NameCensus.

UK surname

Gomer

A surname possibly derived from the biblical name Gomer, or from an Old English word meaning "man" or "person".

In the 1881 census there were 217 people recorded with the Gomer surname, ranking it #12,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 224, ranked #18,164, down from #12,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Ware Gifford and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gomer is 346 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.2%.

1881 census count

217

Ranked #12,188

Modern count

224

2016, ranked #18,164

Peak year

1911

346 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gomer had 217 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 224 in 2016, ranked #18,164.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 346 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gomer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gomer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gomer 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 134 #14,033
1861 historical 188 #12,628
1881 historical 217 #12,188
1891 historical 279 #11,698
1901 historical 324 #11,042
1911 historical 346 #10,341
1997 modern 223 #16,448
1998 modern 232 #16,508
1999 modern 233 #16,554
2000 modern 229 #16,695
2001 modern 216 #17,103
2002 modern 225 #16,994
2003 modern 216 #17,229
2004 modern 224 #16,918
2005 modern 225 #16,831
2006 modern 228 #16,789
2007 modern 232 #16,795
2008 modern 228 #17,146
2009 modern 222 #17,797
2010 modern 221 #18,205
2011 modern 230 #17,578
2012 modern 224 #17,786
2013 modern 230 #17,756
2014 modern 239 #17,429
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 224 #18,164

Geography

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Where Gomers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Ware Gifford, London parishes, Llandilo-Talybont and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Winchester and North Norfolk. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Ware Gifford Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Llandilo-Talybont Glamorganshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 004 Stroud
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 015 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Winchester 011 Winchester
4 Winchester 012 Winchester
5 North Norfolk 004 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gomer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gomer

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Gomer is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gomer is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gomer falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gomer

The surname Gomer has its roots in the Old English language and is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English word "guma," which means "man" or "warrior." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive term for a strong or brave individual.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gomer can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book contains entries for individuals with the surname Gomer, indicating that the name was already established in certain regions of England by the late 11th century.

In medieval times, the name Gomer was sometimes spelled as "Gumere" or "Gummer," reflecting the linguistic evolution of the Old English language. These variations in spelling were common before the standardization of English spelling in the modern era.

One notable bearer of the surname Gomer was Sir Thomas Gomer (1515-1592), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was born in Worcestershire and played a significant role in local affairs.

Another historical figure with the surname Gomer was John Gomer (1585-1663), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Awre in Gloucestershire. He published several religious works during his lifetime, including a treatise on the doctrine of predestination.

In the 18th century, Samuel Gomer (1709-1799) was a prominent Welsh Baptist minister and hymn writer. He was born in Radnorshire and made significant contributions to the development of Welsh hymnody, publishing a collection of hymns in the Welsh language.

Moving into the 19th century, John Hampden Gomer (1824-1896) was a British civil engineer who worked on various railway projects in England and India. He was also involved in the construction of the Severn Tunnel, a renowned engineering feat of its time.

One of the more recent notable individuals with the surname Gomer was Gomer Griffiths (1904-1987), a Welsh international rugby union player who represented Wales in the 1920s and 1930s. He played as a fullback and was part of the Welsh team that won the Grand Slam in the 1925 Five Nations Championship.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gomer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gomer 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. Devon leads with 46 Gomers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.25x.

County Total Index
Devon 46 10.25x
Glamorgan 39 10.39x
Kent 28 3.81x
Middlesex 25 1.16x
Dorset 16 11.31x
Hampshire 16 3.62x
Essex 10 2.35x
Lancashire 10 0.39x
Surrey 8 0.76x
Somerset 7 2.02x
Cheshire 3 0.63x
Channel Islands 2 3.13x
Royal Navy 2 7.79x
Sussex 2 0.55x
Yorkshire 2 0.09x
Berkshire 1 0.62x
Durham 1 0.16x
Midlothian 1 0.35x
Monmouthshire 1 0.64x
Worcestershire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kings Nympton in Devon leads with 19 Gomers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4130.43x.

Place Total Index
Kings Nympton 19 4130.43x
Cardiff St John 9 73.41x
Cardiff St Mary 8 38.68x
Charlton Marshall 8 1666.67x
Islington London 8 3.83x
Lambeth 8 4.26x
Llandilo Talybont 8 406.09x
Eggesford 7 5000.00x
Hackney London 7 5.79x
Portsea 7 8.08x
Snodland 7 334.93x
Wear Gifford 7 2121.21x
Eglwysilan 6 92.17x
Grays Thurrock 6 151.52x
Blackburn 5 7.35x
Chatham 5 24.72x
Chulmleigh 5 490.20x
Everton 5 6.13x
Lewisham 5 12.75x
Southampton St Mary 5 18.00x
Bromley 4 35.68x
Great Coggeshall 4 181.00x
Greenwich 4 11.66x
Langton Long Blandford 4 1904.76x
Michaelstone Super Avon 4 98.52x
Stoke Damerel 4 12.73x
Wimborne Minster 4 174.67x
Bedminster 3 9.20x
Lee 3 28.09x
St George Hanover Square 3 7.90x
Ystradyfodwg 3 9.11x
Birkenhead 2 5.27x
Clerkenwell London 2 3.93x
Mark 2 246.91x
Plymouth Charles The 2 10.12x
Preston 2 31.50x
Ringwood 2 70.67x
Royal Navy 2 9.11x
St Sampson 2 69.44x
Twerton 2 55.87x
Alverstoke 1 6.25x
Areley Kings 1 200.00x
Bedwellty 1 3.64x
Castleford 1 12.85x
Chelsea London 1 1.54x
Chester St John Baptist 1 11.70x
Dalkeith 1 17.54x
Exminster 1 62.11x
Framwellgate 1 26.32x
Kensington London 1 0.83x
Portsmouth 1 9.83x
Roath 1 5.87x
Sherburn 1 56.82x
Shoreditch London 1 1.07x
St Martin In Fields 1 7.75x
St Pancras London 1 0.58x
Stonehouse East 1 43.86x
Tilehurst 1 30.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Eliza 11
Sarah 9
Emma 6
Margaret 6
Emily 5
Ann 4
Elizabeth 4
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Alice 2
Amy 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Ethel 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Rose 2
A. 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Celia 1
E. 1
Elen 1
Emile 1
Grace 1
Gwendolyne 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Telisha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 15
Robert 8
Richard 7
George 6
Henry 6
Arthur 4
James 4
Alfred 3
David 3
Edward 3
Harry 3
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Charles 2
Daniel 2
Mark 2
Samuel 2
Alfd. 1
Benjamin 1
Callis 1
Edmund 1
F.W. 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredc.E. 1
Frederick 1
Fredric 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Joe 1
Joseph 1
Lorn 1
Louis 1
Peter 1
Richd 1
T. 1
Tom 1
Walther 1

FAQ

Gomer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gomer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 217 people were recorded with the Gomer surname. That placed it at #12,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gomer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 224 in 2016. That gives Gomer a modern rank of #18,164.

What does the Gomer surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the biblical name Gomer, or from an Old English word meaning "man" or "person".

What does the Gomer map show?

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