UK surname
An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Giolláin meaning "descendant of the servant".
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Gillins surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Llanwnog and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gillins is 189 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 91.7%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1861
189 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gillins surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gillins 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 | 119 | #15,247 |
| 1861 | historical | 189 | #12,570 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 158 | #17,705 |
| 1901 | historical | 57 | #27,846 |
| 1911 | historical | 47 | #28,110 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Llanwnog, Manchester, St John Westminster and Ruskington, Haverholme Priory, Anwick. 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 | Greenwich | London (South Districts) |
| 2 | Llanwnog | Montgomeryshire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St John Westminster | London (West Districts) |
| 5 | Ruskington, Haverholme Priory, Anwick | Lincolnshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gillins 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 Gillins, 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 Gillins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gillins 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, Gillins 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 Gillins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gillins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gillins has its origins in the Gaelic Scottish Highlands, dating back to the early 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the old Gaelic words "gille" meaning servant or youth, and "fhionn" meaning fair or pale, referring to someone with fair hair or complexion. The earliest known spelling variations of the name include Gillefyn, Gillifin, and Gillywyn.
The name Gillins first appeared in historical records in the early 12th century, with mentions found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls recording those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. One notable entry was Gillechrist Gillefyn, a Scottish landowner from Argyll.
In the 14th century, the name Gillins appeared in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which documented financial transactions and land ownership. A certain John Gillywyn was recorded as a tenant farmer in Perthshire in 1365.
Over the centuries, the Gillins family established themselves in various parts of Scotland, with some members achieving notable status. In the 16th century, Robert Gillins (1515-1584) was a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Principal of St. Leonard's College in St. Andrews.
Another prominent figure was Sir James Gillins (1650-1718), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the establishment of the Darien colony in Panama. His efforts, though ultimately unsuccessful, were a precursor to the later colonization efforts in the Americas.
In the 18th century, the Gillins name gained further recognition with the birth of William Gillins (1738-1811), a Scottish philosopher and educator. He was a leading figure in the Scottish Enlightenment and is remembered for his contributions to moral philosophy and education reform.
One of the most famous bearers of the Gillins surname was Sir John Gillins (1822-1895), a Scottish engineer and naval architect. He designed and oversaw the construction of several pioneering warships for the British Royal Navy, including the famous HMS Warrior, one of the first modern iron-hulled armored battleships.
Throughout its history, the surname Gillins has been closely associated with Scottish heritage and culture, with many notable individuals leaving their mark in various fields, from academia and philosophy to engineering and exploration.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gillins 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. Middlesex leads with 11 Gillins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.35x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 11 | 2.35x |
| Durham | 9 | 6.46x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 1.08x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 5.35x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.75x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.54x |
| Worcestershire | 3 | 4.91x |
| Flintshire | 2 | 15.90x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.25x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.69x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 5.21x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.66x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 2.27x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Penshaw in Durham leads with 6 Gillins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1428.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Penshaw | 6 | 1428.57x |
| Poplar London | 6 | 67.95x |
| Anwick | 4 | 6666.67x |
| Camberwell | 3 | 10.04x |
| Kings Norton | 3 | 54.74x |
| Sheffield | 3 | 20.33x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 8.00x |
| Whitford | 2 | 307.69x |
| Ackton | 1 | 909.09x |
| Aston | 1 | 3.08x |
| Brandon Byshottles | 1 | 57.47x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 9.71x |
| Charlton Next Woolwich | 1 | 59.88x |
| Finchley | 1 | 55.87x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 3.72x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 13.42x |
| Hunningham | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.20x |
| Kettering | 1 | 56.18x |
| Leatherhead | 1 | 175.44x |
| Much Cowarne | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Preston | 1 | 6.73x |
| Sowerby In Thirsk | 1 | 357.14x |
| Spotland | 1 | 16.21x |
| Stretford | 1 | 32.68x |
| Sunderland | 1 | 40.65x |
| Wingate | 1 | 105.26x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gillins 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 Gillins 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 Gillins households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Coal Mnr | 2 |
| Unemployed | 2 |
| (Eng) Scholar | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Branch Bank Inspector | 1 |
| Butler Dom Serv | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Certificated School Master | 1 |
| Chemist | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Com Traveller Gas Fittings | 1 |
| Domestic Housemaid | 1 |
| Draper | 1 |
| Drapery Salesman | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Fishmonger | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Grocer & Farmer | 1 |
| Ironstone Miner | 1 |
| Labr (Dock) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Quarry Labourer | 1 |
| Retired Dr... Mistress | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Shipwright | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Gillins surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Gillins a modern rank of #38,419.
An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Giolláin meaning "descendant of the servant".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gillins 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.