NameCensus.

UK surname

Golightly

A playful surname derived from a nickname for a lighthearted, carefree, or agile person.

In the 1881 census there were 664 people recorded with the Golightly surname, ranking it #5,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 880, ranked #6,405, down from #5,418 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Bishop Wearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Golightly is 976 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.5%.

1881 census count

664

Ranked #5,418

Modern count

880

2016, ranked #6,405

Peak year

1998

976 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Golightly had 664 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,418 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 880 in 2016, ranked #6,405.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 844 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Golightly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Golightly surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Golightly 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 421 #5,789
1861 historical 405 #6,337
1881 historical 664 #5,418
1891 historical 674 #5,786
1901 historical 835 #5,436
1911 historical 844 #5,255
1997 modern 944 #5,748
1998 modern 976 #5,788
1999 modern 976 #5,817
2000 modern 969 #5,840
2001 modern 949 #5,824
2002 modern 960 #5,869
2003 modern 911 #6,029
2004 modern 888 #6,162
2005 modern 872 #6,175
2006 modern 870 #6,209
2007 modern 883 #6,180
2008 modern 895 #6,152
2009 modern 900 #6,269
2010 modern 935 #6,195
2011 modern 935 #6,144
2012 modern 903 #6,236
2013 modern 907 #6,316
2014 modern 884 #6,467
2015 modern 882 #6,407
2016 modern 880 #6,405

Geography

Back to top

Where Golightlys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Bishop Wearmouth, Wallsend and Jarrow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham and Northumberland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
4 Wallsend Northumberland
5 Jarrow Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 057 County Durham
2 Northumberland 040 Northumberland
3 County Durham 025 County Durham
4 County Durham 060 County Durham
5 County Durham 032 County Durham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Golightly

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Golightly

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Golightly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Golightly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Golightly 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

Golightly 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

Golightly falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Golightly

The surname Golightly has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is likely derived from the Old English words "golde" and "leht," which together mean "dweller by the yellow wood" or "dweller near the golden clearing." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name lived near areas of woodland with abundant golden foliage or clearings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Golightly surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a "Willelmus Goldlith" is mentioned as a resident of Oxfordshire. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time. Another early reference to the name appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1316, where a "Johannes Goldlighly" is listed.

In the 14th century, the surname was also recorded in several northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire and Northumberland. This suggests that the name may have originated in these regions before spreading to other parts of the country. The Hearth Tax Rolls of 1673 list several Golightly families living in Yorkshire, indicating their continued presence in the area.

Notable individuals with the Golightly surname include Sir Thomas Golightly (c. 1535 - 1598), an English politician and landowner who served as Sheriff of Northumberland. Another prominent figure was John Golightly (1712 - 1793), a renowned clockmaker from Newcastle upon Tyne, whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the aristocracy.

In the 19th century, Mary Golightly (1822 - 1894) gained recognition as a pioneering English female architect, designing several notable buildings in London. Edward Golightly (1846 - 1916), a successful industrialist from Yorkshire, was also a significant figure of his time, contributing to the region's economic growth.

One of the most famous bearers of the Golightly name was Charles Golightly (1879 - 1964), an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and represented England in several Test matches. His exceptional batting skills earned him a place in cricketing history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Golightly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Golightly 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. Durham leads with 377 Golightlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.53x.

