UK surname
A contracted form of the medieval given name Gillian.
In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Gilly surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #26,134 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Woburn, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilly is 140 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.2%.
1881 census count
53
Ranked #26,134
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1861
140 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gilly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gilly surname density by area, 1861 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 | 105 | #16,618 |
| 1861 | historical | 140 | #16,169 |
| 1881 | historical | 53 | #26,134 |
| 1891 | historical | 68 | #28,300 |
| 1901 | historical | 50 | #28,590 |
| 1911 | historical | 38 | #29,147 |
| 1997 | modern | 16 | #36,292 |
| 1998 | modern | 15 | #36,457 |
| 1999 | modern | 15 | #36,476 |
| 2000 | modern | 19 | #36,007 |
| 2001 | modern | 15 | #36,265 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 15 | #36,415 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 18 | #36,537 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 18 | #36,682 |
| 2010 | modern | 24 | #36,341 |
| 2011 | modern | 24 | #36,306 |
| 2012 | modern | 25 | #36,227 |
| 2013 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2014 | modern | 30 | #36,005 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Woburn, London parishes, Gateshead, Feock and Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston. 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 | Woburn | Bedfordshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 4 | Feock | Cornwall |
| 5 | Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gilly 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 Gilly, 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 Gilly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gilly 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, Gilly 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 Gilly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gilly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gilly originates from the Norman French language and is believed to have been introduced to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is derived from the medieval French personal name "Giles" or "Gille", which itself is derived from the Greek name "Aigidios" meaning "kid" or "young goat".
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Gilly can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Gilli" and "Gillie". These entries suggest that the name was already present in England by the late 11th century and may have been brought over by Norman settlers.
During the medieval period, the surname Gilly was particularly prevalent in the county of Warwickshire, where it is believed to have originated from the village of Gilley, which itself may have been named after an early bearer of the name.
One notable historical figure with the surname Gilly was Sir John Gilly, a 16th century English military commander who served under King Henry VIII. He was born in 1504 and played a significant role in the English campaigns against Scotland and France during the 1540s.
Another individual of note was William Gilly, an English Baptist minister and author who lived from 1789 to 1855. He is best known for his works on religious history and his travels in the Holy Land.
In the 18th century, a family of Gillys made significant contributions to the field of architecture. Notable members include William Edmund Gilly (1736-1827), a renowned English architect and surveyor, and his son David Gilly (1788-1867), who designed several notable buildings in Berlin, Germany.
The surname Gilly has also been associated with the city of Marseille in France, where a prominent family of that name played a significant role in the city's maritime trade and commerce during the 17th and 18th centuries. One notable member was Pierre Gilly (1619-1698), a wealthy merchant and shipowner.
Finally, the surname Gilly has been carried by individuals from various other countries, including Scotland, where it is believed to have been introduced through Norman influence. One example is the Scottish novelist and playwright William Gilly (1922-2009), who was known for his works exploring working-class life in Glasgow.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilly 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. Devon leads with 12 Gillys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.15x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 12 | 11.15x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.74x |
| Warwickshire | 8 | 6.14x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 3.44x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.99x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 4.84x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.39x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.88x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 2.25x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.65x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.98x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.44x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 2.06x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 2.24x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Revelstoke in Devon leads with 9 Gillys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Revelstoke | 9 | 9000.00x |
| Birmingham | 8 | 18.42x |
| Darlaston | 5 | 207.47x |
| Holbeach | 4 | 434.78x |
| Kensington London | 4 | 13.92x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 10.36x |
| Ashburton | 2 | 392.16x |
| Friern Barnet | 2 | 175.44x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 4.44x |
| Birtley | 1 | 158.73x |
| Clapham | 1 | 15.48x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 1 | 9.60x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 3.59x |
| Eye | 1 | 434.78x |
| Humbleton Flinton | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Loughton | 1 | 200.00x |
| Lymm | 1 | 120.48x |
| Newington | 1 | 5.24x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 12.06x |
| Shrewsbury St Julian | 1 | 90.91x |
| Stoke Upon Trent | 1 | 5.41x |
| Wandsworth | 1 | 20.12x |
| Whitehaven | 1 | 42.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gilly 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 Gilly 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 Gilly households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Coachman (Dom) | 1 |
| Cook (Dom) | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Fustian Cutter | 1 |
| Gen Labour | 1 |
| General Serv (Domestic) | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Hosler (Inn) | 1 |
| Iron Moulder | 1 |
| Iron Roller | 1 |
| Labourer (Genl) | 1 |
| Law Stationers Clerk | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| N K | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Private School Mistress | 1 |
| Railway Inspector | 1 |
| Shipyard Labourer | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Gilly surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Gilly a modern rank of #35,582.
A contracted form of the medieval given name Gillian.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gilly 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.