NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilks

A variant of the Scots surname "Gielks", meaning "a person from Gelksland".

In the 1881 census there were 535 people recorded with the Gilks surname, ranking it #6,427 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 651, ranked #8,175, down from #6,427 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Ratley and Upton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Malvern Hills and North Warwickshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilks is 711 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.7%.

1881 census count

535

Ranked #6,427

Modern count

651

2016, ranked #8,175

Peak year

2002

711 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilks had 535 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,427 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 651 in 2016, ranked #8,175.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 707 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gilks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gilks 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 304 #7,559
1861 historical 281 #8,921
1881 historical 535 #6,427
1891 historical 488 #7,581
1901 historical 618 #6,904
1911 historical 707 #6,025
1997 modern 667 #7,524
1998 modern 696 #7,505
1999 modern 697 #7,542
2000 modern 682 #7,643
2001 modern 680 #7,524
2002 modern 711 #7,419
2003 modern 697 #7,403
2004 modern 672 #7,654
2005 modern 652 #7,751
2006 modern 660 #7,723
2007 modern 652 #7,845
2008 modern 660 #7,817
2009 modern 670 #7,900
2010 modern 684 #7,920
2011 modern 662 #8,039
2012 modern 652 #8,057
2013 modern 670 #8,010
2014 modern 670 #8,060
2015 modern 655 #8,145
2016 modern 651 #8,175

Geography

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Where Gilks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Ratley and Upton, London parishes and Aston, Steeple. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, Malvern Hills and North Warwickshire. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Ratley and Upton Oxfordshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Aston, Steeple Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 005 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Malvern Hills 007 Malvern Hills
3 Stratford-on-Avon 012 Stratford-on-Avon
4 Stratford-on-Avon 004 Stratford-on-Avon
5 North Warwickshire 004 North Warwickshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gilks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gilks

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Gilks is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Gilks 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gilks

The surname Gilks originated in England, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gilc," which referred to a ravine or a deep, narrow valley. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near or worked in such a geographical feature.

The Gilks name is thought to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval tax rolls and parish records from these regions.

One notable historical reference to the Gilks name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire, dated 1332. This document lists a "Gilbertus del Gilkes" among the taxpayers of the time. The use of the preposition "del" (from the) before the surname suggests that the name was associated with a specific location or landholding.

In the 16th century, the surname appears to have been concentrated in the Furness region of Lancashire. Records from this period show variations in spelling, such as "Gilkes," "Gylkes," and "Gylks."

Notable individuals with the surname Gilks throughout history include:

1. John Gilks (c. 1585-1657), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the rector of Ashton-under-Lyne in Lancashire.

2. William Gilks (1732-1811), a British politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Clitheroe from 1784 to 1790.

3. Thomas Gilks (1833-1912), a prominent English industrialist and founder of the Gilks Engineering Company in Manchester.

4. Mary Gilks (1865-1947), a British suffragist and activist who campaigned for women's rights and participated in the Suffragette movement.

5. Walter Gilks (1891-1970), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Lancashire County Cricket Club in the early 20th century.

While the Gilks name has been present in historical records for centuries, it is important to note that its prevalence and geographical distribution may have shifted over time due to migration and other factors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gilks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilks 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. Warwickshire leads with 191 Gilks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.51x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 191 14.51x
Oxfordshire 74 22.96x
Middlesex 52 1.00x
Surrey 34 1.34x
Buckinghamshire 30 9.51x
Staffordshire 26 1.48x
Lancashire 23 0.37x
Bedfordshire 22 8.14x
Kent 22 1.24x
Essex 15 1.46x
Northamptonshire 11 2.24x
Gloucestershire 8 0.78x
Leicestershire 5 0.86x
Yorkshire 5 0.10x
Worcestershire 4 0.59x
Cheshire 3 0.26x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.43x
Derbyshire 2 0.24x
Devon 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Herefordshire 1 0.47x
Somerset 1 0.12x
Sussex 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. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 30 Gilks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.28x.

