NameCensus.

UK surname

Gillmore

A variant of the Scottish surname Gilmour, from a location likely named with the Gaelic term for 'gillie of the moor' (servant of the moor).

In the 1881 census there were 275 people recorded with the Gillmore surname, ranking it #10,330 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 322, ranked #14,033, down from #10,330 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Flintshire, Rotherham and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gillmore is 366 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.1%.

1881 census count

275

Ranked #10,330

Modern count

322

2016, ranked #14,033

Peak year

1999

366 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gillmore had 275 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,330 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 322 in 2016, ranked #14,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 325 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Gillmore surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gillmore surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gillmore 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 176 #11,489
1861 historical 233 #10,501
1881 historical 275 #10,330
1891 historical 255 #12,552
1901 historical 290 #11,925
1911 historical 325 #10,783
1997 modern 341 #12,407
1998 modern 355 #12,418
1999 modern 366 #12,225
2000 modern 352 #12,510
2001 modern 347 #12,449
2002 modern 338 #12,939
2003 modern 341 #12,655
2004 modern 338 #12,781
2005 modern 331 #12,913
2006 modern 331 #12,990
2007 modern 324 #13,322
2008 modern 326 #13,374
2009 modern 325 #13,657
2010 modern 326 #13,918
2011 modern 319 #14,000
2012 modern 312 #14,131
2013 modern 312 #14,332
2014 modern 315 #14,334
2015 modern 315 #14,247
2016 modern 322 #14,033

Geography

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Where Gillmores are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Portsmouth, Portsea and Dean. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Flintshire, Rotherham, South Hams, Fareham and Doncaster. 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 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Dean Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Flintshire 001 Flintshire
2 Rotherham 026 Rotherham
3 South Hams 006 South Hams
4 Fareham 011 Fareham
5 Doncaster 007 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gillmore

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gillmore

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Gillmore surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Gillmore household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Gillmore is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gillmore 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

Gillmore falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gillmore

The surname Gillmore has its origins in medieval England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "gile" meaning "ravine" or "deep valley" and "mor" meaning "moor" or "marsh." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a marshy ravine or valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1197, where a certain Gilbert de Gillemor is mentioned. This entry suggests that the name was initially spelled with an additional "e" at the end, a common variation in medieval times.

In the 13th century, the name appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1225, where a William Gilmor is listed as a landowner in Oxfordshire. This record provides evidence of the name's continued use and slightly different spelling variations during this period.

The Gillmore surname is also found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey of landowners in England. This document mentions a John de Gilmor from Oxfordshire, indicating the name's connection to that region.

One notable figure bearing the Gillmore surname was Sir Richard Gillmore (c. 1470-1527), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as Lord Mayor of London from 1521 to 1522.

Another individual of historical significance was Robert Gillmore (c. 1560-1623), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Rector of Somerton in Somerset. He was also a notable scholar and author, publishing works on theology and philosophy.

In the 17th century, the Gillmore surname can be found in records from the American colonies. One notable example is John Gillmore (c. 1630-1688), an early settler in Massachusetts Bay Colony who served as a deacon in the church of Ipswich.

Another prominent figure was Samuel Gillmore (1705-1786), an Irish-born American clergyman who served as the rector of St. Michael's Church in Charleston, South Carolina. He played a significant role in the early history of the Episcopal Church in America.

In more recent history, Sir Ralph Gillmore (1888-1965) was a British diplomat and civil servant who served as the Governor of Cyprus from 1946 to 1949, during a period of significant unrest and conflict on the island.

These examples illustrate the long and diverse history of the Gillmore surname, which has its roots in medieval England but has since spread to various parts of the world, including the American colonies and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gillmore families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gillmore 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 71 Gillmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.14x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 71 2.14x
Middlesex 51 1.83x
Somerset 28 6.24x
Hampshire 22 3.85x
Warwickshire 14 1.99x
Surrey 13 0.96x
Sussex 9 1.91x
Yorkshire 9 0.33x
Denbighshire 8 7.59x
Leicestershire 7 2.26x
Durham 6 0.72x
Glamorgan 6 1.24x
Cheshire 5 0.81x
Berkshire 4 1.91x
Caernarfonshire 4 3.55x
Isle of Man 4 7.72x
Kent 4 0.42x
Staffordshire 4 0.42x
Royal Navy 3 9.03x
Banffshire 2 3.46x
Hertfordshire 2 1.04x
Northumberland 2 0.48x
Wiltshire 2 0.81x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.39x
Devon 1 0.17x
Dorset 1 0.55x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.62x
Monmouthshire 1 0.50x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Weston Super Mare in Somerset leads with 15 Gillmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 132.28x.

