NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilfeather

A Scottish occupational surname meaning a keeper of poultry or chicken feeder.

In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Gilfeather surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 106, ranked #29,927, up from #31,301 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ17, Kensington and Chelsea and Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilfeather is 133 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 562.5%.

1881 census count

16

Ranked #31,301

Modern count

106

2016, ranked #29,927

Peak year

1998

133 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilfeather had 16 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,301 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016, ranked #29,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 39 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Gilfeather surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilfeather surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gilfeather 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1881 historical 16 #31,301
1891 historical 18 #32,706
1901 historical 39 #29,799
1997 modern 129 #23,143
1998 modern 133 #23,308
1999 modern 125 #24,366
2000 modern 124 #24,469
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 121 #24,984
2003 modern 120 #24,909
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 108 #27,015
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 107 #29,153
2011 modern 107 #28,979
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 106 #29,927

Geography

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Where Gilfeathers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ17, Kensington and Chelsea, Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge, Paisley South East and Fairlie and Rural. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ17 West Dunbartonshire
2 Kensington and Chelsea 015 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge Fife
4 Paisley South East Renfrewshire
5 Fairlie and Rural North Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gilfeather

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gilfeather

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Gilfeather surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Gilfeather household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Gilfeather is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gilfeather is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gilfeather falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gilfeather is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gilfeather

The surname Gilfeather is of Scottish origin, with roots tracing back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "giolla" meaning "servant" and "feàdh" meaning "whistle" or "pipe," suggesting a connection to someone who played the bagpipes or a similar instrument.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore fealty to Edward I of England. The name appears as "Gillfedyr," likely an early spelling variation.

The Gilfeather name has been associated with the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Inverness-shire. Some historical records indicate that the name may have originated in the village of Gilfeather near Loch Ness, although the exact origins remain uncertain.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named John Gilfeather was recorded as a piper in the service of the Clan MacLeod on the Isle of Skye. His skills as a bagpiper were said to be highly regarded, and his name may have contributed to the association of the Gilfeather surname with musicians and pipers.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Robert Gilfeather, a Scottish writer and historian who lived in the late 17th century. His work, "The History of the Highlands," published in 1691, provided valuable insights into the culture and traditions of the Scottish Highlands during that era.

In the 18th century, a family by the name of Gilfeather settled in the village of Strathnaver in Sutherland, Scotland. One of their descendants, Alexander Gilfeather (1750-1823), became a respected teacher and scholar, contributing to the preservation of Scottish Gaelic literature and language.

During the 19th century, the Gilfeather surname gained some recognition in the literary world. James Gilfeather (1820-1892), a Scottish poet and author, published several collections of poetry and prose that celebrated the beauty of the Scottish landscape and its people.

Another notable figure was Margaret Gilfeather (1855-1932), a Scottish journalist and women's rights advocate. She wrote extensively on social issues and was a prominent figure in the suffrage movement, advocating for women's right to vote in Scotland and beyond.

While the surname Gilfeather is not among the most common in Scotland, it has a rich historical heritage deeply rooted in the Scottish Highlands. The name has been associated with various professions, from pipers and musicians to writers, scholars, and advocates, reflecting the diverse contributions of those who carried this surname throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gilfeather families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilfeather 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. Kirkcudbrightshire leads with 7 Gilfeathers recorded in 1881 and an index of 309.73x.

County Total Index
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 309.73x
Angus 4 27.68x
Lanarkshire 4 7.93x
Lancashire 1 0.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Troqueer in Kirkcudbrightshire leads with 7 Gilfeathers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2333.33x.

Place Total Index
Troqueer 7 2333.33x
Dundee 4 74.07x
Barony 3 23.49x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 24.69x
Old Monkland 1 50.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 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 Gilfeather households.

Occupation Count
Annuitant 1

FAQ

Gilfeather surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilfeather surname in 1881?

In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Gilfeather surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilfeather surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016. That gives Gilfeather a modern rank of #29,927.

What does the Gilfeather surname mean?

A Scottish occupational surname meaning a keeper of poultry or chicken feeder.

What does the Gilfeather map show?

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