NameCensus.

UK surname

Gillet

A surname of French origin meaning "small coat."

In the 1881 census there were 346 people recorded with the Gillet surname, ranking it #8,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 132, ranked #25,882, down from #8,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkham, Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire) and Lytham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Trafford and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gillet is 414 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 61.8%.

1881 census count

346

Ranked #8,826

Modern count

132

2016, ranked #25,882

Peak year

1851

414 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gillet had 346 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016, ranked #25,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 414 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Gillet surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gillet surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gillet 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 414 #5,863
1861 historical 316 #8,054
1881 historical 346 #8,826
1891 historical 273 #11,918
1901 historical 300 #11,647
1911 historical 230 #13,686
1997 modern 115 #24,834
1998 modern 102 #27,314
1999 modern 104 #27,164
2000 modern 115 #25,591
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 117 #25,494
2003 modern 110 #26,220
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 112 #26,114
2006 modern 115 #25,969
2007 modern 108 #27,391
2008 modern 107 #27,844
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 128 #26,036
2011 modern 125 #26,220
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 128 #26,490
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 132 #25,882

Geography

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Where Gillets are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkham, Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Lytham, Urchfont and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Trafford, Wealden and Craven. 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 Kirkham Lancashire
2 Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire) Huntingdonshire
3 Lytham Lancashire
4 Urchfont Wiltshire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 018 Bridgend
2 Bridgend 019 Bridgend
3 Trafford 024 Trafford
4 Wealden 010 Wealden
5 Craven 002 Craven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gillet

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gillet

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Gillet surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Gillet 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gillet is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gillet 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gillet

The surname Gillet originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the French diminutive form of the personal name Guillaume, which in turn comes from the Germanic name Willahelm, meaning "resolute protector." The earliest known spelling variations of the name include Gilet, Gilette, and Gilot.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gillet can be found in the historical records of the city of Lyon, France, where a certain Jean Gillet was mentioned in the year 1292. The name also appears in the renowned Hundred Rolls, a census-like survey conducted in England in 1273, which lists several individuals bearing the Gillet surname, primarily in the counties of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

The Gillet name can be traced back to various places in France, including the towns of Gillet in the department of Haute-Savoie, and Gillette in the department of Savoie. These place names likely influenced the spelling and spread of the surname across different regions.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Gillet include:

1. Nicolas Gillet (c. 1530-1610), a French Protestant theologian and writer. 2. Claude Gillet (1609-1679), a French monk and historian who wrote extensively about the lives of saints. 3. Louis Gillet (1756-1828), a French Revolutionary general who served under Napoleon Bonaparte. 4. René Gillet (1858-1933), a French architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Paris. 5. Louis Gillet (1876-1942), a Belgian writer and literary critic who was a prominent figure in the Symbolist movement.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the Gillet surname throughout history, contributing to its rich cultural and historical significance across various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gillet families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gillet 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. Lancashire leads with 85 Gillets recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.12x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 85 2.12x
Bedfordshire 66 37.77x
Middlesex 42 1.24x
Kent 22 1.91x
Surrey 21 1.28x
Somerset 19 3.50x
Yorkshire 17 0.51x
Glamorgan 12 2.04x
Worcestershire 11 2.50x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.32x
Essex 5 0.75x
Wiltshire 5 1.68x
Cheshire 4 0.54x
Hampshire 4 0.58x
Warwickshire 4 0.47x
Anglesey 3 5.02x
Gloucestershire 3 0.45x
Argyllshire 2 2.13x
Derbyshire 2 0.38x
Devon 2 0.28x
Dorset 2 0.90x
Berkshire 1 0.39x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.47x
Flintshire 1 1.10x
Lanarkshire 1 0.09x
Leicestershire 1 0.27x
Monmouthshire 1 0.41x
Nairnshire 1 9.71x
Staffordshire 1 0.09x
Sussex 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Keysoe in Bedfordshire leads with 39 Gillets recorded in 1881 and an index of 4756.10x.

