NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilroy

A surname of Irish origin meaning "son of the red-haired servant" or "son of the king's servant."

In the 1881 census there were 1,231 people recorded with the Gilroy surname, ranking it #3,290 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,172, ranked #2,979, up from #3,290 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Inveresk, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Niddrie, Northumberland and Strutherhill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilroy is 2,263 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 76.4%.

1881 census count

1,231

Ranked #3,290

Modern count

2,172

2016, ranked #2,979

Peak year

1999

2,263 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilroy had 1,231 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,290 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,172 in 2016, ranked #2,979.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,534 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Gilroy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilroy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gilroy 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 573 #4,441
1861 historical 737 #3,708
1881 historical 1,231 #3,290
1891 historical 1,234 #3,499
1901 historical 1,534 #3,356
1911 historical 922 #4,858
1997 modern 2,166 #2,858
1998 modern 2,204 #2,914
1999 modern 2,263 #2,862
2000 modern 2,211 #2,912
2001 modern 2,140 #2,937
2002 modern 2,157 #2,974
2003 modern 2,102 #2,979
2004 modern 2,073 #3,026
2005 modern 2,070 #2,984
2006 modern 2,099 #2,954
2007 modern 2,128 #2,945
2008 modern 2,144 #2,951
2009 modern 2,180 #2,974
2010 modern 2,243 #2,962
2011 modern 2,222 #2,949
2012 modern 2,124 #3,012
2013 modern 2,155 #3,024
2014 modern 2,183 #3,006
2015 modern 2,161 #3,000
2016 modern 2,172 #2,979

Geography

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Where Gilroys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Inveresk, Govan Combination, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Niddrie, Northumberland, Strutherhill, Bradford and Wiltshire. 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 Inveresk Edinburgh
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Niddrie City of Edinburgh
2 Northumberland 004 Northumberland
3 Strutherhill South Lanarkshire
4 Bradford 047 Bradford
5 Wiltshire 019 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gilroy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gilroy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gilroy, 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 Gilroy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Gilroy 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, Gilroy 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

Gilroy 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

Gilroy falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gilroy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Gilroy

The surname Gilroy has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "gille" meaning "servant" and "ruadh" meaning "red-haired." The name likely referred to a red-haired servant or attendant.

The earliest known reference to the name Gilroy can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appeared as "Gilleroth" in this historical document.

In the 15th century, the Gilroy family held lands in Ayrshire, Scotland. The name was also associated with the village of Gilroy, located in Kincardineshire. This place name likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Gilroy was John Gilroy, who was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1534. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the region.

Another notable figure was Sir John Gilroy (1564-1636), a Scottish soldier and diplomat who served under King James VI of Scotland and later King James I of England. He played a significant role in the negotiations that led to the Union of the Crowns in 1603.

In the 17th century, the Gilroy family established themselves in County Donegal, Ireland. Samuel Gilroy (1628-1703) was a prominent landowner and member of the Irish Parliament, representing the borough of Donegal.

During the 18th century, several members of the Gilroy family emigrated to the American colonies. One such individual was Robert Gilroy (1740-1815), who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Pennsylvania.

In the 19th century, John Gilroy (1819-1892) was a notable Irish-American artist and illustrator, renowned for his political cartoons and caricatures. He is often referred to as the "Father of the American Cartoon."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gilroy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilroy 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. Northumberland leads with 218 Gilroys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.37x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 218 12.37x
Durham 171 4.85x
Midlothian 164 10.34x
Lanarkshire 153 3.99x
Lancashire 127 0.90x
Yorkshire 65 0.55x
Angus 34 3.10x
Surrey 33 0.57x
Roxburghshire 30 13.99x
Cheshire 23 0.88x
Middlesex 21 0.18x
Renfrewshire 20 2.18x
Kent 14 0.35x
Ayrshire 13 1.47x
Hampshire 13 0.54x
Berkshire 11 1.24x
Berwickshire 10 6.97x
Dunbartonshire 9 2.83x
West Lothian 9 5.05x
Dumfriesshire 8 3.06x
East Lothian 8 5.10x
Peeblesshire 8 14.36x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.64x
Fife 7 1.00x
Staffordshire 6 0.15x
Northamptonshire 5 0.45x
Warwickshire 5 0.17x
Cumberland 4 0.39x
Gloucestershire 4 0.17x
Stirlingshire 3 0.69x
Leicestershire 2 0.15x
Selkirkshire 2 1.87x
Somerset 2 0.10x
Derbyshire 1 0.05x
Devon 1 0.04x
Kinross-shire 1 3.34x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.06x
Perthshire 1 0.19x

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 50 Gilroys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.28x.