County Total Index
Durham 377 19.53x
Northumberland 78 8.08x
Cumberland 41 7.34x
Lancashire 36 0.47x
East Lothian 22 25.61x
Yorkshire 19 0.30x
Surrey 11 0.35x
Monmouthshire 10 2.13x
Ayrshire 9 1.85x
Middlesex 9 0.14x
Somerset 9 0.86x
Hampshire 7 0.53x
Warwickshire 5 0.31x
Banffshire 4 2.97x
Gloucestershire 4 0.31x
Lanarkshire 4 0.19x
Berkshire 3 0.62x
Glamorgan 3 0.27x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.33x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.76x
Cheshire 2 0.14x
Leicestershire 2 0.28x
Oxfordshire 2 0.50x
Devon 1 0.07x
Midlothian 1 0.12x
Renfrewshire 1 0.20x
Westmorland 1 0.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 53 Golightlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.68x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 53 36.68x
Stanhope 44 220.77x
Bishopwearmouth 24 14.49x
Innerwick 20 1156.07x
Wallsend 18 58.80x
Stockton On Tees 16 17.20x
Westoe 15 13.71x
Newcastle On Tyne St 14 27.98x
Elvet 13 93.32x
Framwellgate 12 104.99x
Wolsingham 12 68.22x
Hulme 11 6.85x
Sherburn 11 187.39x
Throston 11 297.30x
Bedwellty 10 12.08x
Lambeth 10 1.77x
Whitehaven 10 33.59x
Kyo 9 99.12x
Lyncombe Widcombe 9 32.92x
Burradon In Tynemouth 8 325.20x
Heworth 8 21.04x
Kilmarnock 8 13.85x
Preston Quarter 8 51.12x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 4.16x
Chirton 7 32.05x
Pollards Land 7 514.71x
Seaton Delaval 7 82.55x
St Giles 7 58.09x
Whickham 7 39.41x
Boldon 6 87.21x
Collierley 6 69.77x
Esh 6 42.74x
Evenwood Barony 6 91.46x
Ferryhill 6 88.89x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 7.18x
Holy Trinity 6 3.88x
Kirkdale 6 4.63x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 15.93x
Newbottle 6 56.93x
Shotley Low Quarter 6 487.80x
Sunderland 6 17.61x
Usworth 6 58.54x
Alston 5 48.59x
Cleator 5 21.51x
Coundon Grange 5 118.20x
Crosscanonby 5 27.07x
Everton 5 2.04x
Medomsley 5 55.56x
Southampton St Mary 5 5.98x
Stranton 5 7.70x
Thornley 5 71.63x
Witton Le Wear 5 91.41x
Woolley 5 375.94x
Aston 4 0.89x
Bromley London 4 2.80x
Coxlodge 4 54.50x
Glasgow 4 1.07x
Keith 4 27.89x
Kimblesworth 4 155.04x
Liverpool 4 0.86x
Shipton Moyne 4 425.53x
St Cuthbert W O 4 14.70x
Tynemouth 4 7.74x
Brancepeth 3 85.47x
Brandon Byshottles 3 12.41x
Cramlington 3 23.53x
Crossgate 3 35.55x
Escomb 3 33.82x
Grindon 3 389.61x
Hetton Le Hole 3 12.26x
Merthyr Tydfil 3 2.76x
Monkwearmouth 3 16.24x
Openshaw 3 8.32x
Parton 3 90.91x
Reading St Giles 3 6.28x
Skelton In Guisbrough 3 17.25x
Southwick 3 16.41x
Darlington 2 2.68x
Guisbrough 2 14.23x
Llandudno 2 21.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 50
Jane 31
Sarah 29
Elizabeth 28
Ann 21
Margaret 15
Frances 9
Annie 8
Emma 7
Isabella 7
Edith 6
Eleanor 6
Hannah 5
Louisa 4
Dorothy 3
Eliza 3
Elizth. 3
Ellen 3
Fanny 3
Grace 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Barbara 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Elleanor 2
Lizzie 2
Louise 2
Margt. 2
Marion 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Bessy 1
Charlott 1
Constance 1
Deborah 1
Elianor 1
Eliz. 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Han. 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isabell 1
Thomasina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 60
William 42
George 31
Thomas 31
Joseph 19
James 13
Robert 13
Henry 9
Matthew 8
Mathew 6
Edward 5
Ralph 5
Thos. 5
Alfred 4
Francis 4
Mark 4
Anthony 3
Benjamin 3
Isaac 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
David 2
Frank 2
Peter 2
Robt. 2
Adam 1
Alexander 1
Chas.W. 1
Geo. 1
H. 1
Harold 1
Harrison 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Joshua 1
Michael 1
Micheal 1
Octavius 1
Percy 1
Samuel 1
Sarah 1
Thos.Hy. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Golightly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Golightly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 664 people were recorded with the Golightly surname. That placed it at #5,418 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Golightly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 880 in 2016. That gives Golightly a modern rank of #6,405.

What does the Golightly surname mean?

A playful surname derived from a nickname for a lighthearted, carefree, or agile person.

What does the Golightly map show?

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