NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilbraith

A surname derived from a place name meaning "stranger's town" in Gaelic.

In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Gilbraith surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 102, ranked #30,722, down from #19,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Middlesborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hartlepool and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilbraith is 144 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.0%.

1881 census count

103

Ranked #19,410

Modern count

102

2016, ranked #30,722

Peak year

1891

144 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilbraith had 103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016, ranked #30,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 144 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Gilbraith surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilbraith surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gilbraith 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 51 #24,096
1861 historical 83 #23,189
1881 historical 103 #19,410
1891 historical 144 #18,842
1901 historical 117 #20,830
1911 historical 68 #26,050
1997 modern 105 #26,188
1998 modern 106 #26,689
1999 modern 99 #27,906
2000 modern 98 #27,988
2001 modern 98 #27,672
2002 modern 102 #27,596
2003 modern 100 #27,722
2004 modern 97 #28,455
2005 modern 103 #27,531
2006 modern 97 #28,793
2007 modern 92 #29,929
2008 modern 91 #30,431
2009 modern 95 #30,393
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 100 #30,058
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 105 #29,916
2014 modern 107 #29,827
2015 modern 102 #30,624
2016 modern 102 #30,722

Geography

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Where Gilbraiths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Middlesborough, Dalton-le-Dale and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hartlepool and County Durham. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Middlesborough Durham
4 Dalton-le-Dale Durham
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hartlepool 009 Hartlepool
2 Hartlepool 011 Hartlepool
3 Hartlepool 005 Hartlepool
4 County Durham 016 County Durham
5 Hartlepool 012 Hartlepool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gilbraith

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gilbraith

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Gilbraith surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Gilbraith household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gilbraith is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gilbraith is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gilbraith 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 Gilbraith is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gilbraith, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gilbraith

The surname Gilbraith has its origins in Scotland, emerging in the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "gil" meaning "bright" or "fair" and "breth" meaning "birth" or "judgment." The name is thought to have originally been bestowed upon those with fair complexions or those who made fair judgments.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to Edward I of England. The name appears as "Gilbrecht" in this document, indicating its initial spelling variation.

In the 14th century, the name is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which were records of financial transactions. The spelling "Gilbraith" is used in these rolls, suggesting that the modern spelling had begun to take shape.

The Gilbraith name has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such figure was William Gilbraith, a Scottish clergyman born in 1572 who served as the minister of Peterhead and was involved in the religious conflicts of the time.

Another prominent bearer of the name was John Gilbraith, born in 1642, who was a Scottish merchant and landowner. He played a significant role in the development of trade and commerce in Glasgow during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, James Gilbraith, born in 1712, was a Scottish architect and engineer known for his contributions to the design and construction of several notable buildings in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The name Gilbraith has also been linked to various place names in Scotland, such as Gilbraith's Croft in Aberdeenshire and Gilbraith's Land in Edinburgh, further reinforcing its historical ties to the region.

Another notable figure was Robert Gilbraith, born in 1833, who was a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist. He made significant contributions to the development of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was involved in various charitable endeavors.

While the Gilbraith surname may have evolved over time, its Scottish origins and historical significance have endured, serving as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gilbraith families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilbraith 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 19 Gilbraiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.52x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 19 1.52x
Durham 13 4.15x
Midlothian 11 7.79x
Lanarkshire 9 2.64x
Yorkshire 8 0.77x
Argyllshire 6 20.46x
Isle of Man 6 30.67x
Perthshire 6 12.69x
Dumfriesshire 5 21.49x
Roxburghshire 5 26.21x
Ayrshire 3 3.81x
Cheshire 3 1.29x
Angus 2 2.05x
Brecknockshire 2 9.49x
Renfrewshire 2 2.45x
Aberdeenshire 1 1.03x
Buteshire 1 15.67x
Dunbartonshire 1 3.53x
East Lothian 1 7.17x
Hampshire 1 0.46x
Kincardineshire 1 7.79x
Middlesex 1 0.09x
Wigtownshire 1 7.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 10 Gilbraiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.61x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 10 17.61x
Stockton On Tees 10 66.18x
Govan 7 8.31x
German Peel 6 530.97x
Kilfinan 6 769.23x
Perth East Church 6 134.53x
Crailing 5 2173.91x
Kirkpatrick Fleming 5 943.40x
Accrington 4 35.21x
Middlesbrough 4 29.43x
Everton 3 7.53x
Gorton 3 25.53x
Great Harwood 3 132.74x
Huddersfield 3 19.72x
Lower Bebington 3 217.39x
Blackburn 2 6.01x
Cadder 2 79.37x
Llangunider 2 152.67x
Preston 2 5.98x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 4.91x
Alverstoke 1 12.79x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 5.04x
Darlington 1 8.26x
Dundee 1 2.75x
Dundonald 1 34.36x
Edinburgh St Andrews 1 85.47x
Galston 1 46.30x
Haddington 1 48.54x
Irvine 1 45.66x
Kingarth 1 217.39x
Laurencekirk 1 135.14x
Mains 1 120.48x
Mearns 1 69.93x
Newton 1 10.38x
Old Luce 1 113.64x
Pocklington 1 101.01x
Poplar London 1 5.03x
Row 1 27.32x
South Shields 1 35.84x
Stranton 1 9.48x
West Greenock 1 6.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Alice 4
Elizabeth 4
Ann 3
Agnes 1
Catherine 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Mariam 1
W. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Thomas 4
Robert 3
George 2
Joseph 2
William 2
Archibald 1
Benj. 1
Bridson 1
James 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

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 Gilbraith households.

FAQ

Gilbraith surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilbraith surname in 1881?

In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Gilbraith surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilbraith surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016. That gives Gilbraith a modern rank of #30,722.

What does the Gilbraith surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name meaning "stranger's town" in Gaelic.

What does the Gilbraith map show?

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