NameCensus.

UK surname

Gipson

Derived from the medieval personal name Gib or Gibb, a short form of Gilbert, meaning "bright pledge."

In the 1881 census there were 290 people recorded with the Gipson surname, ranking it #9,946 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 377, ranked #12,415, down from #9,946 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry), Waltham, Great and Revesby, Mareham-le-Fen. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Epping Forest and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gipson is 411 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.0%.

1881 census count

290

Ranked #9,946

Modern count

377

2016, ranked #12,415

Peak year

1999

411 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gipson had 290 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,946 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 377 in 2016, ranked #12,415.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 401 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gipson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gipson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gipson 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 401 #6,031
1861 historical 334 #7,631
1881 historical 290 #9,946
1891 historical 267 #12,136
1901 historical 196 #15,329
1911 historical 324 #10,814
1997 modern 390 #11,215
1998 modern 397 #11,400
1999 modern 411 #11,231
2000 modern 404 #11,306
2001 modern 396 #11,307
2002 modern 403 #11,382
2003 modern 373 #11,857
2004 modern 398 #11,321
2005 modern 381 #11,619
2006 modern 369 #11,965
2007 modern 374 #11,974
2008 modern 369 #12,210
2009 modern 375 #12,317
2010 modern 379 #12,483
2011 modern 379 #12,343
2012 modern 374 #12,324
2013 modern 377 #12,449
2014 modern 388 #12,280
2015 modern 383 #12,295
2016 modern 377 #12,415

Geography

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Where Gipsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry), Waltham, Great, Revesby, Mareham-le-Fen, Surlingham and Chartham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, Epping Forest, South Cambridgeshire and Torridge. 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 Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry) Kent
2 Waltham, Great Essex
3 Revesby, Mareham-le-Fen Lincolnshire
4 Surlingham Norfolk
5 Chartham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk
2 South Norfolk 014 South Norfolk
3 Epping Forest 012 Epping Forest
4 South Cambridgeshire 021 South Cambridgeshire
5 Torridge 003 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gipson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gipson

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Gipson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gipson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Gipson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gipson 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

Gipson falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gipson 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 Gipson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gipson

The surname Gipson originated in England. It is believed to have derived from the medieval given name Gibbe, a pet form of Gilbert. The name Gilbert itself is of Germanic origin, coming from the elements "gisil" meaning hostage and "berht" meaning bright or famous.

Gipson is a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally formed by adding the suffix "-son" to the name Gibbe, indicating "son of Gibbe". This practice of creating surnames from a father's given name was common in medieval England and other parts of Europe.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Gipson date back to the late 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, compiled in 1273, there is a mention of a Richard Gibbesone. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also include a Robert Gybbessone.

Over time, the spelling of the surname evolved, with various forms like Gypson, Gybson, and Gipson appearing in historical records. This was due to the lack of standardized spelling in earlier times and variations in pronunciation across different regions.

One notable historical figure with the surname Gipson was Thomas Gipson, a 17th-century English composer and organist. He served as the organist at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford and is known for his contributions to church music.

Another individual of note was John Gipson, a 19th-century English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Surgeons and the National Gallery.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Gipson was William Gipson, born in Virginia in 1746. He fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Kentucky.

Eliza Gipson, born in 1845 in Mississippi, was a renowned teacher and advocate for education during the Reconstruction era in the United States. She founded several schools for African American children in the South.

Henry Gipson, born in 1887 in Arkansas, was a baseball player who played in the Negro Leagues in the early 20th century. He was a talented pitcher and played for several teams, including the Kansas City Monarchs.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gipson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gipson 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. Norfolk leads with 64 Gipsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.76x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 64 14.76x
Kent 29 3.01x
Lincolnshire 25 5.55x
Suffolk 19 5.53x
Yorkshire 18 0.64x
Essex 16 2.88x
Surrey 16 1.16x
Cambridgeshire 13 7.28x
Lancashire 11 0.33x
Durham 9 1.07x
Middlesex 9 0.32x
Angus 7 2.68x
Gloucestershire 7 1.27x
Hampshire 6 1.04x
Monmouthshire 6 2.94x
Northamptonshire 6 2.26x
Aberdeenshire 5 1.92x
Inverness-shire 5 5.94x
Cheshire 4 0.64x
Cornwall 3 0.94x
Hertfordshire 2 1.03x
Huntingdonshire 2 3.57x
Perthshire 2 1.58x
Caithness 1 2.59x
Ross-shire 1 1.29x
Somerset 1 0.22x
Staffordshire 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Surlingham in Norfolk leads with 18 Gipsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3829.79x.

