NameCensus.

UK surname

Goldsby

A habitational name, likely for someone from a place named with the Old English "gold" and "by" meaning a golden town or farmstead.

In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Goldsby surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 130, ranked #26,152, down from #23,670 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Paddington and Sutton Coldfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hounslow, Birmingham and The Vale of Glamorgan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goldsby is 148 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 85.7%.

1881 census count

70

Ranked #23,670

Modern count

130

2016, ranked #26,152

Peak year

2000

148 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goldsby had 70 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,670 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016, ranked #26,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 113 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Goldsby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goldsby surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goldsby 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 51 #24,096
1861 historical 45 #28,296
1881 historical 70 #23,670
1891 historical 83 #26,376
1901 historical 100 #22,863
1911 historical 113 #21,168
1997 modern 126 #23,461
1998 modern 134 #23,202
1999 modern 138 #22,983
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 144 #22,501
2003 modern 148 #21,866
2004 modern 147 #22,094
2005 modern 145 #22,253
2006 modern 144 #22,520
2007 modern 140 #23,231
2008 modern 140 #23,511
2009 modern 143 #23,686
2010 modern 145 #24,031
2011 modern 140 #24,395
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 142 #24,547
2014 modern 143 #24,621
2015 modern 135 #25,481
2016 modern 130 #26,152

Geography

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Where Goldsbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Paddington, Sutton Coldfield, Manchester and St Albans or The Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hounslow, Birmingham, The Vale of Glamorgan and Sandwell. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 Sutton Coldfield Warwickshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St Albans or The Abbey Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hounslow 015 Hounslow
2 Birmingham 116 Birmingham
3 The Vale of Glamorgan 013 Vale of Glamorgan
4 Birmingham 067 Birmingham
5 Sandwell 029 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goldsby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goldsby

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Goldsby is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Goldsby is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Goldsby

The surname Goldsby has its origins in the English county of Yorkshire. It is believed to have emerged in the 13th century, derived from the Old English words "golda" meaning "golden" and "by" referring to a farmstead or village. This suggests the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a settlement known for its golden-colored buildings or surroundings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the 1379 Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls, which lists a "Johannes de Goldesbye." This spelling variation provides insight into how the name evolved over time. The nearby village of Goldsbrough, first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Goludesburch," may also be related to the surname's origins.

In the 16th century, records show a John Goldsby born in 1521 in Yorkshire. He was a prominent landowner and farmer, leaving behind a sizable estate upon his death in 1598. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Goldsby (1642-1718), a wealthy merchant and politician who served as the Mayor of York in 1692.

Moving into the 17th century, the Goldsby name started to spread throughout England. William Goldsby (1660-1732) was a respected clergyman and author, publishing several religious texts during his lifetime. In the 18th century, Elizabeth Goldsby (1738-1814) was a notable author and poet, known for her works celebrating nature and rural life.

As the name continued to disperse, it also made its way across the Atlantic. One of the earliest recorded instances in America was John Goldsby (1765-1842), who settled in Virginia and became a successful farmer and landowner. Another notable American bearer of the name was General William Goldsby (1788-1867), a military officer who served in the War of 1812 and later became a prominent figure in Tennessee politics.

Throughout its history, the surname Goldsby has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, from landed gentry and clergymen to authors and military leaders. While the exact origins may be lost to time, the name's connection to the golden-colored settlements of Yorkshire remains a defining characteristic of its rich heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goldsby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goldsby 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. Warwickshire leads with 26 Goldsbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.55x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 26 15.55x
Middlesex 17 2.56x
Lancashire 8 1.02x
Berkshire 4 8.04x
Hertfordshire 4 8.75x
Yorkshire 4 0.61x
Lincolnshire 1 0.94x
Northamptonshire 1 1.60x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.12x
Staffordshire 1 0.45x
Worcestershire 1 1.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 14 Goldsbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.40x.

Place Total Index
Aston 14 30.40x
St Marylebone London 11 31.06x
Oldham 7 27.56x
Sutton Coldfield 6 340.91x
Leeds 4 10.78x
Wokingham 4 350.88x
Paddington London 3 12.31x
St Albans 3 319.15x
Birmingham 2 3.59x
Edgbaston 2 38.54x
St Pancras London 2 3.75x
Bushey 1 91.74x
Coleshill 1 185.19x
Great Bolton 1 9.60x
Hampstead London 1 9.68x
Harborne 1 13.95x
Kings Norton 1 12.87x
Nottingham St Mary 1 4.33x
Stoke 1 303.03x
Theddlethorpe St Helen 1 1111.11x
Weedon Beck 1 222.22x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Goldsby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goldsby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Goldsby surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goldsby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016. That gives Goldsby a modern rank of #26,152.

What does the Goldsby surname mean?

A habitational name, likely for someone from a place named with the Old English "gold" and "by" meaning a golden town or farmstead.

What does the Goldsby map show?

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