NameCensus.

UK surname

Gillman

A surname referring to a fisherman or one who operates a fishing weir or gillnet.

In the 1881 census there were 827 people recorded with the Gillman surname, ranking it #4,550 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,075, ranked #5,435, down from #4,550 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewes, Eastleigh and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gillman is 1,309 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.0%.

1881 census count

827

Ranked #4,550

Modern count

1,075

2016, ranked #5,435

Peak year

1911

1,309 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gillman had 827 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,550 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,075 in 2016, ranked #5,435.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,309 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gillman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gillman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gillman 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 649 #4,011
1861 historical 601 #4,411
1881 historical 827 #4,550
1891 historical 960 #4,307
1901 historical 1,157 #4,217
1911 historical 1,309 #3,644
1997 modern 1,162 #4,849
1998 modern 1,203 #4,868
1999 modern 1,216 #4,865
2000 modern 1,219 #4,831
2001 modern 1,180 #4,873
2002 modern 1,190 #4,934
2003 modern 1,122 #5,092
2004 modern 1,077 #5,282
2005 modern 1,051 #5,328
2006 modern 1,016 #5,487
2007 modern 1,011 #5,554
2008 modern 1,004 #5,635
2009 modern 1,045 #5,576
2010 modern 1,059 #5,605
2011 modern 1,060 #5,543
2012 modern 1,093 #5,320
2013 modern 1,119 #5,300
2014 modern 1,121 #5,315
2015 modern 1,104 #5,336
2016 modern 1,075 #5,435

Geography

Back to top

Where Gillmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Horsley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lewes, Eastleigh, South Somerset and Bolsover. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
5 Horsley Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewes 008 Lewes
2 Eastleigh 015 Eastleigh
3 South Somerset 017 South Somerset
4 South Somerset 021 South Somerset
5 Bolsover 001 Bolsover

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gillman

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gillman

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

Gillman is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gillman

The surname Gillman is of English origin, originating from the Middle English words "gill" meaning a ravine or deep glen, and "man" referring to a person. It is believed to have emerged as a descriptive surname for someone who lived in or near a ravine or deep valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gilleman." This entry suggests the surname was already in use by the late 11th century, indicating its ancient roots.

During the medieval period, the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where many Gillman families were documented. The surname evolved over time, with various spellings such as Gilman, Gillman, and Gillman appearing in different regions.

Notable individuals bearing the Gillman surname include Sir Benjamin Gillman (1548-1621), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London. Another prominent figure was John Gillman (1677-1748), a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of South Carolina from 1735 to 1737.

In the literary realm, James Gillman (1800-1881) was a notable English biographer and editor, best known for his work on the life and writings of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. William Gillman (1817-1878) was an English artist renowned for his landscape paintings, particularly those depicting the scenery of the Lake District.

Samuel Gillman (1832-1908) was a British naval architect and shipbuilder, responsible for designing several innovative vessels during the late 19th century. His contributions to the field earned him recognition and acclaim.

