NameCensus.

UK surname

Gledhill

A locational surname derived from a clearing on a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 4,452 people recorded with the Gledhill surname, ranking it #1,007 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,972, ranked #1,705, down from #1,007 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gledhill is 5,230 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.8%.

1881 census count

4,452

Ranked #1,007

Modern count

3,972

2016, ranked #1,705

Peak year

1911

5,230 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gledhill had 4,452 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,007 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,972 in 2016, ranked #1,705.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,230 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Gledhill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gledhill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gledhill 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 2,751 #1,069
1861 historical 2,661 #1,102
1881 historical 4,452 #1,007
1891 historical 4,537 #1,035
1901 historical 4,838 #1,169
1911 historical 5,230 #997
1997 modern 3,958 #1,639
1998 modern 4,048 #1,670
1999 modern 4,120 #1,647
2000 modern 4,128 #1,646
2001 modern 4,077 #1,618
2002 modern 4,187 #1,603
2003 modern 4,105 #1,599
2004 modern 4,040 #1,629
2005 modern 3,961 #1,644
2006 modern 3,951 #1,648
2007 modern 3,963 #1,663
2008 modern 4,004 #1,656
2009 modern 4,060 #1,671
2010 modern 4,080 #1,699
2011 modern 4,071 #1,681
2012 modern 3,981 #1,690
2013 modern 4,054 #1,690
2014 modern 4,080 #1,694
2015 modern 4,018 #1,699
2016 modern 3,972 #1,705

Geography

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Where Gledhills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, Batley, Bradford and Huddersfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees and Calderdale. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 059 Kirklees
2 Kirklees 036 Kirklees
3 Calderdale 026 Calderdale
4 Kirklees 049 Kirklees
5 Calderdale 025 Calderdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gledhill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gledhill

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Gledhill 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

Gledhill 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

Gledhill falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gledhill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gledhill

The surname Gledhill is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period, with roots tracing back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English words "gled," meaning a kite or buzzard, and "hyll," meaning a hill or slope. This suggests that the name may have originated from a location where these birds of prey were commonly found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gledhill appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, the historic manuscript that documented the great survey of landowners and property across England and parts of Wales. While the exact entry is not clear, it is believed to have referenced a place name or landholding associated with the name.

In the 13th century, the name Gledhill was found in various records and documents from the county of Yorkshire, particularly in the West Riding region. It is likely that the name originated in this area, where the topography and landscape would have been conducive to the name's meaning.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the spelling of the name began to stabilize, with variants such as Gledhill, Gledhill, and Gleadhill appearing in various records. One notable bearer of the name was John Gledhill, a landowner and farmer who lived in the village of Bingley, West Yorkshire, in the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Gledhill family established a presence in the town of Halifax, West Yorkshire. Richard Gledhill (c. 1520-1585) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the area, and his descendants continued to play a significant role in the local community for generations.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Gledhill. These include:

1. James Gledhill (1783-1855), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in Yorkshire. 2. John Gledhill (1829-1894), a Yorkshire-born businessman and philanthropist who established the Gledhill Foundry in Halifax. 3. William Gledhill (1858-1932), an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century. 4. Nellie Gledhill (1886-1961), an English actress and singer who performed in various music halls and theaters in the early 20th century. 5. Brian Gledhill (born 1944), a British author and historian who has written extensively on the history of Yorkshire and its industrial heritage.

While the Gledhill surname has its origins in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire, it has since spread to other parts of the country and beyond, with bearers of the name found in various regions and countries around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gledhill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gledhill 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. Yorkshire leads with 3,627 Gledhills recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.44x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 3,627 8.44x
Lancashire 547 1.06x
Cheshire 86 0.90x
Middlesex 39 0.09x
Surrey 25 0.12x
Derbyshire 16 0.24x
Lincolnshire 16 0.23x
Northamptonshire 10 0.25x
Sussex 9 0.12x
Durham 8 0.06x
Hampshire 7 0.08x
Kent 7 0.05x
Lanarkshire 6 0.04x
Staffordshire 6 0.04x
Devon 4 0.04x
Leicestershire 4 0.08x
Northumberland 3 0.05x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.05x
Oxfordshire 3 0.11x
Warwickshire 3 0.03x
Worcestershire 3 0.05x
Gloucestershire 2 0.02x
Berwickshire 1 0.19x
Dorset 1 0.04x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.10x
Herefordshire 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.03x
Isle of Man 1 0.12x
Midlothian 1 0.02x
Norfolk 1 0.02x
Shropshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elland Cum Greetland in Yorkshire leads with 207 Gledhills recorded in 1881 and an index of 106.99x.

