NameCensus.

UK surname

Gosling

A surname derived from the Old English word "gosling," referring to a young goose.

In the 1881 census there were 4,669 people recorded with the Gosling surname, ranking it #954 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,770, ranked #1,163, down from #954 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Stockport and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, Boston and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gosling is 6,583 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.6%.

1881 census count

4,669

Ranked #954

Modern count

5,770

2016, ranked #1,163

Peak year

1911

6,583 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gosling had 4,669 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #954 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,770 in 2016, ranked #1,163.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,583 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gosling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gosling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gosling 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 3,081 #937
1861 historical 2,328 #1,267
1881 historical 4,669 #954
1891 historical 4,807 #963
1901 historical 5,794 #960
1911 historical 6,583 #787
1997 modern 5,950 #1,104
1998 modern 6,231 #1,092
1999 modern 6,229 #1,097
2000 modern 6,192 #1,094
2001 modern 5,965 #1,115
2002 modern 6,031 #1,130
2003 modern 5,853 #1,133
2004 modern 5,891 #1,125
2005 modern 5,772 #1,127
2006 modern 5,733 #1,136
2007 modern 5,777 #1,137
2008 modern 5,785 #1,142
2009 modern 5,842 #1,150
2010 modern 5,970 #1,153
2011 modern 5,891 #1,154
2012 modern 5,749 #1,158
2013 modern 5,833 #1,162
2014 modern 5,898 #1,156
2015 modern 5,821 #1,156
2016 modern 5,770 #1,163

Geography

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Where Goslings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Stockport, London parishes and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, Boston, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Swindon. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 018 East Lindsey
2 Boston 001 Boston
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 013 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Swindon 025 Swindon
5 Boston 002 Boston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gosling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gosling

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gosling is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Gosling 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

Gosling falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gosling

The surname Gosling is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "gosling," meaning a young goose or gosling. It likely originated as a descriptive nickname given to someone who kept or tended geese, or perhaps someone who exhibited characteristics associated with goslings, such as being noisy or clumsy.

The name first appeared in written records as early as the 13th century, with various spelling variations like Goslinge, Goseling, and Goselynge. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a person named Richard Gosling is mentioned.

In the 14th century, the surname Gosling is found in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire, indicating its presence in the region. The 1379 Poll Tax records list a certain John Gosling from Acaster Malbis, a village near York.

The Gosling surname has been historically associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest was Sir Francis Gosling (1476-1537), a prominent English merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1537. Another notable figure was Robert Gosling (1588-1642), an English clergyman and author who served as a chaplain to King Charles I.

In the 18th century, the Gosling family established a successful banking business in London. Robert Gosling (1704-1779) founded the bank Goslings & Sharpe, which later became part of Barclays Bank. His son, Sir Francis Gosling (1735-1811), was a prominent banker and Member of Parliament.

Other notable individuals with the surname Gosling include:

1. James Gosling (born 1955), a Canadian computer scientist and the creator of the Java programming language. 2. Amanda Gosling (born 1976), a Canadian visual artist known for her intricate paper cut-outs. 3. Ray Gosling (1939-2015), an English journalist and broadcaster, known for his work on gay rights and euthanasia. 4. William Gosling (1824-1879), an English architect responsible for designing several churches and buildings in London. 5. John Gosling (1909-2001), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire and Cambridge University.

