NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilby

A surname possibly derived from a nickname for someone with a reddish or yellowish complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 1,123 people recorded with the Gilby surname, ranking it #3,553 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 764, ranked #7,182, down from #3,553 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Great and Little Sampford and Weldon, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Harrogate and Chichester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilby is 1,123 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 32.0%.

1881 census count

1,123

Ranked #3,553

Modern count

764

2016, ranked #7,182

Peak year

1881

1,123 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilby had 1,123 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,553 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 764 in 2016, ranked #7,182.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,123 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gilby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gilby 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 879 #3,109
1861 historical 870 #3,191
1881 historical 1,123 #3,553
1891 historical 1,014 #4,099
1901 historical 1,015 #4,699
1911 historical 1,060 #4,359
1997 modern 876 #6,091
1998 modern 903 #6,146
1999 modern 906 #6,169
2000 modern 870 #6,333
2001 modern 859 #6,289
2002 modern 864 #6,390
2003 modern 837 #6,417
2004 modern 838 #6,414
2005 modern 796 #6,633
2006 modern 777 #6,792
2007 modern 752 #7,044
2008 modern 758 #7,050
2009 modern 763 #7,158
2010 modern 771 #7,234
2011 modern 764 #7,200
2012 modern 758 #7,165
2013 modern 778 #7,133
2014 modern 788 #7,094
2015 modern 776 #7,111
2016 modern 764 #7,182

Geography

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Where Gilbys are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Harrogate, Chichester and Kingston upon Thames. 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 Great and Little Sampford Essex
3 Weldon, Great Northamptonshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Soham Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 016 Sunderland
2 Sunderland 028 Sunderland
3 Harrogate 004 Harrogate
4 Chichester 009 Chichester
5 Kingston upon Thames 008 Kingston upon Thames

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gilby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gilby

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Gilby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gilby 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Gilby 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

Gilby is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gilby 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 Gilby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gilby

The surname Gilby is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from the village of Gilby in Lincolnshire. The name is thought to be derived from the Old Norse personal name "Gildi" and the Old English word "by," meaning a village or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gilby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gildeby." This ancient record suggests that the name was already well-established in England during the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is spelled as "Gildeby." This document was a census-like record of landholders and their holdings throughout England.

During the 14th century, the Gilby surname gained prominence with the birth of Walter Gilby (c. 1300 – c. 1370), a prominent English landowner and member of the gentry in Lincolnshire. His descendants continued to hold significant properties in the region for several generations.

In the 16th century, the name Gilby is associated with Anthony Gilby (c. 1510 – 1585), an English Protestant reformer and clergyman who played a significant role in the English Reformation. He was a member of the Marian exiles and contributed to the Geneva Bible translation.

Another notable figure with the Gilby surname was William Gilby (1593 – 1651), an English clergyman and writer who served as the rector of Honingham in Norfolk. He was known for his works on theology and religious controversies of his time.

In the 18th century, Gilby Place in Somerset, England, was mentioned in various records, indicating that the name had also been used as a place name, possibly derived from the surname itself.

The 19th century saw the birth of Sir Walter Gilby (1808 – 1876), a British army officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Windward Islands from 1864 to 1870.

Throughout its history, the surname Gilby has been associated with various prominent individuals, reflecting its deep roots in English culture and society. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its origins remain firmly rooted in the medieval period and the linguistic heritage of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gilby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilby 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 174 Gilbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.60x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 174 1.60x
Cambridgeshire 168 24.36x
Essex 128 5.96x
Yorkshire 79 0.73x
Northamptonshire 77 7.52x
Surrey 74 1.40x
Hertfordshire 63 8.40x
Lincolnshire 46 2.64x
Kent 35 0.94x
Durham 32 0.99x
Suffolk 29 2.19x
Leicestershire 20 1.66x
Bedfordshire 19 3.37x
Huntingdonshire 18 8.33x
Lancashire 17 0.13x
Warwickshire 16 0.58x
Sussex 15 0.82x
Nottinghamshire 14 0.95x
Staffordshire 13 0.35x
Rutland 12 15.01x
Somerset 12 0.68x
Berkshire 11 1.35x
Gloucestershire 9 0.42x
Derbyshire 8 0.47x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.61x
Norfolk 4 0.24x
Hampshire 3 0.13x
Oxfordshire 3 0.45x
Cheshire 2 0.08x
Devon 2 0.09x
Glamorgan 2 0.11x
Royal Navy 2 1.54x
Channel Islands 1 0.31x
Cornwall 1 0.08x
Cumberland 1 0.11x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Roxburghshire 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Soham in Cambridgeshire leads with 62 Gilbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 417.79x.

