NameCensus.

UK surname

Gorham

From a place name meaning "muddy or dirty homestead" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 599 people recorded with the Gorham surname, ranking it #5,842 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 697, ranked #7,728, down from #5,842 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Walton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Suffolk Coastal and Chelmsford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gorham is 806 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.4%.

1881 census count

599

Ranked #5,842

Modern count

697

2016, ranked #7,728

Peak year

1911

806 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gorham had 599 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,842 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 697 in 2016, ranked #7,728.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 806 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gorham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gorham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gorham 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 378 #6,315
1861 historical 464 #5,600
1881 historical 599 #5,842
1891 historical 740 #5,376
1901 historical 802 #5,634
1911 historical 806 #5,454
1997 modern 763 #6,790
1998 modern 804 #6,724
1999 modern 772 #6,985
2000 modern 766 #6,986
2001 modern 749 #6,990
2002 modern 780 #6,920
2003 modern 718 #7,237
2004 modern 707 #7,337
2005 modern 683 #7,497
2006 modern 669 #7,626
2007 modern 673 #7,675
2008 modern 690 #7,567
2009 modern 704 #7,608
2010 modern 713 #7,667
2011 modern 718 #7,549
2012 modern 689 #7,692
2013 modern 708 #7,662
2014 modern 699 #7,777
2015 modern 696 #7,745
2016 modern 697 #7,728

Geography

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Where Gorhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Walton and Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Suffolk Coastal, Chelmsford, Ashford and Thurrock. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Walton Suffolk
5 Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
2 Suffolk Coastal 014 Suffolk Coastal
3 Chelmsford 006 Chelmsford
4 Ashford 014 Ashford
5 Thurrock 002 Thurrock

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gorham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gorham

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gorham 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

Gorham is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gorham falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gorham

The surname Gorham is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "gor," meaning "mud" or "dirt," and "ham," meaning "homestead" or "village." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a muddy or marshy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Gorham surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Goraham." This entry indicates that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century.

Over the centuries, the Gorham surname has seen various spellings, including Goreham, Gorram, and Gorum, reflecting the phonetic variations common in the Middle Ages. These alternative spellings can be found in various historical records and documents from different regions of England.

Several notable individuals have borne the Gorham surname throughout history. One of the earliest was Thomas Gorham (c. 1414-1468), an English priest and academic who served as the Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Another prominent figure was Sir Ferdinando Gorges (1568-1647), an English colonial entrepreneur and military leader who was instrumental in the early settlement of New England.

In the 18th century, John Gorham (1691-1756) was a prominent American merchant and politician from Massachusetts. He served as a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council and played a significant role in the establishment of Gorham, Maine, which was named after his family.

Nathaniel Gorham (1738-1796) was an American politician and merchant from Massachusetts who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. He is remembered for his contributions to the drafting of the United States Constitution.

Another notable figure was George Cornelius Gorham (1787-1857), an English theologian and Church of England clergyman known for his role in the Gorham Controversy, a significant theological dispute within the Church of England in the 19th century.

While the Gorham surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and diaspora. Today, individuals bearing this surname can be found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gorham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gorham 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. Kent leads with 207 Gorhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.35x.

County Total Index
Kent 207 10.35x
Suffolk 126 17.64x
Middlesex 74 1.26x
Surrey 32 1.12x
Cheshire 25 1.93x
Essex 13 1.12x
Lanarkshire 13 0.69x
Sussex 13 1.32x
Yorkshire 12 0.21x
Huntingdonshire 11 9.45x
Lancashire 9 0.13x
Perthshire 9 3.42x
Devon 7 0.57x
Dunbartonshire 7 4.44x
Gloucestershire 7 0.61x
Renfrewshire 5 1.10x
Stirlingshire 5 2.31x
Fife 4 1.15x
Northamptonshire 4 0.73x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.51x
Derbyshire 3 0.33x
Hampshire 2 0.17x
Staffordshire 2 0.10x
Isle of Man 1 0.92x
Leicestershire 1 0.15x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.54x
Royal Navy 1 1.43x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Trimley St Martin in Suffolk leads with 49 Gorhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3983.74x.