Place Total Index
Aston 30 8.28x
Steeple Aston 27 2213.11x
Leamington Priors 19 58.68x
Bethnal Green London 16 7.06x
Battersea 15 7.81x
Orpington 12 220.18x
Idlicote 11 5500.00x
Aspley Guise 10 386.10x
Leamington 10 114.68x
Ratley 10 1369.86x
Aylesbury 9 64.38x
Grandborough 9 1168.83x
Bilston 8 23.43x
Claydon 8 1333.33x
Handsworth 8 18.42x
Birmingham 7 1.60x
Hailey 7 309.73x
Hellidon 7 1228.07x
Leamington Hastings 7 853.66x
Minster In Sheppey 7 23.73x
Oldham 7 3.50x
Richmond 7 19.65x
Swalcliffe 7 625.00x
Warrington 7 9.54x
Whitnash 7 921.05x
Woburn 7 297.87x
Chelsea London 6 3.82x
Great Kimble 6 810.81x
Marton 6 895.52x
Newton 6 12.57x
Old Stratford 6 80.54x
Paddington London 6 3.13x
Pillerton Hersey 6 2222.22x
Wandsworth 6 11.94x
Bicester Market End 5 84.46x
Coventry St Michael 5 11.83x
Foleshill 5 36.10x
Kensington London 5 1.72x
Preston Baggot 5 1612.90x
Sedgley 5 7.64x
Wednesbury 5 11.36x
Wellesbourne Hastings 5 400.00x
Woodford 5 42.88x
Broughton 4 384.62x
Ladbrooke 4 888.89x
Long Compton 4 320.00x
Shoreditch London 4 1.77x
Skircoat 4 19.62x
Stanton Harcourt 4 408.16x
West Ham 4 1.76x
Burton Hastings 3 1034.48x
Farthingstone 3 545.45x
Haseley 3 750.00x
Higham On The Hill 3 370.37x
Luton 3 6.41x
Neithrop 3 27.70x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.65x
Offchurch 3 517.24x
Princes Risborough 3 70.92x
Shepperton 3 130.43x
St George Bloomsbury 3 10.02x
Warwick St Mary 3 26.25x
Warwick St Nicholas 3 31.09x
Barking 2 6.64x
Bourton On The Water 2 96.15x
Burford 2 71.43x
Butterworth 2 13.25x
Chesham 2 17.20x
Chislehurst 2 20.94x
Grandborough 2 370.37x
Hampstead London 2 2.46x
Henley On Thames 2 30.30x
Kingston On Thames 2 3.27x
Leicester St Mary 2 4.28x
Monks Risborough 2 132.45x
Newington 2 1.04x
St Pancras London 2 0.48x
Stockton 2 162.60x
Twickenham 2 8.94x
Walthamstow 2 5.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Sarah 21
Elizabeth 20
Ann 17
Hannah 17
Emma 13
Emily 8
Jane 8
Ellen 7
Harriet 7
Louisa 6
Alice 5
Anne 5
Annie 5
Kate 5
Amy 4
Eliza 4
Florence 4
Maria 4
Rebecca 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Agnes 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Lilly 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Rose 2
Amelia 1
Anney 1
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Caroline 1
Clarissa 1
Constance 1
Debroah 1
Dinah 1
Eda 1
Edny 1
Elizbeth 1
Georgiana 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Leah 1
Lily 1
Zilpah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 39
John 32
Thomas 32
George 29
Joseph 19
Henry 12
James 10
Charles 8
Harry 8
Alfred 7
Richard 7
Edward 6
Lewis 5
Ernest 4
Walter 4
Edwin 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Edwd. 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Gilbert 2
Leonard 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Absalom 1
Eli 1
Fred 1
Geo.Alex. 1
Herbert 1
Irah 1
Jams 1
Jno 1
Joe 1
Joshua 1
Keysall 1
Noah 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Richd. 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
Tubal 1
Wheeler 1
Willm.J. 1

FAQ

Gilks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 535 people were recorded with the Gilks surname. That placed it at #6,427 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 651 in 2016. That gives Gilks a modern rank of #8,175.

What does the Gilks surname mean?

A variant of the Scots surname "Gielks", meaning "a person from Gelksland".

What does the Gilks map show?

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