NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilding

An occupational surname referring to someone who gilded materials, such as applying a thin layer of gold to surfaces.

In the 1881 census there were 269 people recorded with the Gilding surname, ranking it #10,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 460, ranked #10,657, down from #10,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sporle with Palgrave, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilding is 507 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.0%.

1881 census count

269

Ranked #10,506

Modern count

460

2016, ranked #10,657

Peak year

2010

507 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilding had 269 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 460 in 2016, ranked #10,657.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 465 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gilding surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilding surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gilding 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 238 #9,120
1861 historical 198 #12,114
1881 historical 269 #10,506
1891 historical 378 #9,277
1901 historical 413 #9,266
1911 historical 465 #8,292
1997 modern 465 #9,817
1998 modern 473 #10,018
1999 modern 471 #10,098
2000 modern 462 #10,212
2001 modern 448 #10,274
2002 modern 459 #10,264
2003 modern 449 #10,313
2004 modern 438 #10,532
2005 modern 437 #10,437
2006 modern 439 #10,454
2007 modern 459 #10,177
2008 modern 457 #10,292
2009 modern 481 #10,148
2010 modern 507 #9,947
2011 modern 484 #10,194
2012 modern 479 #10,176
2013 modern 489 #10,195
2014 modern 476 #10,457
2015 modern 466 #10,552
2016 modern 460 #10,657

Geography

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Where Gildings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sporle with Palgrave, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Winterton and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Sporle with Palgrave Norfolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Winterton Lincolnshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 005 Breckland
2 Breckland 003 Breckland
3 Breckland 004 Breckland
4 Breckland 007 Breckland
5 Redcar and Cleveland 005 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gilding

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gilding

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gilding is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Gilding is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gilding

The surname Gilding has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "gyldan," which means "to gild" or "to cover with a thin layer of gold." This occupation-based surname was likely given to someone who worked as a gilder, a skilled craftsman responsible for applying thin sheets of gold or other precious metals to various objects, such as religious artifacts, decorative items, or book covers.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Gilding can be found in medieval records, including tax rolls and parish registers from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is William le Gilder, a gilder from London, who is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of 1292. The surname was also spelled in various ways during this period, such as Gilder, Gildere, and Gylour.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners and tenants in England, there is mention of a John le Gilder from Oxfordshire. This suggests that the surname was already well-established in different parts of the country by the late 13th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Gilding continued to be documented in various records, including parish registers and wills. One notable bearer of the name was Robert Gilding (c. 1550-1628), a renowned goldsmith and gilder from London, who was appointed as the Royal Gilder to King James I in 1617.

Another prominent figure with the surname Gilding was Samuel Gilding (1663-1721), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Weston Favell in Northamptonshire. His son, Richard Gilding (1693-1773), was also a clergyman and held the positions of Archdeacon of Northampton and Chancellor of the Diocese of Peterborough.

In the 18th century, the surname Gilding is found in various records from different regions of England, suggesting that the name had spread across the country. One notable example is William Gilding (1724-1804), a celebrated engraver and gilder from London, who was highly regarded for his intricate work on various architectural and decorative projects.

As the centuries passed, the surname Gilding continued to be carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including artists, craftsmen, and professionals. While the name may have evolved from its original occupational roots, it remains a testament to the skilled gilders of medieval England who left a lasting legacy in the art of metalworking and gilding.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gilding families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilding 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. Norfolk leads with 56 Gildings recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.88x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 56 13.88x
Middlesex 35 1.33x
Gloucestershire 20 3.89x
Devon 19 3.48x
Berkshire 18 9.14x
Lincolnshire 17 4.05x
Nottinghamshire 14 3.96x
Worcestershire 13 3.79x
Derbyshire 11 2.68x
Yorkshire 11 0.42x
Suffolk 10 3.13x
Lancashire 7 0.22x
Kent 5 0.56x
Staffordshire 5 0.56x
Hampshire 4 0.74x
Huntingdonshire 4 7.68x
Leicestershire 4 1.37x
Warwickshire 4 0.60x
Sussex 3 0.68x
Glamorgan 2 0.44x
Lanarkshire 2 0.24x
East Lothian 1 2.88x
Fife 1 0.64x
Hertfordshire 1 0.55x
Monmouthshire 1 0.53x
Surrey 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sporle With Palgrave in Norfolk leads with 35 Gildings recorded in 1881 and an index of 5384.62x.

