NameCensus.

UK surname

Gillard

A French occupational surname referring to a servant or attendant of a nobleman.

In the 1881 census there were 2,585 people recorded with the Gillard surname, ranking it #1,728 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,550, ranked #1,907, down from #1,728 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Exeter St David (including Castle Yard). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Mid Devon and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gillard is 3,743 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.3%.

1881 census count

2,585

Ranked #1,728

Modern count

3,550

2016, ranked #1,907

Peak year

1999

3,743 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gillard had 2,585 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,728 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,550 in 2016, ranked #1,907.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,576 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gillard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gillard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gillard 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 1,769 #1,629
1861 historical 1,875 #1,541
1881 historical 2,585 #1,728
1891 historical 2,861 #1,659
1901 historical 3,189 #1,761
1911 historical 3,576 #1,459
1997 modern 3,656 #1,774
1998 modern 3,742 #1,801
1999 modern 3,743 #1,812
2000 modern 3,734 #1,803
2001 modern 3,673 #1,796
2002 modern 3,699 #1,831
2003 modern 3,573 #1,844
2004 modern 3,612 #1,830
2005 modern 3,498 #1,865
2006 modern 3,501 #1,867
2007 modern 3,519 #1,871
2008 modern 3,533 #1,879
2009 modern 3,630 #1,872
2010 modern 3,673 #1,896
2011 modern 3,646 #1,883
2012 modern 3,636 #1,855
2013 modern 3,662 #1,876
2014 modern 3,676 #1,876
2015 modern 3,597 #1,893
2016 modern 3,550 #1,907

Geography

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Where Gillards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Mid Devon, South Hams and Sedgemoor. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 014 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Mid Devon 011 Mid Devon
3 South Hams 010 South Hams
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 010 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Sedgemoor 008 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gillard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gillard

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

London Fringe

Within London, Gillard 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

Gillard 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

Gillard falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gillard

The surname Gillard has its origins in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Germanic personal name Gislhard, which is composed of the elements "gisel" meaning hostage and "hard" meaning hardy or brave. The name was introduced to England by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

One of the earliest records of the name Gillard can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Gislardus" and refers to landowners in various counties across England.

The surname Gillard is also associated with several place names in England, such as Gillard's Green in Essex and Gillard's Farm in Gloucestershire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname Gillard who lived or owned land in those areas.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir John Gillard, a knight who fought in the Battle of Evesham in 1265 during the Second Barons' War. He was born around 1240 and died in the late 13th century.

Another prominent figure with the surname Gillard was Robert Gillard, an English clergyman and academic who lived in the 15th century. He was born in 1425 and served as the Warden of Merton College, Oxford, from 1483 until his death in 1498.

In the 16th century, William Gillard was a renowned English architect and builder who was responsible for the construction of several notable buildings in London, including parts of the Charterhouse complex and St. Bartholomew's Hospital. He was born around 1520 and died in 1594.

During the 17th century, the name Gillard was also found in various parts of England. One notable bearer was Thomas Gillard, a merchant and landowner from Devon who was born in 1625 and died in 1702.

In the 18th century, John Gillard was a well-known English engraver and printmaker who was active in London from 1740 to 1780. He was particularly known for his engravings of landscapes and portraits.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gillard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gillard 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. Devon leads with 719 Gillards recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.60x.

County Total Index
Devon 719 13.60x
Somerset 496 12.13x
Middlesex 292 1.15x
Surrey 144 1.16x
Gloucestershire 135 2.71x
Dorset 124 7.44x
Yorkshire 95 0.38x
Lancashire 81 0.27x
Staffordshire 57 0.66x
Kent 56 0.65x
Hampshire 51 0.98x
Glamorgan 47 1.06x
Cornwall 46 1.60x
Worcestershire 34 1.03x
Monmouthshire 29 1.58x
Warwickshire 26 0.41x
Essex 22 0.44x
Channel Islands 20 2.66x
Buckinghamshire 14 0.91x
Lincolnshire 13 0.32x
Sussex 12 0.28x
Leicestershire 11 0.39x
Cheshire 10 0.18x
Northumberland 8 0.21x
Oxfordshire 7 0.45x
Dunbartonshire 6 0.88x
Royal Navy 6 1.98x
Derbyshire 5 0.13x
Durham 5 0.07x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.15x
Northamptonshire 4 0.17x
Shropshire 4 0.18x
Wiltshire 4 0.18x
Suffolk 3 0.10x
Hertfordshire 2 0.11x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.10x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.06x
Denbighshire 1 0.10x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.27x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Midlothian 1 0.03x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.17x
Renfrewshire 1 0.05x
Roxburghshire 1 0.22x
Rutland 1 0.54x
Stirlingshire 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. Newton Abbot St Mary in Devon leads with 49 Gillards recorded in 1881 and an index of 110.48x.

