NameCensus.

UK surname

Gleed

An Old English surname thought to derive from a place name or geographical feature.

In the 1881 census there were 622 people recorded with the Gleed surname, ranking it #5,678 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 975, ranked #5,924, down from #5,678 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Swindon, Lyddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Cotswold and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gleed is 989 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.8%.

1881 census count

622

Ranked #5,678

Modern count

975

2016, ranked #5,924

Peak year

2010

989 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gleed had 622 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,678 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 975 in 2016, ranked #5,924.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 951 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gleed surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gleed surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gleed 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 416 #5,842
1861 historical 442 #5,847
1881 historical 622 #5,678
1891 historical 696 #5,634
1901 historical 831 #5,455
1911 historical 951 #4,738
1997 modern 946 #5,739
1998 modern 982 #5,757
1999 modern 986 #5,777
2000 modern 973 #5,821
2001 modern 972 #5,709
2002 modern 962 #5,858
2003 modern 937 #5,897
2004 modern 960 #5,799
2005 modern 957 #5,747
2006 modern 969 #5,697
2007 modern 973 #5,735
2008 modern 982 #5,732
2009 modern 980 #5,857
2010 modern 989 #5,924
2011 modern 969 #5,965
2012 modern 965 #5,900
2013 modern 974 #5,950
2014 modern 989 #5,910
2015 modern 974 #5,933
2016 modern 975 #5,924

Geography

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Where Gleeds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes and Cliffe Pypard, Broadhinton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Cotswold, Wiltshire, Monmouthshire and Wolverhampton. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Cliffe Pypard, Broadhinton Wiltshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 007 Swindon
2 Cotswold 008 Cotswold
3 Wiltshire 016 Wiltshire
4 Monmouthshire 004 Monmouthshire
5 Wolverhampton 005 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gleed

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gleed

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Gleed 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

Gleed is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gleed falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gleed

The surname Gleed is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "glida," which means "kite" or "bird of prey." This name likely originated as a nickname for someone who was perceived as having sharp, bird-like features or a keen, hawk-like gaze.

The earliest known records of the surname Gleed date back to the 13th century. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it is listed as "Glyda." This suggests that the name was initially concentrated in the eastern regions of England.

During the 14th century, variations of the name began to appear in various historical documents. For instance, the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1327 mention a "John Glede," while the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379 record a "Robert Glede." These different spellings, such as "Glede" and "Glyde," reflect the evolution of the name over time.

The Gleed surname has also been associated with certain place names in England. One such example is the village of Gledrid in Shropshire, which is derived from the Old English words "glida" and "hryg," meaning "kite's ridge." This connection suggests that some individuals bearing the Gleed surname may have originated from or been associated with this particular location.

Notable individuals throughout history with the surname Gleed include:

1. John Gleed (c. 1530-1600), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Peterborough from 1589 until his death. 2. William Gleed (1672-1735), a British architect and surveyor best known for his work on the reconstruction of St. Paul's Cathedral after the Great Fire of London. 3. Elizabeth Gleed (1758-1828), an English philanthropist and social reformer who founded several schools and hospitals in her native Gloucestershire. 4. Sir Charles Gleed (1821-1897), a British naval officer who served in the Crimean War and later became a Member of Parliament. 5. Archibald Gleed (1874-1945), a renowned Australian painter and art critic who played a significant role in promoting the Impressionist movement in his home country.

While the Gleed surname may have originated as a nickname, it has since evolved into a distinct and well-established family name with a rich history spanning several centuries and various regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gleed families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gleed 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. Wiltshire leads with 186 Gleeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.61x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 186 34.61x
Gloucestershire 161 13.51x
Middlesex 66 1.09x
Essex 29 2.42x
Suffolk 27 3.65x
Northamptonshire 21 3.67x
Surrey 19 0.64x
Berkshire 16 3.51x
Somerset 16 1.64x
Monmouthshire 14 3.19x
Warwickshire 9 0.59x
Worcestershire 9 1.13x
Lincolnshire 8 0.82x
Oxfordshire 8 2.13x
Brecknockshire 6 4.94x
Yorkshire 6 0.10x
Hampshire 4 0.32x
Kent 4 0.19x
Lancashire 4 0.06x
Leicestershire 3 0.45x
Hertfordshire 2 0.48x
Glamorgan 1 0.09x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 1.38x
Rutland 1 2.24x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swindon in Wiltshire leads with 38 Gleeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 91.15x.

