard in London, where the family's wine business was originally located, and Gilbey's Estate, a sprawling country estate in Hertfordshire owned by the Gilbey family.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gilbey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilbey 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. Essex leads with 228 Gilbeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.49x.

County Total Index
Essex 228 16.49x
Middlesex 200 2.86x
Hertfordshire 57 11.81x
Surrey 39 1.14x
Cambridgeshire 36 8.11x
Yorkshire 20 0.29x
Lancashire 14 0.17x
Staffordshire 14 0.59x
Kent 12 0.50x
Bedfordshire 11 3.03x
Northamptonshire 8 1.21x
Northumberland 8 0.77x
Suffolk 8 0.94x
Warwickshire 7 0.40x
Berkshire 6 1.14x
Devon 6 0.41x
Leicestershire 5 0.64x
Sussex 5 0.42x
Durham 4 0.19x
Somerset 4 0.35x
Hampshire 3 0.21x
Huntingdonshire 3 2.16x
Lanarkshire 3 0.13x
Midlothian 3 0.32x
Oxfordshire 3 0.69x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.68x
Norfolk 2 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.21x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Glamorgan 1 0.08x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Lincolnshire 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 1.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birchanger in Essex leads with 27 Gilbeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2368.42x.

Place Total Index
Birchanger 27 2368.42x
Bishop Stortford 27 167.39x
St Pancras London 27 4.79x
Little Sampford 23 2804.88x
Finchingfield 20 461.89x
Stansted Mountfitchet 17 487.11x
St Marylebone London 16 4.28x
Hackney London 15 3.82x
Islington London 15 2.21x
West Ham 15 4.91x
Bromley London 14 9.09x
Wednesbury 14 23.70x
Battersea 11 4.27x
Lambeth 11 1.80x
Reed 11 2444.44x
Saffron Walden 11 75.29x
Whitechapel London 11 15.93x
Braintree 10 80.58x
Dunstable 10 89.77x
Kensington London 9 2.31x
Shoreditch London 9 2.96x
Stanstead 9 782.61x
Friern Barnet 8 51.85x
Morpeth 8 65.31x
Waltham Holy Cross 8 61.92x
Westminster St John 8 9.38x
Fulbourn 7 165.09x
Great Leighs 7 388.89x
South Mimms 7 72.92x
St George In East London 7 10.63x
Stoke Newington London 7 12.83x
Toxteth Park 7 2.49x
Wanstead 7 28.91x
Westminster St James 7 9.72x
Clapham 6 6.85x
Cold Norton 6 1363.64x
Elsenham 6 535.71x
Fulham London 6 5.91x
Gorton 6 7.68x
Halstead 6 37.20x
Mile End Old Town London 6 4.03x
North Bierley 6 16.01x
South Weald 6 50.68x
Wales 6 109.49x
Wendens Ambo 6 674.16x
Willesden 6 9.09x
Hinckley 5 27.14x
Romford 5 22.87x
Rugby 5 20.92x
St Andrewthe Less 5 9.87x
Stisted 5 279.33x
Whittlesford 5 245.10x
Baldock 4 88.11x
Bishopwearmouth 4 2.24x
Burghfield 4 128.62x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.42x
Cottenham 4 67.80x
Kelvedon 4 108.70x
Linton 4 94.79x
Loughton 4 58.48x
Maldon St Peter 4 56.82x
Peterborough 4 8.39x
South Shoebury 4 72.07x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.84x
Withersfield 4 289.86x
Balsham 3 123.46x
Barford St John 3 1500.00x
Barony 3 0.52x
Bennington 3 215.83x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 0.79x
Gestingthorpe 3 194.81x
Melbourn 3 69.44x
Standon 3 60.36x
Sutton Stoneferry 3 15.11x
Worsbrough 3 14.75x
Brighton 2 0.84x
Hitchin 2 9.18x
Lewisham 2 1.57x
Rothwell 2 30.21x
Snenton 2 5.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 47
John 28
George 27
Henry 20
James 20
Thomas 19
Charles 17
Arthur 13
Alfred 11
Walter 11
Samuel 9
Edward 8
Joseph 8
Robert 7
Frederick 6
Daniel 5
Frank 4
Harry 4
Stephen 4
Albert 3
Chas. 3
David 3
Michael 3
Philip 3
Christopher 2
Emmanuel 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Hugh 2
Job 2
Josiah 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Alf.G. 1
Benjamin 1
Bennett 1
Eliza 1
Esau 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Jesse 1
King 1
Leonard 1
Mathew 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Gilbey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilbey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 716 people were recorded with the Gilbey surname. That placed it at #5,087 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilbey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,622 in 2016. That gives Gilbey a modern rank of #3,836.

What does the Gilbey surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Essex, England.

What does the Gilbey map show?

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