NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilham

A locational surname derived from placenames containing 'gill' (narrow valley or ravine) or 'ham' (village or homestead).

In the 1881 census there were 874 people recorded with the Gilham surname, ranking it #4,342 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,242, ranked #4,801, down from #4,342 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Otford, London parishes and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dover, Maidstone and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilham is 1,398 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.1%.

1881 census count

874

Ranked #4,342

Modern count

1,242

2016, ranked #4,801

Peak year

2002

1,398 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilham had 874 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,342 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,242 in 2016, ranked #4,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,254 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gilham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gilham 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 615 #4,197
1861 historical 640 #4,186
1881 historical 874 #4,342
1891 historical 956 #4,327
1901 historical 1,181 #4,147
1911 historical 1,254 #3,793
1997 modern 1,335 #4,306
1998 modern 1,381 #4,325
1999 modern 1,374 #4,373
2000 modern 1,385 #4,327
2001 modern 1,353 #4,321
2002 modern 1,398 #4,300
2003 modern 1,347 #4,355
2004 modern 1,329 #4,409
2005 modern 1,296 #4,440
2006 modern 1,283 #4,491
2007 modern 1,286 #4,530
2008 modern 1,292 #4,535
2009 modern 1,321 #4,545
2010 modern 1,345 #4,555
2011 modern 1,288 #4,686
2012 modern 1,235 #4,798
2013 modern 1,279 #4,724
2014 modern 1,272 #4,778
2015 modern 1,250 #4,805
2016 modern 1,242 #4,801

Geography

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Where Gilhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Otford, London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Hawkinge, Folkestone and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dover, Maidstone, South Holland and Great Yarmouth. 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 Otford Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
4 Hawkinge, Folkestone Kent
5 Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dover 011 Dover
2 Maidstone 013 Maidstone
3 South Holland 008 South Holland
4 Dover 010 Dover
5 Great Yarmouth 008 Great Yarmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gilham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gilham

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Gilham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gilham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Gilham 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

Gilham 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

Gilham falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gilham

The surname Gilham is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from a place name, which was a common practice in the formation of surnames during that time period.

One theory suggests that Gilham is a locational name originating from the village of Gillingham, located in various counties across England, including Dorset, Kent, and Norfolk. The name Gillingham itself is derived from the Old English words "gylling," meaning a small stream or rivulet, and "ham," meaning a homestead or village.

Another possibility is that Gilham stems from the Old English personal name "Gylling," coupled with the word "ham," forming a name that essentially translates to "the homestead of Gylling."

Historically, the earliest recorded instances of the Gilham surname can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1249, a John de Gillingeham is mentioned. Additionally, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 document a Henry de Gillingham residing in Oxfordshire.

One notable figure bearing the Gilham surname was Sir Benjamin Gilham (1661-1724), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Coventry from 1713 until his death. Another was John Gilham (1711-1783), a prominent English watchmaker from London who was known for his innovative work in the field of horology.

In the literary realm, James Gilham (1789-1838) was an English writer and editor, best known for his editorship of the London Literary Gazette from 1817 to 1838.

Another individual of note was Sir James Gilham (1805-1875), a British civil servant and colonial administrator who served as the Lieutenant Governor of St. Vincent from 1854 to 1859.

Lastly, John Gilham (1827-1904) was a notable English architect and surveyor, known for his work on several prestigious buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum.

Throughout its history, the Gilham surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Gillingham, Gillam, and Gilham, reflecting the evolving nature of language and regional dialects over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gilham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilham 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. Kent leads with 327 Gilhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.24x.

County Total Index
Kent 327 11.24x
Middlesex 140 1.64x
Surrey 103 2.48x
Norfolk 68 5.19x
Essex 43 2.56x
Sussex 40 2.78x
Hampshire 33 1.89x
Yorkshire 19 0.22x
Hertfordshire 14 2.38x
Northamptonshire 14 1.75x
Lancashire 10 0.10x
Wiltshire 8 1.06x
Dorset 7 1.25x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.61x
Somerset 7 0.51x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.11x
Berkshire 5 0.78x
Royal Navy 5 4.92x
Derbyshire 4 0.30x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.58x
Suffolk 3 0.29x
Gloucestershire 2 0.12x
Lanarkshire 2 0.07x
Staffordshire 2 0.07x
Devon 1 0.06x
Leicestershire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Otford in Kent leads with 27 Gilhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 665.02x.