Place Total Index
Trimley St Martin 49 3983.74x
Tonbridge 22 30.50x
Maidstone 21 35.25x
Yalding 21 415.84x
Walton 20 781.25x
Trimley St Mary 19 2261.90x
Kensington London 15 4.60x
Bromley London 13 10.08x
Glasgow 12 3.56x
St Pancras London 12 2.54x
Kirton 11 866.14x
Chester Holy Trinity 10 164.74x
Sevenoaks 10 61.65x
Woodbridge 10 109.53x
Lambeth 9 1.76x
Lower Booths 9 72.23x
Seal 9 278.64x
Sittingbourne 9 56.96x
Faversham 8 41.95x
Hendon 8 37.93x
Hintlesham 8 701.75x
Hoole 8 163.60x
Snodland 8 141.09x
Newchurch 7 1076.92x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 7.45x
Putney 7 26.20x
St George Hanover Square 7 6.78x
St Marylebone London 7 2.24x
Yaxley 7 257.35x
Dunkirk 6 402.68x
Holy Trinity 6 4.29x
Pembury 6 211.27x
Rye 6 63.90x
Stone In Tenterden 6 779.22x
Bilsington 5 649.35x
Boughton Monchelsea 5 226.24x
Cardross 5 26.43x
Chilham 5 175.44x
Fulham London 5 5.88x
Gargunnock 5 357.14x
Great Budworth 5 218.34x
Leigh 5 191.57x
Neilston 5 21.92x
Preston Next Faversham 5 106.38x
Auchterarder 4 54.50x
Burntisland 4 41.24x
Camberwell 4 1.07x
Egham 4 22.81x
Hythe St Leonard 4 56.58x
Masham 4 186.05x
Nottingham St Mary 4 1.96x
Ramsgate 4 12.25x
Shipley 4 178.57x
Tibbermore 4 106.10x
Yoxford 4 187.79x
Boughton Under Blean 3 89.55x
Bromley 3 9.84x
Burham 3 108.70x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.94x
Hamerton 3 810.81x
Harwich St Nicholas 3 33.56x
Newington Bagpath 3 789.47x
Saltwood 3 215.83x
St Lawrence 3 21.82x
Thurning 3 810.81x
Warehorne 3 280.37x
West Ham 3 1.17x
Alresford 2 384.62x
Birkenhead 2 1.94x
Bonhill 2 7.91x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 1.85x
Broadwater 2 8.82x
Ipswich St Mathew 2 10.00x
Ivychurch 2 384.62x
Kingsley 2 217.39x
Newington 2 0.92x
Ockbrook 2 51.28x
Paddington London 2 0.93x
Reigate Foreign 2 6.47x
Wittersham 2 112.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 35
Elizabeth 23
Sarah 18
Jane 17
Alice 16
Eliza 11
Ellen 11
Emma 9
Emily 8
Hannah 7
Annie 6
Martha 6
Ann 5
Caroline 5
Harriet 5
Louisa 5
Ada 4
Bridget 4
Catherine 4
Clara 4
Edith 4
Amelia 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Maria 3
Rosa 3
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Charlotte 2
Mirriam 2
Rebecca 2
Selina 2
Anne 1
Blanche 1
Carlsland 1
Eleanor 1
Elen 1
Elinor 1
Elizth. 1
Ester 1
Harriett 1
Harriot 1
Harriott 1
Helen 1
Hephzibah 1
Hester 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Jeanne 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
George 28
James 22
John 19
Charles 14
Edward 13
Henry 13
Frederick 11
Robert 10
Thomas 10
Stephen 9
Walter 9
Alfred 8
Harry 7
Albert 6
Arthur 6
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Joseph 3
Fredrick 2
Mark 2
Patrick 2
Percy 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Ambrose 1
Anthony 1
Arnold 1
Augustus 1
Chas. 1
Edmund 1
Elias 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredc. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Herman 1
Isaac 1
Jerimah 1
Jno. 1
Louis 1
Michal 1
Percival 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Wallace 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Gorham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gorham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 599 people were recorded with the Gorham surname. That placed it at #5,842 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gorham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 697 in 2016. That gives Gorham a modern rank of #7,728.

What does the Gorham surname mean?

From a place name meaning "muddy or dirty homestead" in Old English.

What does the Gorham map show?

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