Place Total Index
Keysoe 39 4756.10x
Westby With Plumpton 22 3548.39x
Marston Moretaine 21 1544.12x
Lytham 16 261.87x
Northfleet 10 98.62x
Briton Ferry 9 128.39x
Halifax 8 16.29x
Ellel 7 338.16x
Greenwich 7 13.03x
Lambeth 7 2.38x
Weston Super Mare 7 51.02x
Yardley 7 62.06x
Farnham 6 46.91x
Hackney London 6 3.17x
Hammersmith London 6 7.22x
Kirkham 6 113.42x
Toxteth Park 6 4.42x
Bermondsey 5 4.98x
Preston 5 4.67x
St Botolph Aldersgate 5 129.20x
St Pancras London 5 1.84x
Bradford On Avon 4 41.84x
Bretforton 4 615.38x
Chawton 4 727.27x
Ganstead 4 3636.36x
Isleworth 4 26.65x
Lyncombe Widcombe 4 28.13x
Marton 4 150.38x
Walton Le Dale 4 37.17x
Aston 3 1.28x
Blatchinworth 3 32.89x
Houghton Conquest 3 416.67x
Llanynghenedl 3 526.32x
Mansfield 3 19.06x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 3 35.01x
Snenton 3 16.79x
Swansea Town 3 6.23x
Walthamstow 3 12.51x
Acton 2 10.11x
Burton Bradstock 2 183.49x
Glenorchy Inishail 2 185.19x
Huddersfield 2 4.11x
Lidlington 2 263.16x
Manchester 2 1.11x
Moss Side 2 9.49x
Ribby With Wray 2 434.78x
Shoreditch London 2 1.37x
St Luke London 2 3.69x
Thornton In Fylde 2 22.83x
Trull 2 180.18x
Willesden 2 6.29x
Alvaston 1 66.23x
Auldearn 1 66.23x
Aveley 1 89.29x
Backwell 1 90.09x
Birmingham 1 0.35x
Buckland In Dover 1 26.18x
Burwash 1 37.88x
Butleigh 1 112.36x
Caerwent 1 217.39x
Cockerham 1 98.04x
Cottingham 1 13.87x
Derby St Werburgh 1 3.28x
East Ham 1 8.09x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 6.22x
Fulham London 1 2.04x
Harrow 1 19.38x
Layton With Warbreck 1 6.80x
Lee 1 5.98x
Loughborough 1 5.89x
Mold 1 12.15x
Newington 1 0.80x
Southowram 1 9.79x
Southwark St Olave 1 38.76x
St Anne Soho London 1 5.19x
Stretham 1 65.36x
Taunton St Mary 1 10.03x
Tonbridge 1 2.41x
Wembworthy 1 200.00x
Westbury On Trym 1 4.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 12
Ann 7
Ellen 7
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Jane 6
Margaret 6
Alice 5
Emma 5
Agnes 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Amelia 2
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Helen 2
Isabella 2
Lilly 2
Marie 2
Matilda 2
Rebekah 2
Rosa 2
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Candace 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Emelin 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Kate 1
Katherin 1
Lena 1
Lily 1
Louise 1
Margeret 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
George 13
James 12
John 12
Thomas 11
Charles 8
Robert 6
Edward 5
Richard 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Nicholas 2
Ralph 2
Alfred 1
Alwyn 1
Amos 1
Austin 1
Benjamin 1
Constance 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Enos 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jules 1
Lambert 1
Mace 1
Mark 1
Owen 1
Reginald 1
Samuel 1
Septimus 1
Simeon 1
Stephen 1
Vincent 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gillet surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gillet surname in 1881?

In 1881, 346 people were recorded with the Gillet surname. That placed it at #8,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gillet surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016. That gives Gillet a modern rank of #25,882.

What does the Gillet surname mean?

A surname of French origin meaning "small coat."

What does the Gillet map show?

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