UK surname
An English surname derived from a place name meaning "bright hill" or "glad hill."
In the 1881 census there were 24 people recorded with the Gladhill surname, ranking it #30,215 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 18, ranked #36,832, down from #30,215 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport (Romiley), No Mans Land, Halifax and Birstall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gladhill is 273 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.0%.
1881 census count
24
Ranked #30,215
Modern count
18
2016, ranked #36,832
Peak year
1861
273 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gladhill surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gladhill surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 61 | #22,412 |
| 1861 | historical | 273 | #9,134 |
| 1881 | historical | 24 | #30,215 |
| 1891 | historical | 174 | #16,520 |
| 1901 | historical | 63 | #27,134 |
| 1911 | historical | 124 | #20,023 |
| 1997 | modern | 15 | #36,409 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 15 | #36,476 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 12 | #36,612 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 9 | #37,302 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 15 | #37,038 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 17 | #36,887 |
| 2016 | modern | 18 | #36,832 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport (Romiley), No Mans Land, Halifax, Birstall, Almondbury and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockport (Romiley), No Mans Land | Cheshire |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Birstall | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Almondbury | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gladhill surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gladhill, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Gladhill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gladhill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Gladhill is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gladhill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gladhill, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gladhill is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "glæd" meaning "bright" or "shining" and "hyll" meaning "hill." It is believed to have originated in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, where the name was likely used to describe someone who lived on or near a bright or sunny hill.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Gladhill can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from the year 1332, where a John de Gladhill was listed as a resident of the parish of Whalley. The name is also found in various medieval records and manuscripts from the 14th and 15th centuries, often appearing with slight variations in spelling, such as Gledhill, Gladhull, and Glaydhill.
In the 16th century, the surname Gladhill appears in the parish records of Rochdale, Lancashire, where a Richard Gladhill was born in 1587. Another notable bearer of the name was William Gladhill, a prominent landowner and yeoman from the village of Haworth in Yorkshire, who was born in 1612 and died in 1687.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname Gladhill spread across various parts of England, with several individuals bearing the name achieving notable positions. One such person was John Gladhill (1705-1789), a wealthy merchant and landowner from the city of Bristol, who served as a member of the city's council and was known for his philanthropic efforts.
Another notable figure was Thomas Gladhill (1732-1812), a renowned botanist and naturalist from Derbyshire, who made significant contributions to the study of British flora and fauna. His extensive collection of plant specimens is still preserved at the Natural History Museum in London.
In the 19th century, the surname Gladhill continued to be found throughout England, with several individuals bearing the name achieving prominence in various fields. One such individual was William Gladhill (1818-1892), a successful entrepreneur and industrialist from Lancashire, who founded the Gladhill Cotton Mills and played a significant role in the region's textile industry.
As the history of the surname Gladhill illustrates, it has a deep-rooted connection to the English countryside and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, merchants, naturalists, and industrialists. The name's origin, derived from the Old English words for "bright" and "hill," reflects its association with the picturesque landscapes of northern England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gladhill surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 11 Gladhills recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.96x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 11 | 3.96x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 2.56x |
| Durham | 3 | 4.31x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.75x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 2.87x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 1.27x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Bolton in Lancashire leads with 6 Gladhills recorded in 1881 and an index of 168.07x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Little Bolton | 6 | 168.07x |
| Cliviger | 5 | 3125.00x |
| Monk Hesleden | 3 | 1578.95x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 24.02x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 9.80x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 27.47x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 9.86x |
| St Luke London | 1 | 26.67x |
| Walsall Foreign | 1 | 24.51x |
| Westgate | 1 | 46.30x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gladhill surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gladhill surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Gladhill households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Clerk In Club House | 1 |
| Coachman Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Draper And Milliner | 1 |
| Hat Trimmer | 1 |
| Hatter | 1 |
| Masons Labourer | 1 |
| Miner | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 24 people were recorded with the Gladhill surname. That placed it at #30,215 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 18 in 2016. That gives Gladhill a modern rank of #36,832.
An English surname derived from a place name meaning "bright hill" or "glad hill."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gladhill bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.