Place Total Index
Govan 50 5.28x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 46 7.21x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 45 42.76x
Gateshead 35 13.27x
Liverpool 35 4.10x
Everton 23 5.14x
Glasgow 22 3.24x
Westoe 22 11.01x
Dawdon 21 48.47x
Byker 20 22.96x
Leeds 20 3.02x
Dalkeith 16 51.12x
Birkenhead 15 7.20x
Battersea 14 3.21x
Inveresk 14 32.60x
Monifieth 14 36.13x
Barony 13 1.34x
Hawick 13 27.08x
Old Monkland 12 7.90x
Shoreston 12 2352.94x
Tynemouth 12 12.72x
Auckinleck 11 40.09x
Elswick 11 7.82x
Lambeth 11 1.07x
Lanark 11 35.69x
Liberton 11 44.92x
West Calder 11 35.18x
West Greenock 10 6.07x
West Rainton 10 91.74x
Alnwick 9 29.71x
Castleford 9 21.06x
Duddingston 9 28.26x
Halliwell 9 17.60x
Hamilton 9 8.43x
Haswell 9 35.64x
Heworth 9 12.96x
Linlithgow 9 39.35x
Melrose 9 48.52x
Over Darwen 9 8.02x
South Leith 9 5.04x
Southampton St Mary 9 5.90x
Westgate 9 8.25x
Witton Gilbert 9 64.70x
Ayton 8 96.15x
Carluke 8 23.00x
Holy Trinity 8 2.83x
Kyloe 8 197.04x
Maryhill 8 10.67x
Newton 8 150.09x
North Sunderland 8 198.02x
Peebles 8 48.60x
Thornaby 8 18.24x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 7 3.41x
Boldon 7 55.73x
Newton By The Sea 7 686.27x
North Leith 7 9.53x
Tweedmouth 7 31.86x
Wolsingham 7 21.80x
Aspull 6 18.15x
Deptford St Paul 6 1.93x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 6 15.99x
Edinburgh Newington 6 212.01x
Inverkeillor 6 88.24x
Lasswade 6 16.54x
Leemailing 6 800.00x
Nesbit In Glendale 6 1818.18x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 6.57x
Pelton 6 35.80x
Prudhoe 6 48.94x
Stitchel 6 428.57x
Bothwell 5 4.81x
Bray 5 19.14x
Camberwell 5 0.66x
Carham 5 109.65x
Chatton 5 92.42x
Crook Billy Row 5 11.08x
Dryfesdale 5 41.46x
Edinburgh High Church 5 50.20x
Wakefield 5 5.55x
Wolverhampton 5 1.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 68
Margaret 31
Jane 26
Ann 21
Elizabeth 20
Catherine 18
Isabella 13
Sarah 13
Annie 10
Bridget 8
Emma 7
Frances 7
Hannah 7
Ellen 6
Alice 4
Harriet 4
Amelia 3
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Eliza 3
Margt. 3
Martha 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Eliz. 2
Emily 2
Margret 2
Maria 2
Mgt. 2
Penelope 2
Robenah 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Cath. 1
Eden 1
Elizab. 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizia 1
Elizoboth 1
Helen 1
Jamima 1
Janette 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 53
James 52
William 44
Thomas 26
George 14
Michael 13
Edward 12
Peter 12
Andrew 8
Henry 7
Charles 6
Martin 6
Patrick 6
Robert 6
Samuel 6
Alexander 5
Joseph 5
Ralph 5
Daniel 4
Frank 4
Matthew 4
Walter 4
Arthur 3
Bernard 3
Owen 3
Alfred 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Jno. 2
Nicholas 2
Robt. 2
Stoddard 2
Thos. 2
Timothy 2
Albert 1
Anthony 1
Chas. 1
Cuthbert 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Jams 1
Michel 1
Miles 1
Pat 1
Percival 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gilroy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilroy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,231 people were recorded with the Gilroy surname. That placed it at #3,290 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilroy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,172 in 2016. That gives Gilroy a modern rank of #2,979.

What does the Gilroy surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin meaning "son of the red-haired servant" or "son of the king's servant."

What does the Gilroy map show?

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