NameCensus.

UK surname

Gillam

Derived from a place name meaning "homestead of a man named Gylla," from an Old English personal name.

In the 1881 census there were 1,152 people recorded with the Gillam surname, ranking it #3,476 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,755, ranked #3,578, down from #3,476 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selby, South Lakeland and Tandridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gillam is 1,828 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.3%.

1881 census count

1,152

Ranked #3,476

Modern count

1,755

2016, ranked #3,578

Peak year

2010

1,828 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gillam had 1,152 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,476 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,755 in 2016, ranked #3,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,475 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gillam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gillam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gillam 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 737 #3,575
1861 historical 718 #3,788
1881 historical 1,152 #3,476
1891 historical 1,174 #3,643
1901 historical 1,444 #3,524
1911 historical 1,475 #3,263
1997 modern 1,752 #3,410
1998 modern 1,793 #3,454
1999 modern 1,784 #3,508
2000 modern 1,810 #3,441
2001 modern 1,764 #3,451
2002 modern 1,793 #3,469
2003 modern 1,794 #3,403
2004 modern 1,741 #3,496
2005 modern 1,761 #3,439
2006 modern 1,759 #3,440
2007 modern 1,763 #3,471
2008 modern 1,747 #3,522
2009 modern 1,803 #3,504
2010 modern 1,828 #3,521
2011 modern 1,788 #3,550
2012 modern 1,783 #3,512
2013 modern 1,795 #3,538
2014 modern 1,798 #3,554
2015 modern 1,767 #3,567
2016 modern 1,755 #3,578

Geography

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Where Gillams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock, London parishes, Blaby and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selby, South Lakeland, Tandridge and Croydon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock Worcestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Blaby Leicestershire
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selby 002 Selby
2 South Lakeland 012 South Lakeland
3 Tandridge 007 Tandridge
4 Croydon 028 Croydon
5 Croydon 032 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gillam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gillam

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gillam is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gillam is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gillam

The surname Gillam is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "gil" or "gile," meaning a ravine or deep valley, and "ham," meaning a homestead or settlement. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a ravine or valley.

The earliest recorded instances of the Gillam surname date back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, there is a reference to a person named William Gilem. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also mention a John Gilem.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, various spellings of the name emerged, such as Gillham, Gilham, and Gileham. These variations likely reflect regional differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions at the time.

One notable historical figure with the surname Gillam was Benjamin Gillam, a 17th-century English explorer and sea captain. Born in 1663, he led several expeditions to Hudson Bay and the Canadian Arctic on behalf of the Hudson's Bay Company. Gillam is credited with being one of the first European explorers to map parts of the Hudson Bay region.

Another individual of note was Zephaniah Gillam Jr., an 18th-century American silversmith and engraver. Born in 1733 in Philadelphia, he was celebrated for his intricate and ornate silverwork, which was highly sought after by the wealthy elite of colonial America.

In the realm of literature, Ann Gillam, an English writer born in 1801, gained recognition for her novels and works of fiction. Her most famous work, "The Countess of Blessington," was a popular success and provided insights into the lives of the aristocracy during the Regency era.

Moving into the 19th century, Samuel Gillam, born in 1839 in England, was a prominent architect known for his work on several notable buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London. His designs were characterized by their intricate ornamentation and blending of various architectural styles.

Finally, in the 20th century, Sir Hugh Gillam, born in 1920, was a distinguished British diplomat and civil servant. He served as the British Ambassador to several countries, including France and the United States, and played a crucial role in shaping Britain's foreign policy during the latter half of the 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gillam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gillam 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. Sussex leads with 254 Gillams recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.38x.

