NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilder

A surname derived from the occupational term for a gilder or one who covers surfaces with gold leaf.

In the 1881 census there were 780 people recorded with the Gilder surname, ranking it #4,753 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,272, ranked #4,709, up from #4,753 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oxford City: St Giles, London parishes and Finchingfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tewkesbury, Uttlesford and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilder is 1,327 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.1%.

1881 census count

780

Ranked #4,753

Modern count

1,272

2016, ranked #4,709

Peak year

2010

1,327 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilder had 780 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,753 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,272 in 2016, ranked #4,709.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,194 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gilder surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilder surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gilder 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 401 #6,031
1861 historical 482 #5,418
1881 historical 780 #4,753
1891 historical 937 #4,420
1901 historical 1,108 #4,358
1911 historical 1,194 #3,931
1997 modern 1,235 #4,600
1998 modern 1,288 #4,617
1999 modern 1,295 #4,611
2000 modern 1,310 #4,543
2001 modern 1,276 #4,558
2002 modern 1,297 #4,583
2003 modern 1,235 #4,697
2004 modern 1,229 #4,705
2005 modern 1,218 #4,694
2006 modern 1,228 #4,678
2007 modern 1,261 #4,609
2008 modern 1,259 #4,644
2009 modern 1,310 #4,573
2010 modern 1,327 #4,611
2011 modern 1,314 #4,595
2012 modern 1,272 #4,663
2013 modern 1,304 #4,643
2014 modern 1,297 #4,686
2015 modern 1,270 #4,737
2016 modern 1,272 #4,709

Geography

Back to top

Where Gilders are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oxford City: St Giles, London parishes, Finchingfield and Thaxted. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tewkesbury, Uttlesford and Coventry. 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 Oxford City: St Giles Oxfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Finchingfield Essex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Thaxted Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tewkesbury 005 Tewkesbury
2 Uttlesford 004 Uttlesford
3 Coventry 016 Coventry
4 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford
5 Tewkesbury 004 Tewkesbury

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gilder

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gilder

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gilder is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Gilder is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gilder falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gilder

The surname Gilder originates from England and dates back to the late medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "gildan," which means "to gild" or cover with a thin layer of gold. This name would have originally referred to a person who worked as a gilder, someone skilled in applying gold leaf or other precious metals to objects such as religious artifacts, decorative items, or manuscripts.

The earliest known record of the surname Gilder can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "le Gildere." This suggests that people with this occupation were already being identified by this surname in the 13th century.

Another early reference to the name Gilder can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John le Gildere is listed. The use of the prefix "le" before the surname was common practice at the time, indicating the occupation or place of origin.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various spellings, such as "Gyldere" and "Gildere," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common before standardization. One notable example is Roger le Gildere, who is recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Essex in 1379.

As the surname spread throughout England, it became associated with certain regions or towns. For instance, in the 16th century, there are records of Gilders living in the town of Guildford, Surrey, which may have influenced the spelling of their surname.

Among the notable individuals who bore the surname Gilder throughout history are:

1. Richard Gilder (1844-1909), an American businessman and publisher who co-founded the literary magazine "The Century." 2. Jeannette Leonard Gilder (1849-1916), an American writer and editor who contributed to several prominent literary magazines. 3. William Henry Gilder (1812-1864), an American clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious topics. 4. Joseph Benson Gilder (1858-1936), an American poet and editor who published several volumes of poetry. 5. Richard Watson Gilder (1844-1909), an American poet, editor, and critic who served as the editor of "The Century Magazine."

The surname Gilder continues to be found in various parts of the world, particularly in countries with strong historical ties to England, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, its origins and earliest records can be traced back to medieval England, where it was an occupational name given to those who practiced the skilled craft of gilding.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gilder families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilder 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 158 Gilders recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.45x.

County Total Index
Essex 158 10.45x
Middlesex 155 2.02x
Buckinghamshire 66 14.26x
Lancashire 62 0.68x
Kent 56 2.14x
Surrey 41 1.10x
Oxfordshire 36 7.61x
Yorkshire 31 0.41x
Bedfordshire 22 5.55x
Gloucestershire 22 1.46x
Lincolnshire 21 1.72x
Norfolk 19 1.61x
Berkshire 16 2.78x
Suffolk 13 1.39x
Sussex 10 0.77x
Worcestershire 10 1.00x
Devon 7 0.44x
Warwickshire 7 0.36x
Derbyshire 6 0.50x
Isle of Man 5 3.52x
Huntingdonshire 4 2.63x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.39x
Hampshire 3 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.41x
Durham 2 0.09x
Shropshire 2 0.30x
Brecknockshire 1 0.65x
Cheshire 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.19x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Northamptonshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire leads with 21 Gilders recorded in 1881 and an index of 489.51x.