Place Total Index
Sporle With Palgrave 35 5384.62x
Cheltenham 13 32.75x
Newton Abbot St Mary 13 283.84x
Hasland 11 263.16x
White Waltham 10 1351.35x
Worcester St Peter 9 138.67x
Bray 8 138.17x
Catfield 7 1228.07x
Wigtoft 7 1147.54x
Winterton 7 486.11x
Barton Turf 6 1935.48x
Beccles 6 116.73x
Nottingham St Mary 6 6.56x
St Marylebone London 6 4.28x
Bristol St Paul In 5 36.47x
Castleford 5 52.80x
Hackney London 5 3.40x
Mile End Old Town London 5 8.95x
West Derby 5 5.49x
Bethnal Green London 4 3.51x
Birmingham 4 1.81x
Bottesford 4 333.33x
Kempsey 4 307.69x
Oulton 4 370.37x
Ramsey 4 95.92x
Snenton 4 28.78x
St George Hanover Square 4 8.65x
Tipton 4 14.75x
Portsea 3 2.85x
St Clement Danes London 3 55.25x
Stokeinteignhead 3 508.47x
Swaffham 3 91.46x
Cardiff St Mary 2 7.95x
Cotgrave 2 270.27x
Fulham London 2 5.26x
Goole 2 45.87x
Irstead 2 1538.46x
Islington London 2 0.79x
Lee 2 15.38x
South Ferriby 2 303.03x
Stapleton 2 20.49x
Tormoham 2 8.65x
West Bridgford 2 571.43x
Barony 1 0.47x
Beckenham 1 8.55x
Berwick North 1 41.15x
Birkin 1 588.24x
Carluke 1 12.97x
Catton 1 149.25x
Chelsea London 1 1.26x
Chislehurst 1 20.83x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.02x
Dunfermline 1 4.19x
Eastbourne 1 4.91x
Greenwich 1 2.39x
Hemel Hempstead 1 12.27x
Holdenhurst 1 7.09x
Holy Trinity 1 1.60x
Hove 1 5.15x
Kensington London 1 0.69x
Kingswinford 1 3.11x
Lambeth 1 0.44x
Liverpool 1 0.53x
Necton 1 140.85x
Newport 1 11.05x
Normanby In 1 14.39x
Paddington London 1 1.04x
Preston 1 12.94x
Sculcoates 1 2.43x
Smallburgh 1 208.33x
St George Bloomsbury 1 6.64x
Wainfleet All Sts 1 81.97x
Wolborough 1 14.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 11
Eliza 8
Ellen 8
Jane 6
Ann 4
Edith 4
Emma 4
Annie 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Kate 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Amy 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Adeline 1
Adline 1
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Arabella 1
Edna 1
H. 1
Hermina 1
Infant 1
Isabell 1
Jessie 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Mercy 1
Phoebe 1
R. 1
Rebecca 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 17
Henry 12
George 10
James 10
Edward 8
Arthur 5
Charles 4
David 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Robert 3
Harry 2
Walter 2
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Chas. 1
Claude 1
Daniel 1
Dennis 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Hutchinson 1
Joseph 1
Matthew 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Stanley 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gilding surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilding surname in 1881?

In 1881, 269 people were recorded with the Gilding surname. That placed it at #10,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilding surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 460 in 2016. That gives Gilding a modern rank of #10,657.

What does the Gilding surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who gilded materials, such as applying a thin layer of gold to surfaces.

What does the Gilding map show?

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