County Total Index
Sussex 254 13.38x
Worcestershire 116 7.89x
Middlesex 110 0.98x
Yorkshire 98 0.88x
Oxfordshire 67 9.64x
Cheshire 49 1.97x
Surrey 47 0.86x
Lancashire 46 0.34x
Denbighshire 44 10.35x
Leicestershire 40 3.20x
Kent 36 0.94x
Gloucestershire 26 1.18x
Somerset 24 1.32x
Staffordshire 22 0.58x
Hampshire 18 0.78x
Monmouthshire 18 2.21x
Shropshire 15 1.54x
Norfolk 11 0.64x
Warwickshire 11 0.39x
Berkshire 10 1.18x
East Lothian 10 6.71x
Dorset 9 1.22x
Glamorgan 8 0.41x
Bedfordshire 7 1.20x
Angus 6 0.58x
Derbyshire 6 0.34x
Lanarkshire 6 0.16x
Northamptonshire 6 0.57x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.70x
Essex 4 0.18x
Herefordshire 4 0.87x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.26x
Channel Islands 3 0.90x
Durham 3 0.09x
Midlothian 3 0.20x
Flintshire 2 0.66x
Suffolk 2 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.15x
Devon 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 0.75x
Wiltshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 198 Gillams recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.71x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 198 51.71x
Countesthorpe 37 868.54x
Oxford St Giles 26 78.38x
Ribbesford 25 204.42x
Islington London 23 2.11x
Hove 20 24.02x
St George Hanover Square 19 9.58x
Burton 18 654.55x
Sheffield 17 4.79x
Croydon 16 5.26x
Blackburn 14 3.94x
Liversedge 14 28.19x
Poulton 13 2096.77x
Kidderminster Borough 12 13.95x
Ulverston 12 30.84x
Bradford 11 4.07x
Duns Tew 11 932.20x
Woolwich 11 7.75x
Brimpton 10 2380.95x
Dirleton 10 170.94x
Hoyland Nether 10 36.55x
Panteg 10 78.00x
Portslade 10 86.21x
Rotherham 10 15.90x
Bieston 9 2500.00x
Birkenhead 9 4.54x
Brightside Bierlow 9 4.11x
Churton By Aldford 9 891.09x
Dudley 9 5.04x
Ludlow St Lawrence 9 46.51x
Tottenham 9 5.02x
Upperswinford 9 72.35x
Bowling 8 7.24x
Claines 8 19.83x
Harborne 8 6.57x
Hulme 8 2.87x
Kensington London 8 1.28x
St Pancras London 8 0.88x
Bermondsey 7 2.09x
Chepstow 7 50.51x
Great Mongeham 7 386.74x
Holbeck 7 9.47x
Horfield 7 31.50x
Kirtlington 7 252.71x
Leigh 7 39.24x
Luton 7 6.94x
Middleton Tyas 7 330.19x
Sherborne 7 32.17x
Tettenhall 7 30.13x
Worcester All Sts 7 82.16x
Wrexham Regis 7 22.17x
Yeovil 7 19.01x
Banbury 6 43.10x
Brechin 6 14.64x
Camberwell 6 0.83x
Eastbourne 6 6.87x
Greenwich 6 3.35x
Kingswinford 6 4.35x
Lynsted 6 120.72x
Odiham 6 59.23x
Old Monkland 6 4.15x
Oxford St Thomas 6 18.50x
St Marylebone London 6 1.00x
Warkworth 6 62.96x
Allington 5 157.23x
Earley 5 35.51x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 2.20x
Elvetham 5 276.24x
Gradley 5 70.42x
Hammersmith London 5 1.80x
Heigham 5 5.38x
Lambeth 5 0.51x
Lewes All Sts 5 66.14x
Newhaven 5 32.43x
Paddington London 5 1.21x
St Luke London 5 2.77x
Stapleton 5 11.94x
Swansea Town 5 3.11x
Upton In Chester 5 179.86x
Upton On Severn 5 51.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 75
John 58
George 48
Henry 33
Charles 32
James 29
Thomas 25
Joseph 22
Albert 19
Alfred 15
Arthur 13
Edward 12
Richard 11
Harry 10
Samuel 10
Frederick 8
Walter 8
Robert 7
Benjamin 6
Edwin 6
Jacob 4
Stephen 4
Edmund 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Jonathan 3
Joshua 3
Noah 3
Reuben 3
Andrew 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Job 2
Matthias 2
Michael 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Robt. 2
Arther 1
Charlie 1
Daniel 1
Ernt. 1
Farmer 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Lewis 1
Wm.Chas.Fredk. 1

FAQ

Gillam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gillam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,152 people were recorded with the Gillam surname. That placed it at #3,476 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gillam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,755 in 2016. That gives Gillam a modern rank of #3,578.

What does the Gillam surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "homestead of a man named Gylla," from an Old English personal name.

What does the Gillam map show?

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