NameCensus.

UK surname

Gillham

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a settlement called Gillham.

In the 1881 census there were 818 people recorded with the Gillham surname, ranking it #4,580 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,124, ranked #5,245, down from #4,580 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Lewes and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gillham is 1,364 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.4%.

1881 census count

818

Ranked #4,580

Modern count

1,124

2016, ranked #5,245

Peak year

1911

1,364 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gillham had 818 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,580 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,124 in 2016, ranked #5,245.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,364 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gillham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gillham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gillham 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 487 #5,127
1861 historical 470 #5,522
1881 historical 818 #4,580
1891 historical 1,061 #3,958
1901 historical 1,192 #4,124
1911 historical 1,364 #3,521
1997 modern 1,179 #4,785
1998 modern 1,228 #4,787
1999 modern 1,217 #4,861
2000 modern 1,207 #4,877
2001 modern 1,187 #4,840
2002 modern 1,187 #4,945
2003 modern 1,152 #4,985
2004 modern 1,133 #5,063
2005 modern 1,094 #5,152
2006 modern 1,100 #5,145
2007 modern 1,102 #5,180
2008 modern 1,099 #5,220
2009 modern 1,154 #5,120
2010 modern 1,165 #5,173
2011 modern 1,138 #5,227
2012 modern 1,111 #5,255
2013 modern 1,129 #5,261
2014 modern 1,151 #5,199
2015 modern 1,138 #5,202
2016 modern 1,124 #5,245

Geography

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Where Gillhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Portsmouth, Portsea and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Lewes, County Durham, Canterbury and Shepway. 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 1
2 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 007 Shropshire
2 Lewes 011 Lewes
3 County Durham 041 County Durham
4 Canterbury 005 Canterbury
5 Shepway 012 Shepway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gillham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gillham

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Gillham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gillham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Gillham 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

Gillham is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gillham falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gillham

The surname Gillham is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "gyllan" meaning "to yell or make a loud noise" and "ham" meaning "homestead or village." The name was likely initially given as a nickname to someone who lived in a noisy or loud village or hamlet.

The earliest known record of the name Gillham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Gyllanham" in the county of Wiltshire. This suggests that the name was already established in this region by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, variations of the name, such as "Gilham" and "Gillam," began to appear in various historical records, including the Curia Regis Rolls of 1201 and the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire from 1260.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Gillham was William Gillham, who was born in Warwickshire, England, around 1470. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the Parliament during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir John Gillham (1565-1638), a successful merchant and member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers in London. He was instrumental in establishing trade routes with the Netherlands and other European countries.

In the 17th century, the Gillham family had a strong presence in the county of Gloucestershire, where they owned several manors and estates. One of the most prominent members of this branch was Sir Thomas Gillham (1620-1685), who served as a magistrate and was knighted for his services to the Crown.

During the English Civil War, a Captain Robert Gillham (1610-1680) fought on the Parliamentarian side and was known for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield. He later became a influential figure in the local government of Wiltshire.

Another notable figure with the surname Gillham was Richard Gillham (1735-1811), a renowned architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in the city of Bath, including the iconic Pulteney Bridge.

As the name spread across England and beyond, it also took on various spellings, such as "Gillam," "Gillum," and "Gilham," reflecting regional dialects and variations in pronunciation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gillham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gillham 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. Surrey leads with 159 Gillhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.14x.

