NameCensus.

UK surname

Gill

A surname of English origin referring to someone who lived near a ravine or narrow valley.

In the 1881 census there were 20,931 people recorded with the Gill surname, ranking it #172 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 38,776, ranked #129, up from #172 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bradford and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing and Hounslow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gill is 39,911 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 85.3%.

1881 census count

20,931

Ranked #172

Modern count

38,776

2016, ranked #129

Peak year

2010

39,911 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gill had 20,931 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #172 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 38,776 in 2016, ranked #129.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 26,661 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Gill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gill 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 14,056 #167
1861 historical 14,918 #153
1881 historical 20,931 #172
1891 historical 22,433 #171
1901 historical 25,566 #179
1911 historical 26,661 #155
1997 modern 34,916 #137
1998 modern 36,242 #139
1999 modern 36,814 #137
2000 modern 36,937 #137
2001 modern 36,211 #137
2002 modern 37,484 #135
2003 modern 37,033 #135
2004 modern 37,185 #136
2005 modern 36,875 #136
2006 modern 37,077 #134
2007 modern 37,413 #133
2008 modern 37,780 #133
2009 modern 38,639 #132
2010 modern 39,911 #130
2011 modern 39,546 #127
2012 modern 38,618 #128
2013 modern 39,421 #127
2014 modern 39,408 #129
2015 modern 39,054 #129
2016 modern 38,776 #129

Geography

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Where Gills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bradford, Sheffield and West Ham,Wanstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ealing and Hounslow. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 2
5 West Ham,Wanstead Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ealing 037 Ealing
2 Ealing 026 Ealing
3 Hounslow 013 Hounslow
4 Hounslow 010 Hounslow
5 Ealing 023 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gill

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Gill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Gill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Gill is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gill is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gill falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gill 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Gill

The surname Gill has its origins in England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "gille," meaning a young man or a servant. This word itself stemmed from the Germanic name "Gilo" or "Gil," which means "pledged youth" or "young warrior."

Gill was a common surname in medieval England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Lancashire. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166, referencing a person named Roger Gill.

In the 13th century, the surname Gill was found in various historical documents, including the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a William Gill. The surname also appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1230, referencing a Richard Gille.

During the 14th century, the name Gill was documented in several places, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a John Gill was mentioned in 1317. Additionally, the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379 recorded a Robert Gill.

Notable figures with the surname Gill throughout history include:

1. Alexander Gill (1565-1635), an English scholar and theologian who served as the headmaster of St. Paul's School in London. 2. Thomas Gill (c. 1600-1675), an English author and satirist known for his work "The Parson's Monitor." 3. John Gill (1697-1771), an English Baptist minister and biblical scholar known for his extensive commentary on the Bible. 4. William Gill (1843-1923), an English artist and illustrator renowned for his work in children's literature. 5. Eric Gill (1882-1940), a renowned English sculptor, typeface designer, and printmaker, known for his work in the Arts and Crafts movement.