Place Total Index
Newton Abbot St Mary 49 110.48x
Crediton 39 77.84x
Tiverton 39 42.82x
Islington London 35 1.42x
Nether Compton 35 1038.58x
Rotherhithe 35 11.15x
St Pancras London 34 1.66x
Stoke Damerel 33 8.92x
Hackney London 31 2.18x
Hammersmith London 30 4.79x
Lambeth 29 1.31x
South Tawton 29 266.06x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 28 5.97x
Plymouth St Andrew 27 6.63x
Greenwich 26 6.43x
Chard 25 50.47x
Bedminster 24 6.25x
Dudley 24 5.95x
St Marylebone London 24 1.77x
Wellington 23 41.49x
Brixham 22 35.91x
Camberwell 22 1.36x
Plymouth Charles The 22 9.44x
Sherborne 22 44.81x
Malborough 21 99.90x
Stokenham 21 141.03x
Martock 20 75.24x
Cullompton 19 82.29x
Drayton 19 519.13x
Bristol St James In 18 24.57x
Exeter St Sidwell 18 14.86x
North Wooton 18 3000.00x
Clifton 17 6.75x
Culmstock 17 226.67x
Curry Rivell 17 124.27x
Everton 17 1.77x
Birmingham 16 0.75x
Charleton 16 336.13x
Holy Trinity 16 2.64x
Kensington London 16 1.13x
Over Compton 16 1280.00x
West Ham 16 1.45x
Bristol St George 15 6.51x
Glastonbury 15 44.95x
Horton In Bradford 15 3.82x
Portsea 15 1.47x
Sedgley 15 4.71x
Taunton St Mary 15 19.98x
West Alvington 15 201.88x
Bristol Temple 14 42.68x
Bristol St Paul In 13 9.80x
Cheriton Fitzpaine 13 193.74x
Christchurch 13 11.51x
Newport 13 14.84x
Tormoham 13 5.81x
Wolverton 13 40.91x
Acton 12 8.06x
Broad Clist 12 65.79x
Chilcompton 12 214.29x
Clerkenwell London 12 2.00x
Liverpool 12 0.66x
Lopen 12 389.61x
Exeter Heavitree 11 27.90x
Exeter St Mary Steps 11 92.20x
Gwinear 11 80.65x
Llanwonno 11 6.92x
Mile End Old Town London 11 2.03x
St Helier 11 4.49x
Yeovil 11 13.24x
Bow London 10 3.09x
Bridgewater 10 9.01x
Burnham 10 32.08x
Lyncombe Widcombe 10 9.34x
Tipton 10 3.81x
Exeter Allhallows On The 9 103.81x
Exeter St David 9 19.92x
Hunslet 9 2.29x
Milborne Port 9 55.01x
Penge 9 5.55x
Thorne Falcon 9 555.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 178
Elizabeth 124
Sarah 91
Eliza 58
Emma 50
Ann 47
Ellen 47
Jane 47
Annie 39
Emily 38
Alice 29
Louisa 20
Susan 20
Charlotte 17
Florence 17
Harriet 17
Caroline 16
Margaret 16
Clara 15
Maria 15
Martha 14
Edith 13
Fanny 13
Hannah 13
Kate 13
Bessie 12
Ada 10
Anna 10
Beatrice 10
Harriett 10
Jessie 10
Lucy 10
Anne 9
Agnes 8
Amy 8
Henrietta 8
Minnie 8
Rose 8
Amelia 7
Catherine 7
Gertrude 7
Matilda 7
Frances 6
Elizth. 5
Julia 5
Laura 5
Lily 5
Maud 5
Francis 4
Helen 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 167
John 144
George 88
James 80
Henry 62
Robert 56
Thomas 54
Charles 52
Samuel 35
Richard 29
Walter 24
Francis 20
Albert 19
Arthur 19
Ernest 19
Joseph 19
Frederick 18
Alfred 17
Edwin 16
Frank 15
Edward 14
Harry 14
Geo. 13
Fred 10
Wm. 10
Chas. 7
Fredk. 6
Mark 6
Sydney 6
Nicholas 5
Fredrick 4
Percy 4
Sidney 4
Thos. 4
Daniel 3
David 3
Eli 3
Michael 3
Philip 3
Phillip 3
Reginald 3
Saml. 3
Tom 3
Willm. 3
Benjamin 2
Job 2
Jonathan 2
Matthew 2
Nathaniel 2
Oliver 2

FAQ

Gillard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gillard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,585 people were recorded with the Gillard surname. That placed it at #1,728 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gillard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,550 in 2016. That gives Gillard a modern rank of #1,907.

What does the Gillard surname mean?

A French occupational surname referring to a servant or attendant of a nobleman.

What does the Gillard map show?

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