Place Total Index
Soham 62 417.79x
Wisbech St Mary 31 391.41x
Islington London 30 2.84x
Saffron Walden 21 92.47x
Finchingfield 20 297.18x
Benefield 19 1079.55x
Woburn 18 368.10x
St George In East London 16 15.63x
Lambeth 15 1.58x
Balsham 13 344.83x
Buckland 13 970.15x
Great Little Hatfield 13 1857.14x
Pebmarsh 13 673.58x
Rickmansworth 13 62.92x
Finchley 12 28.75x
Westminster St John 12 9.05x
St Pancras London 11 1.26x
Thorney 11 143.60x
Lowestoft 10 15.96x
Swavesey 10 226.24x
Waltham Holy Cross 10 49.78x
Holy Trinity 9 3.47x
Spratton 9 293.16x
St George Bloomsbury 9 14.41x
St Marylebone London 9 1.55x
Wakefield 9 10.87x
Ware 9 41.84x
Watford 9 15.47x
Wellington 9 37.88x
Wortley In Bramley 9 10.53x
Yaxley 9 177.87x
Barnes 8 35.67x
Colne Engaine 8 412.37x
Cottenham 8 87.34x
Friskney 8 144.67x
Hackney London 8 1.31x
Hampstead London 8 4.72x
Harrow 8 48.08x
Husbands Bosworth 8 258.06x
Kettering 8 19.31x
Little Sampford 8 625.00x
Oakham Lordshold 8 95.58x
Rotherhithe 8 5.95x
Stranton 8 7.34x
Tong 8 38.39x
Abram 7 70.64x
Baldock 7 99.29x
Birmingham 7 0.77x
Bishopwearmouth 7 2.52x
Bosham 7 149.57x
Chatham 7 6.85x
Gateshead 7 2.89x
Great Leighs 7 250.00x
Great Weldon 7 630.63x
Greenwich 7 4.04x
Haverhill 7 59.42x
Kensington London 7 1.16x
Kingston On Thames 7 5.49x
Little Weldon 7 414.20x
Osbournby 7 378.38x
Oundle 7 61.14x
Plumstead 7 5.65x
Radford 7 9.39x
Therfield 7 159.45x
Wimbledon 7 11.75x
Wisbech St Peter 7 20.24x
Wolstanton 7 6.27x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.27x
Deeping St Nicholas 6 117.65x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 2.73x
Great Sampford 6 259.74x
Hallaton 6 223.88x
Hasland 6 34.58x
Paddington London 6 1.50x
South Shoebury 6 69.52x
Tidmarsh 6 845.07x
Dawdon 5 12.55x
Eastwood 5 265.96x
Rothwell 5 48.59x
Southwark Christchurch 5 9.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 69
John 66
George 43
Henry 33
Charles 32
James 31
Thomas 25
Arthur 20
Edward 17
Joseph 16
Alfred 13
Frederick 11
Harry 11
Samuel 11
Walter 11
David 8
Robert 7
Albert 6
Richard 6
Daniel 5
Francis 5
Fred 5
Edmund 4
Frank 4
Herbert 4
Tom 4
Frederic 3
Thos. 3
Ernest 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Jabez 2
Jefferson 2
Jeremiah 2
Jesse 2
Lewis 2
Luke 2
Nathan 2
Wm. 2
Anthony 1
Arnold 1
Bruce 1
Christopher 1
Cooper 1
Elliott 1
Ezekiel 1
Fk. 1
Frances 1
Jack 1
Jasp.Wm. 1

FAQ

Gilby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,123 people were recorded with the Gilby surname. That placed it at #3,553 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 764 in 2016. That gives Gilby a modern rank of #7,182.

What does the Gilby surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from a nickname for someone with a reddish or yellowish complexion.

What does the Gilby map show?

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