UK surname
Origin meaning "bright spear" from Germanic elements denoting a spear and bright.
In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Gillert surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 31, ranked #35,942, down from #32,416 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bishop Stortford, Elford and Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gillert is 199 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 244.4%.
1881 census count
9
Ranked #32,416
Modern count
31
2016, ranked #35,942
Peak year
1861
199 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gillert surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gillert surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 63 | #22,069 |
| 1861 | historical | 199 | #12,062 |
| 1881 | historical | 9 | #32,416 |
| 1891 | historical | 130 | #20,173 |
| 1901 | historical | 49 | #28,696 |
| 1911 | historical | 49 | #27,894 |
| 1997 | modern | 31 | #34,582 |
| 1998 | modern | 31 | #34,740 |
| 1999 | modern | 35 | #34,418 |
| 2000 | modern | 32 | #34,705 |
| 2001 | modern | 32 | #34,537 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 31 | #34,957 |
| 2004 | modern | 32 | #35,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 30 | #35,347 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 32 | #35,530 |
| 2008 | modern | 30 | #35,736 |
| 2009 | modern | 32 | #35,730 |
| 2010 | modern | 31 | #35,906 |
| 2011 | modern | 33 | #35,777 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 32 | #35,862 |
| 2014 | modern | 31 | #35,953 |
| 2015 | modern | 31 | #35,939 |
| 2016 | modern | 31 | #35,942 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bishop Stortford, Elford, Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland, St Marylebone and St Breock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bishop Stortford | Hertfordshire |
| 2 | Elford | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Wingrave with Rowsham, Drayton Beauchamp, Buckland | Buckinghamshire |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | St Breock | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gillert surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gillert, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Gillert surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gillert household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Gillert is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gillert is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gillert, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gillert is believed to have originated in Germany, likely dating back to the 12th or 13th century. It is derived from the Germanic personal name Gilo, which is thought to be a pet form of names beginning with the element "gil," meaning "pledge" or "hostage." The name Gillert may have initially been used as a nickname or descriptive identifier before becoming an established surname.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gillert can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, which mentions a person named Gillertus in the year 1219. This suggests that the name was already in use as a surname or byname during the medieval period in that region of Germany.
The name Gillert is also documented in various other historical records, such as tax rolls, land deeds, and parish registers from various parts of Germany. For example, in the 14th century, a person named Henne Gillert was recorded as a landowner in the city of Erfurt, Thuringia.
Over the centuries, the surname Gillert has been subject to various spelling variations, including Gillert, Gillart, Gilhart, and Gilhart. Some of these variants may have originated from regional dialects or scribal errors in record-keeping.
Several notable individuals have borne the surname Gillert throughout history, including:
1. Johann Gillert (1528-1592), a German theologian and author of religious texts. 2. Hans Gillert (1640-1708), a German painter known for his portraits and religious works. 3. Wilhelm Gillert (1798-1872), a German politician and member of the Frankfurt Parliament. 4. Anna Gillert (1863-1944), a German educator and advocate for women's rights. 5. Otto Gillert (1875-1947), a German engineer and inventor of early refrigeration systems.
While the name Gillert may have originated in Germany, it has since spread to other countries through migration and immigration patterns. However, the exact details of its dissemination and any potential connections to specific places or events remain somewhat obscure due to the limited historical records available.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gillert surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 5 Gillerts recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.72x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 5 | 16.72x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 3.42x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 57.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Greenwich in Kent leads with 5 Gillerts recorded in 1881 and an index of 357.14x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwich | 5 | 357.14x |
| Islington London | 2 | 23.56x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 48.31x |
| Llangattock | 1 | 714.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gillert surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gillert surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Gillert households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Baker | 1 |
| Corporal R Marines Artillery (M) | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 1 |
| Journeyman Baker | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Gillert surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 31 in 2016. That gives Gillert a modern rank of #35,942.
Origin meaning "bright spear" from Germanic elements denoting a spear and bright.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gillert bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.