Throughout history, the Gillman surname has appeared in various records and documents, reflecting its longstanding presence in English society. While the name's origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, individuals bearing this surname have left their mark across diverse fields, from politics and administration to literature, art, and engineering.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gillman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gillman 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. Middlesex leads with 187 Gillmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.28x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 187 2.28x
Gloucestershire 115 7.15x
Surrey 110 2.75x
Kent 88 3.14x
Hampshire 51 3.03x
Wiltshire 30 4.13x
Essex 25 1.54x
Derbyshire 24 1.87x
Lancashire 22 0.23x
Oxfordshire 22 4.34x
Warwickshire 22 1.06x
Yorkshire 21 0.26x
Sussex 12 0.87x
Channel Islands 11 4.52x
Suffolk 10 1.00x
Worcestershire 10 0.93x
Dorset 9 1.67x
Bedfordshire 8 1.88x
Buckinghamshire 8 1.61x
Durham 8 0.33x
Staffordshire 8 0.29x
Hertfordshire 7 1.24x
Cumberland 5 0.71x
Monmouthshire 4 0.67x
Norfolk 4 0.32x
Berkshire 3 0.49x
Leicestershire 3 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.27x
Devon 2 0.12x
Midlothian 2 0.18x
Royal Navy 2 2.05x
Nairnshire 1 3.99x
Northamptonshire 1 0.13x
Northumberland 1 0.08x
Renfrewshire 1 0.16x
Westmorland 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 36 Gillmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.12x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 36 10.12x
Lambeth 30 4.19x
Dover St Mary Virgin 28 103.36x
St George In East London 24 31.10x
Islington London 20 2.52x
Charlton Next Woolwich 18 61.67x
Horsley 18 252.45x
West Ham 18 5.03x
Battersea 17 5.63x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 16 10.56x
St Pancras London 16 2.42x
Cirencester 15 68.87x
Alverstoke 14 23.00x
Stroud 14 44.71x
Camberwell 13 2.48x
Kensington London 13 2.85x
Bristol St George 12 16.13x
Fairfield 12 139.70x
Clapham 11 10.73x
Hartington Upper 10 163.13x
Oxford St Thomas 10 42.30x
Avening 9 158.45x
Birmingham 9 1.31x
Holywell 9 378.15x
St Helier 9 11.37x
Aston 8 1.40x
Hammersmith London 8 3.96x
Maugersbury 8 519.48x
Tottenham 8 6.12x
West Ashton 8 930.23x
Bishopwearmouth 7 3.34x
Charlwood 7 182.77x
Deptford St Paul 7 3.24x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 7 160.55x
Hertford St Andrew 7 100.29x
Hockliffe 7 760.87x
Leeds 7 1.52x
Newton 7 9.33x
Penge 7 13.36x
Portsea 7 2.12x
Woodnesborough 7 273.44x
Canterbury St George 6 178.57x
East Woodhay 6 139.86x
Hound 6 52.59x
Kings Norton 6 6.25x
Mile End Old Town London 6 3.44x
Old Artillery Ground 6 84.99x
Poplar London 6 3.88x
Steeple Ashton 6 306.12x
Burslem 5 6.30x
Devizes St James 5 51.87x
Egham 5 20.37x
Fulham London 5 4.20x
Ipswich St Peter 5 37.17x
Pannal 5 64.10x
Southwick 5 68.31x
Westminster St James 5 5.93x
Whitehaven 5 13.28x
Wimbledon 5 11.14x
Barrow In Furness 4 3.02x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.12x
Brighton 4 1.43x
Cheltenham 4 3.22x
Froxfield 4 206.19x
Margate St John Baptist 4 7.80x
Mile End New Town London 4 24.68x
Redenhall 4 81.63x
St George Hanover Square 4 2.77x
Yardley 4 14.59x
Bisley 3 20.58x
Dursley 3 45.32x
Finchley 3 9.54x
Great Marlow 3 22.40x
Highworth 3 32.33x
Little Chalfield 3 2500.00x
Manningham 3 3.00x
Minchinhampton 3 23.40x
Minster In Sheppey 3 6.47x
Petersfield 3 64.79x
Rodborough 3 38.61x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 59
John 52
George 31
James 30
Charles 23
Thomas 19
Joseph 15
Henry 13
Edward 11
Robert 11
Frederick 10
Alfred 9
Frank 9
Arthur 8
Samuel 7
Herbert 6
Richard 6
Walter 6
Francis 5
Albert 4
David 4
Ernest 4
Percy 4
Alexander 3
Edwin 3
Harold 3
Benjamin 2
Edmund 2
Harry 2
Leonard 2
Nigel 2
Wm. 2
Algernon 1
Alick 1
Bill 1
Clement 1
Dan 1
Evan 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.M. 1
Geo.W. 1
Jeremiah 1
Jethero 1
Johm.R. 1
Jon.U. 1
Leofric 1
Lewis 1

FAQ

Gillman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gillman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 827 people were recorded with the Gillman surname. That placed it at #4,550 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gillman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,075 in 2016. That gives Gillman a modern rank of #5,435.

What does the Gillman surname mean?

A surname referring to a fisherman or one who operates a fishing weir or gillnet.

What does the Gillman map show?

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