Place Total Index
Otford 27 665.02x
Great Yarmouth 24 22.10x
Bermondsey 18 7.09x
St Luke London 17 12.43x
Battersea 14 4.46x
Eastling 14 1000.00x
Folkestone 14 24.81x
Poplar London 14 8.70x
Prittlewell 14 60.03x
East Rudham 13 562.77x
Newington 13 4.13x
Sutton 12 39.92x
West Ham 12 3.23x
Hackney London 11 2.30x
Hastings St Mary 11 30.75x
Heston 11 38.86x
North Tuddenham 11 1122.45x
Boughton Under Blean 10 205.34x
Canterbury St Mary 10 51.23x
Chertsey 10 37.26x
Islington London 10 1.21x
Sibertswold 10 653.59x
Buckland In Dover 9 93.36x
Charlton Next Woolwich 9 29.66x
Hanworth 9 301.00x
Lambeth 9 1.21x
Shoreditch London 9 2.44x
St Pancras London 9 1.31x
Woolwich 9 8.37x
Eastry 8 198.51x
Elham 8 229.89x
Eynsford 8 160.32x
Northampton St Sepulchre 8 19.61x
Poulshot 8 808.08x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 4.66x
Bexley 7 27.22x
Bulwell 7 28.02x
Dartford 7 23.54x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 12.87x
Leeds 7 1.47x
Badlesmere 6 1304.35x
Cranford 6 408.16x
Deptford St Paul 6 2.67x
Ealing 6 7.88x
East Ham 6 19.21x
Froyle 6 269.06x
Hambledon 6 101.69x
Hitchin 6 22.62x
Hove 6 9.51x
Mile End Old Town London 6 3.31x
Ramsgate 6 12.64x
Swanscombe 6 45.91x
Westwell 6 206.19x
Wisbech St Peter 6 22.16x
Besthorpe 5 352.11x
Canterbury All Sts 5 476.19x
Chartham 5 68.97x
Chelmsford 5 17.32x
Cudham 5 167.79x
Doddington 5 295.86x
Hastings St Leonards 5 23.66x
Hevingham 5 224.22x
Hulme 5 2.37x
Lower Hardres 5 602.41x
Royal Navy 5 5.76x
Sittingbourne 5 21.77x
Stevenage 5 54.88x
Streatham 5 7.90x
Teynham 5 95.42x
Boughton Aluph 4 242.42x
Canterbury St Paul 4 76.63x
Dymchurch 4 248.45x
Hackington St Stephen 4 215.05x
Lydd 4 64.21x
Millbrook 4 9.09x
Netherbury 4 86.39x
Penge 4 7.34x
Portsea 4 1.17x
Tenterden 4 38.99x
Upper Hardres 4 465.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 52
John 40
George 37
James 32
Thomas 28
Charles 26
Henry 25
Alfred 18
Robert 15
Arthur 14
Frederick 14
Edward 13
Joseph 11
Walter 11
Ernest 6
Richard 6
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Austin 4
Albert 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Fredk. 3
Jonathan 3
Clement 2
Fredrick 2
Gilbert 2
Isaac 2
Lenoard 2
Reuben 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Austen 1
Bertie 1
Chals. 1
Charlie 1
Chas.Robt. 1
Earnest 1
Edmond 1
Everitt 1
Freadr.M.C. 1
Fred 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Manuel 1
Mark 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gilham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 874 people were recorded with the Gilham surname. That placed it at #4,342 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,242 in 2016. That gives Gilham a modern rank of #4,801.

What does the Gilham surname mean?

A locational surname derived from placenames containing 'gill' (narrow valley or ravine) or 'ham' (village or homestead).

What does the Gilham map show?

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