Place Total Index
Swindon 38 91.15x
Purton 34 711.30x
West Ham 23 8.68x
Kersey 19 1844.66x
Liddiard Millicent 17 918.92x
Stapleton 12 53.07x
Kingstanley 11 250.00x
Limehouse London 10 14.99x
Broad Hinton 9 789.47x
Gloucester St Catherine 9 267.86x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 7.13x
Great Houghton 8 1159.42x
Islington London 8 1.36x
Little Houghton 8 754.72x
Malmesbury St Paul 8 173.16x
Westbury On Severn 8 169.49x
Ashton Keynes 7 350.00x
Carshalton 7 61.78x
Garsington 7 551.18x
Hawkesbury 7 172.41x
Hurst 7 117.25x
Naunton 7 636.36x
Penalt 7 707.07x
Rangeworthy 7 1346.15x
Stoke Gifford 7 972.22x
Stroud 7 30.19x
Upton St Leonards 7 231.02x
Bermondsey 6 3.32x
Bibury 6 416.67x
Cliffe Pypard 6 372.67x
Hackney London 6 1.76x
Hankerton 6 845.07x
Keynsham 6 85.47x
Kings Norton 6 8.43x
Rodbourne Cheney 6 144.58x
St Marylebone London 6 1.85x
Sutton St Mary St James 6 526.32x
Winterbourne Bassett 6 1090.91x
Avening 5 118.76x
Chelsea London 5 2.73x
Clifton 5 8.30x
Henbury 5 85.91x
Leigh 5 819.67x
North Cerney 5 384.62x
Poplar London 5 4.36x
Wanstead 5 23.80x
Caldicot 4 137.46x
Chippenham 4 35.49x
Cricklade St Sampson 4 160.00x
Devizes St Mary 4 73.66x
East Hagbourn 4 366.97x
Eastington 4 101.27x
Enfield 4 10.03x
Fairford 4 125.79x
Leonard Stanley 4 256.41x
Llanhamlach 4 689.66x
Northampton Priory St 4 11.66x
Nuneaton 4 22.54x
Paddington London 4 1.79x
St Pancras London 4 0.82x
Trowbridge 4 16.84x
Willesden 4 6.98x
Wroughton 4 85.84x
Clifton On Dunsmore 3 241.94x
Devizes St James 3 42.02x
Framlingham 3 57.14x
Frampton On Severn 3 149.25x
Greenwich 3 3.10x
Leicester All Sts 3 22.68x
Old Sodbury 3 201.34x
Sculcoates 3 3.14x
Sherston Magna 3 92.59x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.80x
Steeple Ashton 3 206.90x
Winterbourne 3 45.52x
Wotton Under Edge 3 42.74x
Birmingham 2 0.39x
Charlton 2 127.39x
Sopworth 2 487.80x
Walcot 2 3.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Elizabeth 31
Sarah 25
Eliza 14
Annie 12
Jane 12
Emily 10
Ann 9
Emma 9
Ellen 8
Alice 7
Anne 7
Martha 7
Florence 5
Hannah 5
Ada 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Matilda 4
Rose 4
Esther 3
Ruth 3
Agnes 2
Blanch 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Eva 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Catharine 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Ester 1
Euphemia 1
Henrieta 1
Hester 1
Honor 1
Jemima 1
Jemina 1
Thurza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 35
William 30
George 29
Thomas 24
Henry 23
James 14
Charles 13
Richard 11
Ernest 10
Albert 8
Edward 8
Alfred 6
Frederick 6
Walter 6
Francis 5
Fredrick 5
Herbert 5
Samuel 5
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Arthur 3
Isaac 3
Ambrose 2
Anthony 2
Elias 2
Ellis 2
Fred 2
Jesse 2
Job 2
Louis 2
Mark 2
Stephen 2
Willm. 2
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
Elizabeth 1
Frances 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Hy. 1
Geo. 1
Josiah 1
Katerin 1
Leonard 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Wm.James 1

FAQ

Gleed surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gleed surname in 1881?

In 1881, 622 people were recorded with the Gleed surname. That placed it at #5,678 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gleed surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 975 in 2016. That gives Gleed a modern rank of #5,924.

What does the Gleed surname mean?

An Old English surname thought to derive from a place name or geographical feature.

What does the Gleed map show?

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