NameCensus.

UK surname

Gist

An occupational surname for someone who performed or sold heroic deeds or adventures, derived from Middle English "geste."

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Gist surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 136, ranked #25,377, down from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kilkhampton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and St Teath. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Cornwall and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gist is 152 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.2%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

136

2016, ranked #25,377

Peak year

2013

152 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gist had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016, ranked #25,377.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 137 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gist surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gist surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gist 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 135 #13,964
1861 historical 79 #23,702
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 137 #19,501
1901 historical 130 #19,649
1911 historical 125 #19,932
1997 modern 131 #22,927
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 143 #22,521
2000 modern 140 #22,752
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 138 #23,094
2003 modern 141 #22,549
2004 modern 138 #22,997
2005 modern 127 #24,178
2006 modern 135 #23,486
2007 modern 132 #24,166
2008 modern 127 #25,020
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 138 #24,801
2011 modern 144 #23,962
2012 modern 137 #24,731
2013 modern 152 #23,438
2014 modern 144 #24,504
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 136 #25,377

Geography

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Where Gists are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kilkhampton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Teath, Stoke Climsland and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, Cornwall and North Devon. 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 Kilkhampton Cornwall
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 St Teath Cornwall
4 Stoke Climsland Cornwall
5 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 004 Torridge
2 Cornwall 013 Cornwall
3 Torridge 005 Torridge
4 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
5 North Devon 012 North Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gist

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gist

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gist 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

Gist 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gist

The surname Gist has its origins in medieval England, where it first emerged in the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "giste," meaning a resting place or lodging, and was likely given to an innkeeper or someone who provided accommodations for travelers.

One of the earliest known references to the name Gist can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1175, where a Robert Gist is recorded. The surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1273, suggesting the name had spread across various regions of England by that time.

During the 13th century, the name Gist was sometimes spelled as "Ghist" or "Gyst," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling that were common in the Middle Ages. The surname was also associated with certain place names, such as Gistborough in Yorkshire, which may have influenced the development of the name in some families.

Notable individuals with the surname Gist throughout history include Sir William Gist (1538-1611), an English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Christopher Gist (1706-1759), an American explorer and surveyor who played a significant role in the early settlement of the Ohio Valley region.

In the 18th century, Mordecai Gist (1743-1792) was a prominent American lawyer and statesman who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress. His cousin, Nathaniel Gist (1787-1857), was a successful businessman and landowner in South Carolina.

During the American Civil War, Brigadier General Samuel Gist (1838-1918) served in the Confederate Army and was known for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

Throughout its history, the surname Gist has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. It has also traveled to other parts of the world, including North America, where it has been borne by numerous individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities and societies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gist families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gist 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. Cornwall leads with 46 Gists recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.30x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 46 35.30x
Devon 32 13.36x
Gloucestershire 17 7.53x
Northamptonshire 5 4.62x
Glamorgan 4 2.00x
Leicestershire 3 2.35x
Durham 2 0.58x
Middlesex 2 0.17x
Oxfordshire 2 2.81x
Somerset 2 1.08x
Bedfordshire 1 1.68x
Royal Navy 1 7.29x
Sussex 1 0.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilkhampton in Cornwall leads with 23 Gists recorded in 1881 and an index of 6052.63x.

Place Total Index
Kilkhampton 23 6052.63x
Hartland 10 1333.33x
St Teath 8 1025.64x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 37.92x
Stoke Climsland 6 722.89x
Bristol St Paul In 5 83.19x
Wear Gifford 5 2777.78x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 18.82x
Stratton 4 563.38x
Swansea Town 4 24.35x
Bristol St Michael 3 154.64x
East Stonehouse 3 63.56x
Leire 3 2727.27x
Linkinhorne 3 329.67x
Spratton 3 937.50x
Bridgerule West 2 2222.22x
Chilton 2 186.92x
Kings Cliffe 2 400.00x
Scilly Islands 2 869.57x
Stanton St John 2 909.09x
Barnstaple 1 26.60x
Bedford St Paul 1 24.45x
Bishops Hull 1 166.67x
Bristol St Augustine 1 27.47x
Didbrook 1 1111.11x
Finchley 1 22.68x
Fretherne 1 1111.11x
Hastings St Leonards 1 35.09x
Kensington London 1 1.56x
Kingscote 1 909.09x
Northam 1 57.14x
Plymouth Charles The 1 9.47x
Royal Navy 1 8.53x
St Decumans 1 555.56x
West Teignmouth 1 54.64x
Winchcomb 1 89.29x
Woolfardisworthy 1 285.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 10
Elizabeth 10
Mary 8
Alice 5
Eliza 4
Jane 3
Joanna 2
Sarah 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Celey 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Isabel 1
Julia 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
Maud 1
Polly 1
Priscilla 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1
Thomazine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
George 5
Henry 5
James 5
William 5
Samuel 4
Richard 3
Hy. 2
Charles 1
Chas.Hy. 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Joseph 1
Robert 1
Roger 1
Stephen 1
Theophillis 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gist surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gist surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Gist surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gist surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 136 in 2016. That gives Gist a modern rank of #25,377.

What does the Gist surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who performed or sold heroic deeds or adventures, derived from Middle English "geste."

What does the Gist map show?

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