Place Total Index
Beaconsfield 21 489.51x
Finchingfield 20 421.94x
Farnham Royal 19 693.43x
Hackney London 18 4.19x
Plumstead 18 20.67x
Oxford St Giles 17 75.35x
Thaxted 17 338.65x
Cookham 15 83.71x
Luton 15 21.85x
Everton 14 4.83x
Holbeach 14 102.64x
Paddington London 13 4.62x
Birchanger 12 960.00x
Braintree 11 81.06x
Kensington London 11 2.58x
Bishops Cleeve 10 262.47x
Brighton 10 3.84x
Hatfield Peverel 10 306.75x
Holy Trinity 10 5.48x
Little Sampford 10 1111.11x
Bromsgrove 9 26.74x
East Barsham 9 1875.00x
Lambeth 9 1.35x
Sandwich St Peter 9 327.27x
Spitalfields London 9 15.63x
Upton Cum Chalvey 9 48.78x
Willesden 9 12.47x
Blackburn 8 3.31x
Greenwich 8 6.56x
Harrow 8 68.38x
Brightside Bierlow 7 4.70x
Camberwell 7 1.43x
Chelsea London 7 3.03x
Clerkenwell London 7 3.87x
Ipswich St Peter 7 55.73x
Little Snoring 7 972.22x
Mile End Old Town London 7 4.30x
Much Woolton 7 56.77x
Oxford St Thomas 7 31.72x
Preston 7 2.88x
Sible Hedingham 7 138.61x
Stoke Damerel 7 6.27x
Bedford St Mary 6 58.77x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.80x
Bow London 6 6.15x
Broughton In Salford 6 7.22x
Cheetham 6 8.85x
Gillingham 6 11.14x
Great Clacton 6 116.50x
Great Waltham 6 97.40x
Hedgerley 6 1714.29x
Islington London 6 0.81x
Toppesfield 6 265.49x
Westminster St John 6 6.43x
Corringham 5 438.60x
Great Dunmow 5 63.45x
Great Leighs 5 253.81x
Hitcham 5 476.19x
Oxford St Clement 5 41.91x
Oxford St Ebbe 5 35.92x
Sheffield 5 2.07x
Shoreditch London 5 1.51x
Southwark Christchurch 5 13.94x
St Marylebone London 5 1.22x
Streatham 5 8.80x
Tottenham 5 4.10x
Wimbish 5 224.22x
Barrow On Humber 4 56.26x
Beeston 4 33.73x
Earl Soham 4 248.45x
Hammersmith London 4 2.12x
Lezayre 4 62.70x
Margate St John Baptist 4 8.36x
Norton Folgate London 4 160.00x
Penge 4 8.18x
Richmond 4 7.65x
South Weald 4 30.89x
St George In East London 4 5.55x
Toxteth Park 4 1.30x
West Ham 4 1.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 45
Elizabeth 29
Sarah 25
Eliza 21
Emma 16
Alice 15
Harriet 13
Emily 12
Jane 9
Louisa 9
Ellen 8
Fanny 8
Florence 8
Ann 7
Hannah 7
Martha 7
Annie 6
Edith 6
Lydia 6
Clara 5
Harriett 5
Lucy 5
Rebecca 5
Ada 4
Eleanor 4
Kate 4
Margaret 4
Maria 4
Rose 4
Sophia 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Anne 3
Esther 3
Ethel 3
Frances 3
Helen 3
Susannah 3
Anna 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Georgina 2
Kezia 2
Laura 2
Maud 2
Victoria 2
Betsey 1
Bloomer 1
Dora 1
Wrighty 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 47
John 41
George 30
Thomas 30
Charles 23
James 19
Henry 17
Frederick 15
Alfred 12
Edward 11
Arthur 10
Albert 9
Walter 9
Robert 7
Joseph 6
Richard 5
David 4
Francis 4
Samuel 4
Daniel 3
Herbert 3
Horace 3
Isaac 3
Peter 3
Sydney 3
Edwd. 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Michael 2
Percy 2
Thos. 2
Willie 2
Bartholemew 1
Eddie 1
Geo. 1
Gustavus 1
H. 1
Harold 1
Hedly 1
Joshua 1
Lawes 1
Leonard 1
Levy 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Patrick 1
Wm.Everard 1

FAQ

Gilder surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilder surname in 1881?

In 1881, 780 people were recorded with the Gilder surname. That placed it at #4,753 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilder surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,272 in 2016. That gives Gilder a modern rank of #4,709.

What does the Gilder surname mean?

A surname derived from the occupational term for a gilder or one who covers surfaces with gold leaf.

What does the Gilder map show?

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