NameCensus.

UK surname

Gills

Derived from a nickname for someone with a cheerful or lively disposition, from Middle English "gille" meaning "jovial".

In the 1881 census there were 286 people recorded with the Gills surname, ranking it #10,036 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 230, ranked #17,812, down from #10,036 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Farringdon, Great and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Vale of White Horse and Ipswich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gills is 707 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.6%.

1881 census count

286

Ranked #10,036

Modern count

230

2016, ranked #17,812

Peak year

1861

707 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gills had 286 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,036 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016, ranked #17,812.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 707 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Gills surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gills surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gills 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 366 #6,483
1861 historical 707 #3,831
1881 historical 286 #10,036
1891 historical 487 #7,590
1901 historical 403 #9,442
1911 historical 326 #10,763
1997 modern 192 #18,103
1998 modern 203 #17,949
1999 modern 210 #17,712
2000 modern 196 #18,431
2001 modern 186 #18,773
2002 modern 191 #18,817
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 190 #18,792
2005 modern 182 #19,259
2006 modern 186 #19,140
2007 modern 193 #18,923
2008 modern 194 #19,011
2009 modern 206 #18,657
2010 modern 215 #18,551
2011 modern 214 #18,436
2012 modern 224 #17,786
2013 modern 227 #17,922
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 223 #18,165
2016 modern 230 #17,812

Geography

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Where Gills' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Farringdon, Great, London parishes, Gateshead and Largs. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Vale of White Horse, Ipswich, Bexley 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 Farringdon, Great Berkshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Largs Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 012 County Durham
2 Vale of White Horse 015 Vale of White Horse
3 Ipswich 010 Ipswich
4 Bexley 020 Bexley
5 Doncaster 014 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gills

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gills

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Gills surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Gills household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Gills 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

Gills is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gills 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 Gills is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gills, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gills

The surname Gills has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "gill," which referred to a narrow valley or ravine. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a topographic name, describing a person who lived near or in such a geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gille" and "Gille de Heriz." This indicates that the name was already established in England during the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, records show variations of the name such as "Gille," "Gille de la Hulle," and "Gille de Hyldene." The latter two examples incorporate place names, further reinforcing the topographic association of the name.

During the 14th century, the surname began to take on its more modern spelling, with instances like "Robert Gille" recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Gills include:

1. John Gills (c. 1565-1635), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament for Maldon in 1597. 2. Thomas Gills (1658-1723), an English minister and author of the influential work "The Cause of God and Truth." 3. Mary Gills (1736-1809), a British botanist and illustrator known for her contributions to the study of flora. 4. William Gills (1792-1867), a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a baronet. 5. Edward Gills (1871-1940), an American politician who served as the 32nd Governor of New Jersey from 1924 to 1927.

The name Gills has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Gillingham in Kent, Gillingham in Dorset, and Gillsland in Cumbria. These place names likely share a similar etymological root, further solidifying the connection between the surname and geographical features.

While the surname Gills is not among the most common in modern times, its rich history and origins in medieval England provide insight into the lives and settlements of those who first bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gills families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gills 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. Durham leads with 60 Gills' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.23x.

County Total Index
Durham 60 7.23x
Middlesex 35 1.25x
Yorkshire 31 1.12x
Northumberland 28 6.75x
Surrey 21 1.54x
Berkshire 15 7.16x
Ayrshire 13 6.23x
Gloucestershire 13 2.38x
Banffshire 9 15.55x
Kent 9 0.95x
Hertfordshire 6 3.12x
Lancashire 6 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.33x
Somerset 4 0.89x
Wiltshire 4 1.62x
Glamorgan 3 0.62x
Hampshire 3 0.52x
Staffordshire 3 0.32x
Sussex 3 0.64x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.77x
Devon 2 0.34x
Radnorshire 2 8.88x
Suffolk 2 0.59x
Westmorland 2 3.26x
Cornwall 1 0.32x
Cumberland 1 0.42x
Midlothian 1 0.27x
Oxfordshire 1 0.58x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Largs in Ayrshire leads with 13 Gills' recorded in 1881 and an index of 264.23x.