County Total Index
Surrey 159 4.14x
Middlesex 157 1.99x
Sussex 112 8.42x
Kent 109 4.05x
Hampshire 45 2.78x
Devon 42 2.56x
Dorset 33 6.37x
Lancashire 33 0.35x
Cheshire 20 1.15x
Berkshire 19 3.21x
Northamptonshire 18 2.43x
Somerset 17 1.34x
Norfolk 15 1.24x
Herefordshire 8 2.47x
Gloucestershire 7 0.45x
Royal Navy 4 4.25x
Bedfordshire 2 0.49x
Leicestershire 2 0.23x
Rutland 2 3.45x
Wiltshire 2 0.29x
Hertfordshire 1 0.18x
Northumberland 1 0.09x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 33 Gillhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.41x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 33 10.41x
Bexhill 24 361.99x
Reigate Foreign 22 52.83x
Bradford Abbas 21 1521.74x
Limehouse London 19 21.93x
Lambeth 16 2.33x
Bermondsey 14 5.96x
Kettering 14 46.64x
Newington 14 4.80x
Doddleston 13 1625.00x
Frimley 13 118.72x
Liverpool 13 2.29x
Wimbledon 13 30.11x
Billingshurst 12 275.23x
Camberwell 12 2.38x
Orpington 12 145.63x
Greenwich 11 8.76x
Hastings St Leonards 11 56.24x
Reading St Giles 11 18.93x
West Rudham 11 859.38x
Buckland In Dover 10 112.11x
Deptford St Paul 10 4.82x
Eastbourne 10 16.33x
Hackney London 10 2.26x
Islington London 10 1.31x
Seal 10 229.89x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 6.30x
St Marylebone London 10 2.37x
Kensington London 9 2.05x
Maresfield 9 160.43x
Mile End Old Town London 9 5.36x
Newhaven 9 83.26x
Harberton 8 213.90x
Hereford St Martin 8 204.08x
Heston 8 30.52x
Lewes St John Under 8 439.56x
Paignton 8 64.00x
Shoreditch London 8 2.34x
Willesden 8 10.75x
Yeovil 8 31.00x
Chertsey 7 28.17x
Exeter St Leonard 7 155.90x
Weston Super Mare 7 21.82x
Berry Pomeroy 6 220.59x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.75x
Bow London 6 5.97x
Brighton 6 2.24x
Clerkenwell London 6 3.22x
Cookham 6 32.49x
Dorking 6 23.24x
Horsell 6 246.91x
Little Bolton 6 4.98x
Pemberton 6 16.07x
Ratcliffe London 6 13.77x
St Pancras London 6 0.94x
Stoke Newington London 6 9.76x
Windlesham 6 82.99x
Bredgar 5 299.40x
Canterbury St Peter 5 164.47x
Gorton 5 5.68x
Hastings St Mary 5 15.10x
Sherborne 5 32.79x
Walmer 5 42.74x
Aylburton 4 227.27x
Chelsea London 4 1.68x
Chester St John Baptist 4 12.78x
Clapham 4 4.05x
Dunsford 4 190.48x
Holdenhurst 4 9.43x
Hound 4 36.43x
Northampton Priory St 4 8.98x
Petham 4 215.05x
Poplar London 4 2.69x
Royal Navy 4 4.98x
St George Hanover Square 4 2.88x
Uxbridge 4 44.35x
Burwash 3 48.62x
Hougham 3 18.74x
Salehurst 3 52.08x
Southwark St Saviour 3 7.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Sarah 31
Elizabeth 27
Eliza 19
Emily 19
Ellen 15
Martha 13
Ann 12
Jane 12
Alice 10
Annie 10
Frances 9
Hannah 9
Harriett 8
Fanny 7
Louisa 7
Lucy 7
Ada 6
Florence 6
Charlotte 5
Clara 5
Edith 5
Emma 5
Esther 5
Maria 5
Rose 5
Mabel 4
Margaret 4
Agnes 3
Caroline 3
Harriet 3
Julia 3
Ruth 3
Amelia 2
Angelina 2
Anne 2
Elizth. 2
Isabella 2
Lois 2
Maud 2
Mercy 2
Minnie 2
Rachel 2
Susan 2
Susanah 2
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
E. 1
Edit 1
Susette 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 56
George 53
John 28
James 25
Thomas 24
Henry 23
Charles 19
Edward 17
Alfred 15
Frederick 10
Harry 9
Robert 8
Albert 7
Arthur 7
Richard 7
Edwin 6
Herbert 6
Samuel 6
Walter 6
Frank 5
Joseph 5
Wm. 5
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Stephen 4
Bertie 2
David 2
Fred 2
Henery 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Willm. 2
Bernard 1
Christopher 1
Earnest 1
Edwd. 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Geoege 1
Georg. 1
Horace 1
Josiah 1
Lancaster 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Richd. 1
S. 1

FAQ

Gillham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gillham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 818 people were recorded with the Gillham surname. That placed it at #4,580 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gillham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,124 in 2016. That gives Gillham a modern rank of #5,245.

What does the Gillham surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from a settlement called Gillham.

What does the Gillham map show?

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