NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilmore

A Scottish and Irish surname derived from a place name meaning "big servant" or "follower of the servant of Mary."

In the 1881 census there were 1,734 people recorded with the Gilmore surname, ranking it #2,492 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,550, ranked #1,907, up from #2,492 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Keppochhill, Doon Valley North and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilmore is 3,701 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 104.7%.

1881 census count

1,734

Ranked #2,492

Modern count

3,550

2016, ranked #1,907

Peak year

2010

3,701 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilmore had 1,734 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,492 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,550 in 2016, ranked #1,907.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,112 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Gilmore surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilmore surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gilmore 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 768 #3,478
1861 historical 945 #2,933
1881 historical 1,734 #2,492
1891 historical 1,805 #2,545
1901 historical 2,019 #2,649
1911 historical 2,112 #2,368
1997 modern 3,421 #1,891
1998 modern 3,552 #1,899
1999 modern 3,590 #1,895
2000 modern 3,527 #1,925
2001 modern 3,440 #1,927
2002 modern 3,556 #1,909
2003 modern 3,491 #1,897
2004 modern 3,435 #1,925
2005 modern 3,375 #1,934
2006 modern 3,390 #1,916
2007 modern 3,452 #1,903
2008 modern 3,478 #1,910
2009 modern 3,574 #1,909
2010 modern 3,701 #1,877
2011 modern 3,639 #1,884
2012 modern 3,583 #1,877
2013 modern 3,641 #1,885
2014 modern 3,601 #1,910
2015 modern 3,556 #1,919
2016 modern 3,550 #1,907

Geography

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Where Gilmores are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Keppochhill, Doon Valley North, Northumberland, Arran and Trafford. 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 Gateshead Durham
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Keppochhill Glasgow City
2 Doon Valley North East Ayrshire
3 Northumberland 038 Northumberland
4 Arran North Ayrshire
5 Trafford 017 Trafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gilmore

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gilmore

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gilmore is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gilmore is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gilmore 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 Gilmore 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 Gilmore, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gilmore

The surname Gilmore has its origins in Scotland, first appearing in written records in the 12th century. It is believed to derive from the Gaelic words "gill" meaning a small stream or ravine, and "mor" meaning large or great, thus suggesting the name may have referred to someone living near a significant stream or valley.

Early references to variations of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. Entries such as Gillemor and Gilmor appear in these records, indicating the name's Scottish roots.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Gilmores were a prominent family in Galloway, with their lands centered around the parish of Mochrum in Wigtownshire. They were allies of the powerful Black Douglases and fought alongside them in many conflicts against the English.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name was Sir John Gilmour, who was knighted by King Robert the Bruce in the early 14th century for his bravery in the Wars of Scottish Independence. Another notable figure was William Gilmore, who served as Provost of Edinburgh in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Gilmores were among the Scottish families who migrated to Ulster, Ireland, during the Plantation of Ulster. They settled in County Down and County Antrim, and their descendants would later play a significant role in the American Revolutionary War.

One such descendant was Andrew Gilmore (1737-1792), an Irish-born American soldier and politician who served as a Brigadier General in the Continental Army and later represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Sir Samuel Gilmore (1887-1966), an Irish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland from 1944 to 1953.

In the literary world, Mary Gilmore (1865-1962) was a celebrated Australian poet and author, known for her works depicting the lives of the country's working class and advocating for social reform.

The name Gilmore has also been associated with several place names, such as Gilmorehill in Glasgow, Scotland, and the town of Gilmore City in Iowa, United States, which was named after a local landowner.