Place Total Index
Weston Super Mare 15 132.28x
Walcot 13 54.35x
Clanfield 11 4074.07x
St Pancras London 11 4.90x
Chelsea London 9 10.71x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 11.06x
Birmingham 8 3.41x
Liverpool 8 3.98x
Llanbedr 8 1025.64x
Blackburn 7 7.95x
Mile End Old Town London 7 11.79x
St George In East London 7 26.68x
Aston 6 3.10x
Bighton 6 2727.27x
Great Crosby 6 66.52x
Isfield 6 1395.35x
Llantwit Lower 6 140.52x
Denton 5 68.12x
Gorton 5 16.07x
Kirkdale 5 8.98x
Lambeth 5 2.06x
Leicester St Margaret 5 6.63x
Twickenham 5 41.81x
Urmston 5 232.56x
Ardwick 4 13.40x
Birkenhead 4 8.15x
Broughton In Salford 4 13.21x
Kensington London 4 2.58x
South Shields 4 54.13x
Walsall Borough 4 54.72x
Bangor 3 27.57x
Bradshaw 3 416.67x
Greenwich 3 6.76x
Middlesbrough 3 8.33x
Newington 3 2.91x
Royal Navy 3 10.56x
Shoreditch London 3 2.48x
Southwark Christchurch 3 22.95x
Abbots Langley 2 69.93x
Braddan 2 70.67x
Bray 2 32.52x
Brighton 2 2.11x
Fordyce 2 48.08x
Haslingden 2 14.59x
Manchester 2 1.34x
Mountsorrel North End 2 333.33x
Pendleton In Salford 2 5.07x
Portsea 2 1.78x
Ruscombe 2 555.56x
Shadwell London 2 25.61x
Southwick 2 25.45x
Swindon 2 10.45x
Westminster St John 2 5.89x
Wortley In Bramley 2 9.14x
Aldershot 1 5.22x
Andover 1 18.52x
Bradford 1 1.49x
Brede 1 101.01x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.84x
Brompton In 1 80.65x
Burnley 1 3.59x
Camberwell 1 0.56x
Clapham 1 2.87x
Dumfries 1 16.45x
Dyce 1 90.09x
Everton 1 0.95x
Hackney London 1 0.64x
Hulme 1 1.45x
Ilfracombe 1 16.72x
Jesmond 1 17.12x
Linthorpe 1 6.06x
Llandudno 1 24.88x
Lonan 1 31.85x
Milton In Milton 1 24.69x
Norley 1 144.93x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.03x
Parr 1 8.45x
Trevethin 1 5.25x
Tynemouth 1 4.50x
West Derby 1 1.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 12
Mary 10
Anne 7
Ellen 6
Jane 6
Margaret 6
Agnes 5
Alice 5
Eliza 5
Catherine 4
Charlotte 4
Ann 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Annie 2
Edith 2
Elisabeth 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Hannah 2
M. 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Sarah 2
Amy 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Ellen 1
Ella 1
Georgina 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Kathleen 1
Lilian 1
Louie 1
Margt.J. 1
Matilda 1
Phillis 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 13
George 11
James 9
Charles 8
Thomas 8
Joseph 7
Edward 6
Henry 5
Herbert 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
Frank 3
Michael 3
Arthur 2
David 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Matthew 2
Patrick 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alexandra 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
Douglas 1
Edwd. 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Horatio 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
Jno. 1
Lily 1
Mungo 1
Murray 1
Nathaniel 1
Parker 1
Peter 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Gillmore surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gillmore surname in 1881?

In 1881, 275 people were recorded with the Gillmore surname. That placed it at #10,330 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gillmore surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 322 in 2016. That gives Gillmore a modern rank of #14,033.

What does the Gillmore surname mean?

A variant of the Scottish surname Gilmour, from a location likely named with the Gaelic term for 'gillie of the moor' (servant of the moor).

What does the Gillmore map show?

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