NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilmartin

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Mhártain," meaning "son of the servant of Saint Martin."

In the 1881 census there were 195 people recorded with the Gilmartin surname, ranking it #13,054 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,426, ranked #4,288, up from #13,054 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, Northumberland and The Glens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilmartin is 1,455 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 631.3%.

1881 census count

195

Ranked #13,054

Modern count

1,426

2016, ranked #4,288

Peak year

2010

1,455 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilmartin had 195 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,054 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,426 in 2016, ranked #4,288.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 380 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Gilmartin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilmartin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gilmartin 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 73 #20,581
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 195 #13,054
1891 historical 261 #12,337
1901 historical 380 #9,823
1911 historical 187 #15,600
1997 modern 1,360 #4,234
1998 modern 1,420 #4,225
1999 modern 1,411 #4,273
2000 modern 1,380 #4,343
2001 modern 1,342 #4,361
2002 modern 1,366 #4,378
2003 modern 1,358 #4,321
2004 modern 1,336 #4,394
2005 modern 1,322 #4,380
2006 modern 1,351 #4,316
2007 modern 1,382 #4,269
2008 modern 1,407 #4,243
2009 modern 1,429 #4,270
2010 modern 1,455 #4,286
2011 modern 1,422 #4,316
2012 modern 1,421 #4,252
2013 modern 1,427 #4,306
2014 modern 1,449 #4,286
2015 modern 1,423 #4,303
2016 modern 1,426 #4,288

Geography

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Where Gilmartins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Gateshead, Manchester, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, Northumberland, The Glens, Charleston and Hyndburn. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 044 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Northumberland 016 Northumberland
3 The Glens Dundee City
4 Charleston Dundee City
5 Hyndburn 001 Hyndburn

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gilmartin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gilmartin

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Gilmartin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Gilmartin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Gilmartin is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gilmartin is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gilmartin falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gilmartin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Gilmartin

The surname Gilmartin originated in Ireland, deriving from the Gaelic personal name "Gilmartain" or "Gilmartan." This name is a combination of the elements "Gil," meaning "bright" or "servant," and "Martain," which is derived from the Latin name "Martinus," meaning "of Mars" or "warlike."

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 12th century in County Sligo, where it was associated with the Ui Briuin sept, a branch of the larger Connacht dynasty. The name was prominent in this region, particularly in the baronies of Carbury and Leyny.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was Fearghal Óg Gilmartin, who was a chieftain of the Ui Briuin sept in County Sligo. He played a significant role in the Nine Years' War (1593-1603) against English forces.

Another historical figure was Malachy Gilmartin (c. 1625-1679), an Irish Franciscan friar who served as the Bishop of Ardagh in County Longford from 1670 until his death. He was known for his efforts in promoting Catholic education and preserving religious heritage during a period of religious persecution.

In the 18th century, John Gilmartin (1725-1799) was a prominent Irish landowner and politician from County Mayo. He served as a Member of the Irish Parliament for the constituency of Sligo Borough from 1761 to 1768.

Moving to the 19th century, William Gilmartin (1808-1870) was an Irish-born architect who immigrated to the United States and designed several notable buildings in New York City, including the Old Metropolitan Opera House and the former New York World Building.

Another notable bearer of the name was Charles Gilmartin (1856-1924), an Irish-American politician who served as the 39th Mayor of Syracuse, New York, from 1908 to 1912.

The surname Gilmartin has also been recorded with various spelling variations over time, including Gilmarten, Gilmartyn, Kilmartin, and Kilmartyn, reflecting the regional dialects and phonetic adaptations across different parts of Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gilmartin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilmartin 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. Lanarkshire leads with 54 Gilmartins recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.82x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 54 8.82x
Lancashire 43 1.92x
Angus 26 14.83x
Yorkshire 23 1.23x
Cheshire 9 2.15x
Durham 7 1.24x
Selkirkshire 7 40.89x
Ayrshire 4 2.82x
Midlothian 4 1.58x
Renfrewshire 4 2.73x
Devon 2 0.51x
East Lothian 2 7.98x
Fife 2 1.79x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.83x
Cornwall 1 0.47x
Hampshire 1 0.26x
Kent 1 0.15x
Merionethshire 1 2.89x
Perthshire 1 1.18x
Surrey 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 23 Gilmartins recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.20x.

Place Total Index
Govan 23 15.20x
Dundee 21 32.09x
Much Woolton 11 360.66x
Old Monkland 11 45.30x
Pontefract 10 247.52x
New Monkland 8 44.22x
Barony 7 4.52x
Great Harwood 7 172.41x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 28.71x
Melrose 7 162.41x
Monks Coppenhall 7 44.42x
Newton 7 40.44x
Liff Benvie 5 18.79x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 3.92x
Manchester 4 3.96x
Oldham 4 5.52x
Sutton Stoneferry 4 74.63x
Bradford 3 6.61x
Glasgow 3 2.76x
Kilbarchan 3 67.42x
Muirkirk 3 90.09x
Rishton 3 114.07x
Abbotshall 2 47.73x
Haddington 2 54.05x
Lanark 2 40.65x
Leeds 2 1.89x
Ovenden 2 23.98x
Plymouth Charles The 2 11.53x
Aldershot 1 7.70x
Battersea 1 1.44x
Blackburn 1 1.67x
Castleford 1 14.64x
Cheetham 1 5.97x
Chester St John Baptist 1 13.32x
Dull 1 58.82x
Falmouth 1 13.19x
Festiniog 1 13.68x
Higher Bebington 1 37.45x
Holbeck 1 8.05x
Hougham 1 26.04x
Irvine 1 25.45x
Liverpool 1 0.73x
Royton 1 14.56x
Spotland 1 4.01x
Toxteth Park 1 1.32x
West Derby 1 1.52x
West Greenock 1 3.80x
Wisbech St Peter 1 16.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Ann 6
Bridget 4
Elizabeth 2
Julia 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Sarah 2
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bridgett 1
Ellen 1
Helen 1
Hester 1
Kate 1
Maggie 1
Margt. 1
Sabina 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
Michael 6
James 3
Anthony 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Luke 2
Matthew 2
Patrick 2
Peter 2
Bernard 1
Hugh 1
Mark 1
Myles 1
Pat 1
Stephen 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
William 1

FAQ

Gilmartin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilmartin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 195 people were recorded with the Gilmartin surname. That placed it at #13,054 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilmartin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,426 in 2016. That gives Gilmartin a modern rank of #4,288.

What does the Gilmartin surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "Mac Giolla Mhártain," meaning "son of the servant of Saint Martin."

What does the Gilmartin map show?

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