Overall, the surname Gilmore has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with branches extending to Ireland, North America, and beyond, reflecting the migrations and achievements of those who bore this name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gilmore families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilmore 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 413 Gilmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.03x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 413 2.03x
Durham 170 3.34x
Yorkshire 160 0.94x
Middlesex 154 0.90x
Hampshire 75 2.14x
Staffordshire 59 1.02x
Lanarkshire 58 1.05x
Surrey 47 0.56x
Kent 43 0.74x
Cumberland 40 2.71x
Norfolk 40 1.52x
Northumberland 39 1.53x
Midlothian 35 1.53x
Monmouthshire 35 2.83x
Somerset 29 1.05x
Aberdeenshire 28 1.77x
Essex 26 0.77x
Ayrshire 23 1.80x
Cheshire 23 0.61x
Warwickshire 23 0.53x
East Lothian 22 9.70x
Devon 21 0.59x
Berkshire 20 1.56x
Gloucestershire 20 0.60x
Hertfordshire 18 1.53x
Wiltshire 17 1.12x
Isle of Man 16 5.03x
Wigtownshire 12 5.28x
Lincolnshire 9 0.33x
Renfrewshire 8 0.60x
Sussex 8 0.28x
Angus 7 0.44x
Banffshire 7 1.97x
Carmarthenshire 7 0.97x
Leicestershire 7 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.22x
Glamorgan 3 0.10x
Montgomeryshire 3 0.76x
Ross-shire 3 0.64x
Channel Islands 2 0.39x
Derbyshire 2 0.07x
Herefordshire 2 0.28x
Royal Navy 2 0.98x
Shropshire 2 0.14x
Suffolk 2 0.10x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.10x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.22x
Flintshire 1 0.22x
Kincardineshire 1 0.48x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.40x
Northamptonshire 1 0.06x
Roxburghshire 1 0.32x
Rutland 1 0.80x
West Lothian 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 54 Gilmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.38x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 54 4.38x
Bradford 34 8.28x
Manchester 34 3.72x
Bishopwearmouth 32 7.32x
Leeds 28 2.92x
Newcastle Under Lyme 24 23.47x
Oldham 24 3.66x
Openshaw 22 23.12x
St Woollos 22 15.93x
Everton 21 3.24x
Gateshead 21 5.51x
Mile End Old Town London 21 5.76x
Toxteth Park 19 2.76x
Aldershot 18 15.31x
Easton In Gordano 18 162.31x
Glasgow 18 1.83x
Ashton Under Lyne 17 3.83x
Dundonald 17 35.99x
Andover 16 48.27x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 16 1.73x
Heigham 16 11.33x
Norwich St Benedict 15 127.88x
Woolwich 15 6.95x
Barony 14 1.00x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 13 5.89x
Shoreditch London 13 1.75x
Birmingham 12 0.83x
Huddersfield 12 4.86x
Islington London 12 0.72x
Lambeth 12 0.80x
Portsea 12 1.74x
Shadwell London 12 25.05x
Westminster St John 12 5.76x
Hopwood 11 41.42x
Hunslet 11 4.16x
South Leith 11 4.26x
Workington 11 13.03x
Burslem 10 6.04x
Cassop 10 284.90x
Dunbar 10 31.46x
Govan 10 0.73x
Monmouth 10 30.47x
Reading St Giles 10 7.93x
Salford 10 1.67x
Bishops Sutton 9 358.57x
Cheadle 9 12.47x
Holy Trinity 9 2.21x
Southwick 9 18.66x
Stoneykirk 9 55.35x
Thornaby 9 14.20x
Alston 8 29.46x
Barnard Castle 8 31.77x
Battersea 8 1.27x
Beswick 8 15.40x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.08x
Blackburn 8 1.48x
Bootle Cum Linacre 8 4.96x
Boston 8 9.63x
Bovingdon 8 129.45x
Chapel Of Garioch 8 70.92x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 2.48x
Deptford St Paul 8 1.78x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 2.32x
Edgbaston 8 5.98x
Kensington London 8 0.84x
Middlesbrough 8 3.62x
Over Darwen 8 4.93x
Springfield 8 54.02x
St Marylebone London 8 0.88x
St Pancras London 8 0.58x
Stranton 8 4.67x
West Derby 8 1.35x
Willesden 8 4.96x
Liddiard Tregooze 7 180.88x
Llanelly 7 4.31x
Lonan 7 36.34x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 4.60x
Old Monkland 7 3.19x
Paddington London 7 1.11x
West Ham 7 0.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 137
Elizabeth 62
Margaret 43
Sarah 40
Ellen 32
Catherine 31
Ann 28
Jane 26
Annie 23
Martha 20
Eliza 19
Alice 17
Bridget 17
Louisa 12
Emma 11
Maria 10
Charlotte 9
Isabella 9
Kate 9
Emily 8
Harriet 8
Susan 8
Agnes 7
Edith 7
Hannah 7
Bessie 5
Elizth. 5
Florence 5
Jessie 5
Rose 5
Ada 4
Caroline 4
Julia 4
Selina 4
Anne 3
Betsy 3
Esther 3
Harriett 3
Lilly 3
Maggie 3
Margret 3
Matilda 3
May 3
Rachel 3
Rebecca 3
Ethel 2
Lucy 2
Madeline 2
Margt. 2
Wineford 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 131
William 84
James 72
Thomas 71
George 44
Charles 24
Joseph 22
Patrick 22
Robert 18
Edward 16
Henry 16
Michael 16
Arthur 15
Samuel 12
Andrew 10
Hugh 10
Alfred 8
Daniel 8
Frederick 8
Wm. 8
Albert 7
Peter 7
Francis 6
Martin 6
Ernest 5
Richard 5
Anthony 4
David 4
Edmund 4
Alexander 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Robt. 3
Walter 3
Abraham 2
Barnard 2
Bernard 2
Denis 2
Edgar 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Horace 2
Jesse 2
Sydney 2
Timothy 2
Eli 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Gilmore surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilmore surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,734 people were recorded with the Gilmore surname. That placed it at #2,492 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilmore surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,550 in 2016. That gives Gilmore a modern rank of #1,907.

What does the Gilmore surname mean?

A Scottish and Irish surname derived from a place name meaning "big servant" or "follower of the servant of Mary."

What does the Gilmore map show?

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