Place Total Index
Largs 13 264.23x
Shoreditch London 12 9.92x
Gateshead 10 16.09x
Bowling 9 32.87x
Southwark St Saviour 9 62.76x
Clerkenwell London 8 12.15x
Great Faringdon 8 265.78x
Lambeth 8 3.29x
Marnoch 8 257.23x
Bishopwearmouth 7 9.83x
Houghton Close House 7 4117.65x
Jesmond 7 119.86x
Newbottle 7 154.53x
Newland 7 152.17x
Prudhoe 7 242.21x
Sheffield 7 7.95x
Chipping Barnet 6 178.57x
Middlesbrough 6 16.67x
Washington 5 143.68x
Dawdon 4 39.18x
Inglesham 4 3636.36x
Lechlade 4 357.14x
Lenton 4 45.15x
Lyncombe Widcombe 4 34.01x
Pelton 4 101.27x
St Marylebone London 4 2.69x
West Herrington 4 137.46x
Bermondsey 3 3.61x
Bishop Auckland 3 26.95x
Gorton 3 9.64x
Leeds 3 1.92x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 18.52x
Shrivenham 3 288.46x
Southwick 3 38.17x
Swansea Town 3 7.53x
Woolwich 3 8.53x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 2 4.14x
Chelmondiston 2 240.96x
Chelsea London 2 2.38x
Coxhoe 2 85.11x
Everton 2 1.90x
Hammersmith London 2 2.91x
Haydon 2 88.11x
Holbeck 2 10.92x
Hungerford 2 70.67x
Kendal 2 17.83x
Ryton Woodside 2 194.17x
St Faith Winchester 2 74.91x
St Giles In Fields London 2 14.61x
Tottenham 2 4.50x
Westgate 2 7.78x
Aldershot 1 5.22x
Batley 1 3.81x
Bitton Oldland 1 17.89x
Boyndie 1 52.08x
Brandon Byshottles 1 9.62x
Clifton 1 3.62x
Coventry St Michael 1 4.42x
Devonport 1 14.99x
East Hagbourn 1 200.00x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.67x
Elswick 1 3.02x
Hartley 1 90.09x
Hove 1 4.85x
Huddersfield 1 2.48x
Kenn 1 111.11x
Lambourn 1 48.31x
Linthorpe 1 6.06x
Llanfihangel Beguildy 1 105.26x
Llansaintfraed In Elvel 1 344.83x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.03x
Over Darwen 1 3.78x
Redruth 1 11.20x
Reigate Borough 1 31.95x
Sevenoaks 1 12.95x
Storrington 1 77.52x
Thrybergh 1 500.00x
Westminster St John 1 2.94x
Westoe 1 2.13x
Whitehaven 1 7.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 12
Jane 11
Eliza 6
Sarah 6
Alice 4
Annie 4
Emily 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Fanny 3
Isabella 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Amelia 2
Eleanor 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Lucretia 2
Margt. 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Agnes 1
Ammy 1
Anne 1
Avril 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizebeth 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hanna 1
Harriett 1
Infant 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Lenora 1
Louise 1
Madeline 1
Margt 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
May 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
John 15
Joseph 12
George 8
Henry 7
Robert 7
Thomas 6
Richard 5
Edward 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
James 3
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Jno. 2
Alban 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Cowin 1
Ernest 1
Felix 1
Francis 1
Franciss 1
Frank 1
Geo.James 1
Jos. 1
Matthew 1
Ralph 1
Richd.John 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Unewick 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gills surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gills surname in 1881?

In 1881, 286 people were recorded with the Gills surname. That placed it at #10,036 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gills surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016. That gives Gills a modern rank of #17,812.

What does the Gills surname mean?

Derived from a nickname for someone with a cheerful or lively disposition, from Middle English "gille" meaning "jovial".

What does the Gills map show?

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