NameCensus.

UK surname

Gollan

Originally a Scottish surname meaning "of yellow complexion" or from the place name Gollan near Banchory.

In the 1881 census there were 222 people recorded with the Gollan surname, ranking it #12,022 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 214, ranked #18,740, down from #12,022 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Applecross, Edinburgh and Aberdeen and Old Machar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Law, Muir of Ord and Pitlochry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gollan is 235 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.6%.

1881 census count

222

Ranked #12,022

Modern count

214

2016, ranked #18,740

Peak year

1901

235 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gollan had 222 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,022 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016, ranked #18,740.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 235 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Gollan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gollan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gollan 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 229 #9,390
1861 historical 219 #11,124
1881 historical 222 #12,022
1891 historical 230 #13,494
1901 historical 235 #13,662
1911 historical 43 #28,581
1997 modern 185 #18,506
1998 modern 194 #18,451
1999 modern 203 #18,081
2000 modern 205 #17,940
2001 modern 205 #17,683
2002 modern 208 #17,848
2003 modern 199 #18,195
2004 modern 201 #18,168
2005 modern 199 #18,198
2006 modern 204 #18,051
2007 modern 210 #17,904
2008 modern 208 #18,171
2009 modern 202 #18,896
2010 modern 206 #19,066
2011 modern 200 #19,280
2012 modern 195 #19,540
2013 modern 198 #19,657
2014 modern 202 #19,575
2015 modern 208 #19,085
2016 modern 214 #18,740

Geography

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Where Gollans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Applecross, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Old Machar, Urquart and Logie Wester and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Law, Muir of Ord, Pitlochry, Conon and Dingwall. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Applecross Ross And Cromarty
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen
4 Urquart and Logie Wester Ross And Cromarty
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Law Dundee City
2 Muir of Ord Highland
3 Pitlochry Perth and Kinross
4 Conon Highland
5 Dingwall Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gollan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gollan

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Gollan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Gollan 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 are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gollan 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

Gollan 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

Gollan 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 Gollan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gollan

The surname Gollan originated in Scotland, specifically in the regions of Angus and Perthshire. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic word "goilan," which means "little green valley." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived in a small green valley or a similar geographic feature.

The earliest known records of the name Gollan date back to the late 16th century. One of the earliest documented instances is found in the Privy Council Register of Scotland from 1597, which mentions a John Gollan. Additionally, the name appears in various church records and parish registers from the 17th and 18th centuries in Scotland.

In the late 17th century, a notable figure named David Gollan was born in Angus, Scotland. He was a minister and theologian who served as the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1687 to 1691. Gollan played a significant role in the religious and academic life of Scotland during his time.

Another individual of note was William Gollan, a Scottish surgeon who lived in the late 18th century. Gollan made important contributions to the field of medicine and authored several publications on various medical topics.

In the 19th century, James Gollan, a Scottish-born businessman and entrepreneur, achieved success in the textile industry. He established a successful textile manufacturing company in Dundee, Scotland, which employed hundreds of workers and played a significant role in the local economy.

John Gollan, born in 1891 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was a prominent figure in the labor movement. He served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Great Britain from 1935 to 1956 and played a crucial role in shaping the party's policies and influence during that period.

While the Gollan surname originated in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, the earliest known records and historical references for this surname are firmly rooted in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Angus and Perthshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gollan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gollan 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. Ross-shire leads with 86 Gollans recorded in 1881 and an index of 147.97x.

County Total Index
Ross-shire 86 147.97x
Inverness-shire 44 69.61x
Midlothian 19 6.70x
Aberdeenshire 10 5.10x
Angus 9 4.59x
Lanarkshire 8 1.17x
Renfrewshire 8 4.88x
Perthshire 7 7.37x
Ayrshire 6 3.79x
Yorkshire 6 0.29x
Morayshire 4 12.16x
Middlesex 3 0.14x
Nairnshire 3 46.44x
Durham 1 0.16x
Fife 1 0.80x
Kent 1 0.14x
Lancashire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Applecross in Ross-shire leads with 16 Gollans recorded in 1881 and an index of 981.60x.

Place Total Index
Applecross 16 981.60x
Urray 16 888.89x
Inverness 13 81.76x
Kilmorack 12 625.00x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 11 9.64x
Dingwall 10 609.76x
Logie Wester 10 961.54x
Liff Benvie 9 30.23x
Kilbarchan 8 160.64x
Urquhart Glenmoriston 8 446.93x
Contin 7 660.38x
Glasgow 7 5.76x
Lochcarron 7 660.38x
Kilmaurs 6 222.22x
Kilmonivaig 6 428.57x
Perth West Church 6 133.04x
Sheffield 6 8.99x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 5 13.64x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 5 74.52x
Aberdeen Old Machar 4 9.77x
Dores 4 476.19x
Lochalsh 4 268.46x
Tain 4 181.82x
Urquhart 4 506.33x
Cawdor 3 379.75x
Duddingston 2 35.15x
Hornsey 2 7.47x
Killearnan 2 259.74x
Rosskeen 2 72.99x
Avoch 1 81.30x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 13.28x
Duffus 1 34.48x
Dyke 1 111.11x
Edinburgh Greenside 1 26.67x
Elgin 1 15.63x
Forgan 1 41.67x
Forres 1 28.90x
Fortingall 1 82.64x
Gairloch 1 29.85x
Govan 1 0.59x
Hampstead London 1 3.03x
Kiltarlity 1 64.52x
Kincardine 1 93.46x
Knockbain 1 73.53x
Rayne 1 107.53x
Rufford 1 151.52x
Sunderland 1 8.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elspet 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Isabella 1
Maggie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexadr. 1
Angus 1
Farquhar 1
Henry 1
James 1
Thos. 1

Top occupations

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 Gollan households.

FAQ

Gollan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gollan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 222 people were recorded with the Gollan surname. That placed it at #12,022 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gollan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016. That gives Gollan a modern rank of #18,740.

What does the Gollan surname mean?

Originally a Scottish surname meaning "of yellow complexion" or from the place name Gollan near Banchory.

What does the Gollan map show?

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