NameCensus.

UK surname

Girdler

An occupational surname referring to one who made girdles or belts.

In the 1881 census there were 261 people recorded with the Girdler surname, ranking it #10,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 419, ranked #11,445, down from #10,752 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Swallowfield, Odiham and Kingsclere. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dover, Cornwall and South Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Girdler is 464 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.5%.

1881 census count

261

Ranked #10,752

Modern count

419

2016, ranked #11,445

Peak year

1998

464 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Girdler had 261 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,752 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016, ranked #11,445.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 394 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Girdler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Girdler surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Girdler 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 161 #12,288
1861 historical 126 #17,569
1881 historical 261 #10,752
1891 historical 267 #12,136
1901 historical 346 #10,516
1911 historical 394 #9,394
1997 modern 440 #10,247
1998 modern 464 #10,169
1999 modern 458 #10,325
2000 modern 462 #10,212
2001 modern 452 #10,192
2002 modern 452 #10,408
2003 modern 433 #10,614
2004 modern 425 #10,779
2005 modern 417 #10,833
2006 modern 399 #11,282
2007 modern 403 #11,315
2008 modern 404 #11,374
2009 modern 418 #11,309
2010 modern 421 #11,519
2011 modern 418 #11,440
2012 modern 413 #11,451
2013 modern 427 #11,325
2014 modern 427 #11,393
2015 modern 423 #11,392
2016 modern 419 #11,445

Geography

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Where Girdlers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Swallowfield, Odiham, Kingsclere, London parishes and Crondall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dover, Cornwall and South Oxfordshire. 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 Swallowfield Berkshire
2 Odiham Hampshire
3 Kingsclere Hampshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 Crondall Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dover 005 Dover
2 Cornwall 011 Cornwall
3 Dover 007 Dover
4 South Oxfordshire 019 South Oxfordshire
5 Cornwall 039 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Girdler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Girdler

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Girdler, 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 Girdler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Girdler 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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Girdler is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Girdler is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Girdler falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Girdler is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Girdler

The surname Girdler originated in England during the Middle Ages. It derived from the Old English word 'girdlere', which referred to a maker or seller of girdles, a type of belt worn by both men and women at that time. The earliest known recorded spelling is from the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it appears as 'le Girdlere'.

Girdlers were considered skilled tradesmen, as girdles required intricate designs and metalwork. They often worked with precious metals and gemstones, making their craft a respected occupation. The name appeared in various medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where 'Johannes Girdeler' is mentioned.

One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was William Girdler, a merchant and alderman in the City of London, who lived during the 14th century. He is recorded in the Letter Books of the City of London in 1368.

By the 16th century, the name had spread across England, with notable figures including Robert Girdler (c.1510-1592), a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions under Queen Mary I. Another prominent individual was Thomas Girdler (c.1550-1621), a merchant and benefactor who endowed a school in Hertfordshire.

During the 17th century, the surname Girdler appeared in various parish records and documents. One notable example is John Girdler (1632-1697), a Puritan minister and author from Wiltshire, who wrote several religious works.

In the 18th century, James Girdler (1713-1783) was a prominent London merchant and philanthropist, known for his support of various charitable causes. Another notable figure was Samuel Girdler (1737-1804), a clockmaker from Worcestershire, who is credited with several innovative clock designs.

As the surname spread across the British Isles and beyond, it also acquired various spellings and variations, such as Girdeler, Girdeller, and Girdlestone, reflecting regional dialects and scribal errors in historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Girdler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Girdler 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. Hampshire leads with 77 Girdlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.76x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 77 14.76x
Surrey 73 5.88x
Middlesex 46 1.81x
Berkshire 34 17.79x
Lancashire 9 0.30x
Kent 6 0.69x
Essex 4 0.80x
Sussex 4 0.93x
Yorkshire 3 0.12x
Pembrokeshire 2 2.47x
Monmouthshire 1 0.54x
Northumberland 1 0.26x
Oxfordshire 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingsclere in Hampshire leads with 20 Girdlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 840.34x.

Place Total Index
Kingsclere 20 840.34x
Newington 17 18.08x
Odiham 15 655.02x
Battersea 14 14.94x
West Swallowfield 12 1318.68x
Lambeth 10 4.50x
Aldershot 8 45.77x
Chiswick 8 57.51x
Godstone 8 360.36x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 14.59x
Crondall 7 250.00x
Feltham 7 275.59x
Reading St Giles 7 37.33x
Deptford St Paul 6 8.96x
Greywell 6 2222.22x
Newbury 6 98.04x
Hartley Wintney 5 318.47x
Kensington London 5 3.53x
Mortlake 5 90.42x
Hackney London 4 2.80x
Hayes 4 153.85x
New Alresford 4 296.30x
Reading St Mary 4 26.13x
Shalford 4 291.97x
South Weald 4 93.02x
Bermondsey 3 3.96x
Bosham 3 275.23x
Dogmersfield 3 1153.85x
Hammersmith London 3 4.78x
Islington London 3 1.22x
Southwark St John 3 38.51x
St Bartholomew Great 3 129.31x
St Faith Winchester 3 123.46x
St Pancras London 3 1.46x
Westminster St John 3 9.67x
Yateley 3 303.03x
Aldworth 2 833.33x
Bradfield 2 198.02x
Camberwell 2 1.23x
Croydon 2 2.90x
Haverfordwest St Mary 2 172.41x
Hornsey 2 6.21x
Streatham 2 10.59x
Stretford 2 12.03x
Basingstoke 1 16.67x
Brighton 1 1.15x
Brightside Bierlow 1 2.02x
Clapham 1 3.14x
Jesmond 1 18.76x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.36x
Newport 1 11.39x
Portsea 1 0.98x
Sigglesthorne 1 526.32x
Stoke Lyne 1 208.33x
Stratfield Turgis 1 588.24x
Thatcham 1 34.01x
Thorpe 1 185.19x
Thorpe Salvin 1 312.50x
Twickenham 1 9.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 16
Emily 8
Mary 8
Sarah 8
Caroline 7
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Kate 5
Martha 5
Eliza 4
Jane 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Ann 3
Grace 3
Lucy 3
Amy 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Harriet 2
Selina 2
Allice 1
Amie 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Augusta 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Fanda 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
Letitia 1
Lidia 1
Lizzie 1
Lucia 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Minnie 1
P. 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1
Rosetta 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
George 14
Charles 11
John 10
James 9
Thomas 8
Alfred 6
Henry 5
Albert 3
Arthur 2
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
David 1
Earl 1
Fredrick 1
G.T. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Jesse 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Girdler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Girdler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 261 people were recorded with the Girdler surname. That placed it at #10,752 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Girdler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016. That gives Girdler a modern rank of #11,445.

What does the Girdler surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to one who made girdles or belts.

What does the Girdler map show?

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