UK surname
A variant spelling of the Scottish Gaelic surname Gillmore, meaning "son of the tonsured servant."
In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Gilmor surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #30,464 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Banchory-Ternan, Markinch and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilmor is 113 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 77.3%.
1881 census count
22
Ranked #30,464
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1851
113 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gilmor surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gilmor surname density by area, 1851 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 | 113 | #15,815 |
| 1861 | historical | 88 | #22,554 |
| 1881 | historical | 22 | #30,464 |
| 1891 | historical | 31 | #31,820 |
| 1901 | historical | 33 | #30,384 |
| 1911 | historical | 8 | #32,903 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 11 | #36,917 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 4 | #38,287 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 7 | #37,909 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Banchory-Ternan, Markinch, Govan Combination, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Liverpool. 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 | Banchory-Ternan | Kincardine |
| 2 | Markinch | Fife |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a | Essex |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gilmor 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 Gilmor, 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 Gilmor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gilmor 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, Gilmor 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 Gilmor is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gilmor, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gilmor is believed to have originated in Scotland, where it first appeared in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Gillemor," which means "servant of Mary." This name was likely taken by an early bearer who was devoted to the Virgin Mary or may have been born on her feast day.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. In this document, the name appears as "Gylmor."
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name Gilmor was concentrated in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. It is believed that the name may have been associated with the lands of Gilmour in Renfrewshire, which could have been granted to an early bearer of the name.
In the 16th century, the surname began to appear in various spellings, such as Gilmour, Gilmore, and Gillmor. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Sir John Gilmour (c. 1530-1603), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1578.
Over the centuries, the Gilmor family spread to other parts of Scotland and beyond. In the 17th century, Robert Gilmor (1635-1705) was a Scottish merchant and landowner who established himself in the Burgh of Canongate, near Edinburgh.
As the name spread to other regions, it also took on different spellings and variations. In Ireland, for instance, the name was sometimes spelled as Gilmer or Gildmore. One notable Irish bearer of the name was Andrew Gilmore (1828-1901), a Protestant nationalist and Member of Parliament for County Down.
In the United States, the Gilmor family has roots dating back to the 18th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is Robert Gilmor (1748-1834), a prominent Baltimore merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the city's economic and social life during the early years of the republic.
Other notable individuals with the surname Gilmor include William Gilmor (1791-1872), a Scottish-born American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the shipping industry; and Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet (1876-1940), a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Scotland from 1924 to 1929.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilmor 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 8 Gilmors recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.50x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeenshire | 8 | 38.50x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.78x |
| Durham | 3 | 4.49x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.83x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 2.17x |
| Isle of Man | 1 | 23.98x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 1.38x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.38x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 9.93x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 12.08x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Belhelvie in Aberdeenshire leads with 7 Gilmors recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gilmor 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 Gilmor 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 Gilmor households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Barristers Clerk | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Farmer 30 Acres | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourers Wife | 1 |
| Laundry Maid | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Seaman RN | 1 |
| Sugar House Labourer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Gilmor surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Gilmor a modern rank of #38,264.
A variant spelling of the Scottish Gaelic surname Gillmore, meaning "son of the tonsured servant."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gilmor 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.