The surname Gill has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Gillingham in Kent and Gilsland in Cumbria. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname, including Gille, Gyll, and Gylle.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gill 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. Yorkshire leads with 6,206 Gills recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.03x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 6,206 3.03x
Lancashire 2,681 1.09x
Middlesex 1,471 0.71x
Devon 1,021 2.37x
Surrey 740 0.73x
Durham 736 1.20x
Cornwall 600 2.56x
Staffordshire 590 0.85x
Nottinghamshire 451 1.62x
Cheshire 436 0.96x
Somerset 398 1.20x
Cumberland 395 2.22x
Derbyshire 385 1.19x
Kent 360 0.51x
Warwickshire 314 0.60x
Worcestershire 270 1.00x
Aberdeenshire 269 1.41x
Dorset 267 1.97x
Isle of Man 265 6.90x
Gloucestershire 238 0.59x
Essex 234 0.57x
Hampshire 232 0.55x
Northumberland 192 0.62x
Norfolk 188 0.59x
Leicestershire 181 0.79x
Suffolk 163 0.65x
Cambridgeshire 150 1.15x
Sussex 136 0.39x
Glamorgan 135 0.38x
Lincolnshire 129 0.39x
Lanarkshire 122 0.18x
Shropshire 113 0.63x
Midlothian 102 0.37x
Westmorland 84 1.85x
Banffshire 79 1.84x
Berkshire 76 0.49x
Morayshire 68 2.12x
Hertfordshire 60 0.42x
Angus 53 0.28x
Northamptonshire 51 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 49 0.39x
Denbighshire 34 0.44x
Dunbartonshire 34 0.61x
Monmouthshire 34 0.23x
Bedfordshire 32 0.30x
Huntingdonshire 31 0.76x
Royal Navy 31 1.26x
Selkirkshire 25 1.34x
Perthshire 23 0.25x
Renfrewshire 23 0.14x
Berwickshire 20 0.80x
Oxfordshire 18 0.14x
Wiltshire 18 0.10x
Ayrshire 16 0.10x
Herefordshire 16 0.19x
Inverness-shire 16 0.26x
Roxburghshire 14 0.37x
Channel Islands 12 0.20x
Ross-shire 12 0.21x
Buteshire 9 0.72x
Brecknockshire 8 0.19x
Caithness 8 0.28x
Rutland 8 0.53x
Caernarfonshire 6 0.07x
Dumfriesshire 6 0.13x
Montgomeryshire 6 0.13x
Carmarthenshire 5 0.06x
Kinross-shire 5 0.96x
Peeblesshire 5 0.51x
Pembrokeshire 5 0.08x
Argyllshire 4 0.07x
Radnorshire 4 0.24x
East Lothian 3 0.11x
Clackmannanshire 2 0.12x
Fife 2 0.02x
Flintshire 2 0.04x
Cardiganshire 1 0.02x
Merionethshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 320 Gills recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.77x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 320 2.77x
Sheffield 219 3.36x
Liverpool 196 1.32x
Keighley 173 7.92x
Bradford 151 3.05x
St Pancras London 148 0.89x
Ecclesall Bierlow 146 3.50x
Hunslet 135 4.23x
Manchester 135 1.22x
Lambeth 132 0.73x
Birmingham 128 0.74x
Manningham 118 4.68x
Blackburn 117 1.79x
Salford 113 1.57x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 112 5.87x
Aston 111 0.77x
Batley 104 5.34x
Brightside Bierlow 98 2.44x
Kensington London 98 0.85x
Nottingham St Mary 96 1.33x
Kingswinford 95 3.75x
Hackney London 94 0.81x
Islington London 92 0.46x
Skipton 91 14.12x
Barnsley 90 4.26x
Plymouth St Andrew 90 2.72x
Battersea 89 1.17x
Dudley 87 2.65x
Bowling 86 4.24x
Toxteth Park 86 1.04x
Everton 84 1.07x
Horton In Bradford 83 2.59x
Wakefield 83 5.28x
Oldham 82 1.04x
Shipley 79 7.43x
Nether Hallam 78 2.81x
Newington 78 1.02x
Mile End Old Town London 77 1.75x
Bromley London 74 1.63x
Bingley 72 5.52x
Camberwell 72 0.55x
Kildwick 72 38.60x
Portsea 72 0.87x
Stansfield 72 9.55x
Chorlton On Medlock 70 1.80x
West Ham 68 0.75x
Holy Trinity 67 1.36x
West Bromwich 64 1.60x
Selston 63 20.24x
Stoke Damerel 62 2.06x
Ashton Under Lyne 61 1.14x
Halifax 61 2.03x
Shoreditch London 61 0.68x
Deptford St Paul 59 1.08x
Rowley Regis 57 2.93x
Bishopwearmouth 56 1.06x
Plymouth Charles The 56 2.95x
Newhills 55 14.03x
St Luke London 55 1.66x
St Marylebone London 53 0.48x
Wolverhampton 53 0.99x
Croydon 52 0.93x
Lancaster 52 3.56x
Aberdeen Old Machar 51 1.28x
Bethnal Green London 51 0.57x
Paddington London 51 0.67x
Wigan 50 1.46x
Hulme 49 0.96x
Dukinfield 48 2.28x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 46 6.18x
Heigham 46 2.70x
Warrington 46 1.58x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 45 1.18x
Orwell 45 79.30x
Abbotsbury 44 63.52x
Wortley In Bramley 44 2.71x
Basford 43 3.35x
Burnley 43 2.08x
Northowram 43 2.99x
Onchan 42 3.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1,501
Elizabeth 824
Sarah 715
Ann 453
Jane 445
Annie 329
Ellen 305
Alice 273
Emma 269
Hannah 264
Margaret 262
Eliza 253
Martha 208
Emily 203
Edith 126
Florence 126
Ada 118
Maria 118
Harriet 113
Clara 112
Louisa 108
Fanny 100
Charlotte 95
Catherine 94
Lucy 87
Isabella 84
Frances 79
Agnes 77
Caroline 70
Kate 69
Esther 64
Rebecca 52
Elizth. 51
Anne 47
Matilda 46
Susan 46
Rose 44
Grace 42
Harriett 41
Sophia 40
Amelia 39
Eleanor 37
Ruth 37
Susannah 37
Lydia 35
Selina 35
Beatrice 30
Jessie 29
Bridget 28
Laura 28

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 1,324
William 1,250
Thomas 716
George 648
James 580
Joseph 424
Henry 408
Charles 323
Robert 260
Richard 208
Arthur 203
Alfred 194
Edward 183
Samuel 152
Frederick 135
Harry 131
Walter 131
Albert 122
Herbert 89
Francis 86
Frank 73
Edwin 68
Ernest 68
Fred 68
Benjamin 63
David 63
Daniel 58
Tom 52
Michael 44
Peter 44
Wm. 43
Thos. 40
Matthew 38
Patrick 31
Edmund 28
Geo. 28
Isaac 25
Stephen 25
Christopher 23
Joshua 22
Abraham 21
Jonas 21
Jonathan 21
Andrew 20
Joe 20
Percy 20
Alexander 19
Sidney 19
Fredrick 18
Mark 17

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 Gill households.

FAQ

Gill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 20,931 people were recorded with the Gill surname. That placed it at #172 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 38,776 in 2016. That gives Gill a modern rank of #129.

What does the Gill surname mean?

A surname of English origin referring to someone who lived near a ravine or narrow valley.

What does the Gill map show?

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