Place Total Index
Elland Cum Greetland 207 106.99x
Halifax 207 32.83x
Golcar 169 148.83x
Huddersfield 160 25.57x
Dewsbury 149 33.83x
Stainland Cum Old 147 200.00x
Leeds 104 4.29x
Longwood 92 132.91x
Bradford 89 8.56x
Lockwood 85 55.01x
Northowram 85 28.23x
Heckmondwike 75 54.29x
Batley 69 16.91x
Horton In Bradford 69 10.29x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 68 62.77x
Morley 67 30.01x
Skircoat 66 38.97x
Ashton Under Lyne 65 5.78x
Slaithwaite 62 138.64x
Hunslet 59 8.81x
Almondbury 56 26.97x
Rastrick 55 46.11x
Rishworth 53 321.60x
Gomersal 49 24.44x
Oldham 48 2.89x
Southowram 47 35.85x
Linthwaite 43 47.64x
Mirfield 43 18.24x
Cleckheaton 40 25.28x
Drighlington 40 63.94x
Holbeck 40 14.06x
Scammonden 40 443.95x
Great Bolton 38 5.58x
Hipperholme Cum 38 20.14x
South Crosland 38 84.03x
Wortley In Bramley 38 11.17x
Marsden In Almondbury 37 94.68x
Wakefield 36 10.92x
Barnsley 34 7.67x
Todmorden Walsden 33 23.95x
Armley 32 16.89x
Barkisland 32 102.63x
Saddleworth 30 9.06x
Castleton 29 5.65x
Keighley 27 5.90x
Ovenden 26 13.60x
Sculcoates 26 3.82x
Manchester 25 1.08x
Sheffield 24 1.76x
Wardleworth 24 8.17x
Bowling 23 5.41x
Castleford 23 14.71x
Spotland 22 3.85x
Bredbury 21 37.93x
East Ardsley 21 56.47x
North Bierley 21 9.06x
Sowerby In Halifax 21 14.95x
Soyland 21 40.76x
Ardwick 20 4.31x
Liversedge 20 10.46x
Manningham 19 3.59x
Soothill 18 11.60x
Sandal Magna 17 26.77x
Newington 16 1.00x
Hulme 15 1.40x
Nether Hallam 15 2.58x
Butterworth 14 11.17x
Ecclesfield 13 4.13x
Little Bolton 13 1.97x
Scarborough 12 3.07x
Worsbrough 12 9.54x
Calverley Cum Farsley 11 9.02x
Dukinfield 11 2.49x
Honley 11 14.63x
Tanshelf 11 32.07x
Blatchinworth 10 8.54x
Peterborough 10 3.39x
Scotforth 10 29.91x
Selby 10 11.14x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 10 5.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 334
Sarah 257
Elizabeth 138
Hannah 110
Ann 94
Emma 82
Jane 81
Martha 77
Alice 67
Eliza 67
Annie 65
Ellen 55
Clara 43
Emily 39
Harriet 39
Ada 32
Frances 26
Margaret 25
Maria 21
Ruth 21
Susannah 19
Edith 18
Fanny 17
Charlotte 16
Betty 15
Louisa 15
Grace 13
Lucy 12
Lydia 12
Rachel 12
Catherine 10
Lavinia 10
Rebecca 10
Susan 10
Agnes 8
Betsy 8
Esther 8
Laura 8
Sophia 8
Caroline 7
Ethel 7
Florence 7
Matilda 7
Amelia 6
Amy 6
Anna 6
Anne 6
Rose 6
Selina 6
Julia 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 264
William 171
James 151
Joseph 133
George 110
Thomas 105
Charles 59
Arthur 55
Samuel 53
Henry 52
Walter 52
Albert 46
Fred 40
Harry 37
Joe 34
Alfred 32
Robert 31
Tom 29
Richard 24
Edward 23
Herbert 23
Edwin 20
Benjamin 19
David 19
Wm. 18
Sam 16
Joshua 15
Eli 14
Frederick 14
Jonathan 14
Daniel 13
Willie 12
Frank 10
Edgar 9
Ben 8
Abraham 7
Allen 7
Ernest 7
Luke 7
Mark 7
Geo. 6
Lewis 6
Peter 6
Thos. 6
Walker 6
Enoch 5
Harold 5
Jno. 5
Miles 5
Nathan 5

FAQ

Gledhill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gledhill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,452 people were recorded with the Gledhill surname. That placed it at #1,007 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gledhill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,972 in 2016. That gives Gledhill a modern rank of #1,705.

What does the Gledhill surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a clearing on a hill.

What does the Gledhill map show?

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