Place Total Index
Surlingham 18 3829.79x
Herne 15 352.11x
Dickleburgh 11 1375.00x
Scole Cum Frenze 10 1587.30x
Camberwell 9 5.00x
Needham 9 2903.23x
Diss 8 215.05x
Pinchbeck 8 276.82x
West Ham 8 6.51x
Westhall 8 1904.76x
Dundee 7 7.18x
Gateshead 7 11.15x
Bermondsey 6 7.15x
Holybourne 6 1052.63x
Hulme 6 8.59x
March 6 100.33x
Mareham Le Fen 6 845.07x
Mile End Old Town London 6 10.00x
Ormesby 6 79.89x
Orsett 6 413.79x
Peterborough 6 31.25x
Aberystruth 5 27.84x
Inverness 5 23.61x
Mexborough 5 90.25x
Faversham 4 43.62x
Frodingham 4 248.45x
Frostenden 4 1081.08x
Logie Buchan 4 533.33x
Ospringe 4 338.98x
Sale 4 52.42x
Scamblesby 4 1142.86x
Walsoken 4 153.26x
Wigan 4 8.56x
Barham 3 306.12x
Cheltenham 3 7.03x
Thorpe Next Norwich 3 65.36x
Wisbech St Peter 3 33.52x
Aldringham 2 408.16x
Beccles 2 36.17x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 2 25.67x
Falmouth 2 17.70x
Great Dunmow 2 68.97x
Guiting Power 2 333.33x
Hackney London 2 1.27x
Holton 2 454.55x
Potter Newton 2 40.57x
Quenington 2 540.54x
Ramsey 2 44.64x
St Albans St Peter 2 30.49x
Barnsley 1 3.47x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.82x
Bishopsoil 1 588.24x
Bungay St Mary 1 58.82x
Burnham 1 28.90x
Charlton 1 15.65x
Chatham 1 3.78x
Cowfold 1 99.01x
Dalby 1 666.67x
Doddington 1 76.34x
Dunnet 1 64.52x
Gaywood 1 128.21x
Hetton Le Hole 1 9.41x
Kenwyn 1 11.98x
Newport 1 10.29x
Nigg 1 103.09x
Norton In Moors 1 19.84x
Perth Middle Church 1 21.01x
Peterhead 1 7.24x
Richmond 1 5.19x
Selby 1 17.12x
Southowram 1 11.72x
Spalding 1 11.17x
St Botolph Lincoln 1 30.86x
St Martins 1 138.89x
Sunderland 1 6.75x
Walton Le Dale 1 11.12x
Whittlesey St Mary St 1 16.03x
Wouldham 1 81.97x
York St Maurice 1 19.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Sarah 11
Elizabeth 9
Eliza 8
Emily 7
Jane 6
Ann 5
Hannah 5
Harriet 5
Emma 4
Kate 4
Lucy 4
Alice 3
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Martha 3
Fanny 2
Louisa 2
Rachel 2
Rosannah 2
Agnes 1
Angelina 1
Bridget 1
Caroe. 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Deborah 1
Elen 1
Elfrida 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgeianna 1
Georgianah 1
Hariot 1
Harriett 1
Hillery 1
Laura 1
Mable 1
Mahala 1
Malinda 1
Maria 1
Mathilda 1
May 1
Mercy 1
Millicent 1
Rosa 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 18
William 15
James 13
John 10
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Henry 5
Robert 5
Thomas 4
Walter 4
Benjamian 3
Charles 3
Joseph 3
Albert 2
David 2
Edgar 2
Elijah 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Oliver 2
Abraham 1
Anderson 1
Anthony 1
Augustus 1
Auther 1
Bertie 1
Carry 1
Chas. 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Lucas 1
Mark 1
Moses 1
Orlando 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Gipson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gipson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 290 people were recorded with the Gipson surname. That placed it at #9,946 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gipson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 377 in 2016. That gives Gipson a modern rank of #12,415.

What does the Gipson surname mean?

Derived from the medieval personal name Gib or Gibb, a short form of Gilbert, meaning "bright pledge."

What does the Gipson map show?

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