The Gosling surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Gosling Green in Buckinghamshire, England, and Gosling Close in Oxfordshire, further reflecting its English origins and historical presence across different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gosling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gosling 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. Middlesex leads with 501 Goslings recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.10x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 501 1.10x
Surrey 413 1.85x
Essex 373 4.13x
Suffolk 373 6.69x
Cheshire 371 3.67x
Lancashire 323 0.60x
Devon 244 2.56x
Kent 229 1.47x
Yorkshire 219 0.48x
Lincolnshire 204 2.79x
Gloucestershire 189 2.11x
Hampshire 185 1.97x
Staffordshire 165 1.07x
Berkshire 108 3.15x
Warwickshire 86 0.75x
Somerset 78 1.06x
Sussex 65 0.84x
Derbyshire 52 0.73x
Norfolk 51 0.73x
Oxfordshire 46 1.63x
Nottinghamshire 45 0.73x
Wiltshire 41 1.01x
Dorset 40 1.33x
Hertfordshire 39 1.24x
Cornwall 36 0.70x
Bedfordshire 25 1.06x
Durham 22 0.16x
Channel Islands 21 1.55x
Northumberland 15 0.22x
Glamorgan 14 0.18x
Worcestershire 14 0.23x
Leicestershire 12 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 11 0.38x
Monmouthshire 11 0.33x
Westmorland 9 0.90x
Buckinghamshire 8 0.29x
Merionethshire 7 0.84x
Fife 6 0.22x
Cumberland 5 0.13x
Dumfriesshire 5 0.49x
Rutland 5 1.49x
Lanarkshire 4 0.03x
Northamptonshire 4 0.09x
Ayrshire 3 0.09x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.21x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.19x
Royal Navy 2 0.37x
Shropshire 2 0.05x
Herefordshire 1 0.05x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.11x
Perthshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Macclesfield in Cheshire leads with 88 Goslings recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.61x.

Place Total Index
Macclesfield 88 19.61x
Camberwell 87 2.98x
West Ham 83 4.16x
Harborne 63 12.73x
Kensington London 63 2.48x
Stockport 61 11.74x
St Pancras London 59 1.60x
Lambeth 54 1.35x
Birmingham 48 1.25x
Kempsford 43 330.52x
Islington London 41 0.92x
Ashton Under Lyne 39 3.29x
Southwark St George Martyr 37 4.02x
Plumstead 36 6.92x
Lewisham 33 3.97x
Newington 32 1.89x
Deptford St Paul 31 2.58x
Battersea 30 1.78x
Mile End Old Town London 30 3.08x
Portsea 30 1.63x
Gorleston 29 20.49x
Heaton Norris 29 9.39x
St Marylebone London 29 1.19x
Bramhall 26 62.17x
Stoke Damerel 26 3.90x
Bermondsey 25 1.84x
Hyde 25 8.39x
Mareham Le Fen 24 208.33x
Paddington London 24 1.43x
Ipswich St Clement 23 16.24x
Ipswich St Mathew 23 14.73x
Leeds 23 0.90x
Manchester 23 0.94x
Southampton St Mary 23 3.90x
Aston 22 0.69x
Chelmsford 22 14.20x
Hackney London 22 0.86x
Stoke Upon Trent 22 1.34x
Bromley London 21 2.09x
Croydon 21 1.70x
Great Bromley 20 176.37x
Eckington 19 10.92x
Honiton 19 36.06x
Lechlade 19 103.20x
Oldham 19 1.08x
Warrington 19 2.95x
Heeley 18 13.07x
Stayley 18 15.60x
Bosden 17 54.86x
Butterwick 17 203.59x
Congleton 17 9.74x
Ecclesall Bierlow 17 1.84x
Sutton In Macclesfield 17 16.22x
Bradfield 16 9.16x
Braintree 16 19.74x
Folkestone 16 5.29x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 16 9.75x
Gorton 16 3.14x
Stowmarket 16 24.85x
Swindon 16 5.10x
Brighton 15 0.96x
Nottingham St Mary 15 0.94x
South Stoneham 15 7.38x
St George Hanover Square 15 1.86x
Boston 14 6.31x
Bristol St Paul In 14 5.86x
Colyton 14 38.29x
Falmouth 14 7.64x
Farnham 14 178.12x
Hitcham 14 99.72x
Offley 14 68.26x
Shoreditch London 14 0.71x
St Helier 14 3.17x
Woolwich 14 2.43x
Frithville Boston Sibsey 13 271.40x
Hopton 13 94.48x
Newton 13 3.11x
Salcombe Regis 13 145.41x
Sutton St Mary 13 18.80x
Wandsworth 13 2.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 291
Elizabeth 166
Sarah 164
Eliza 97
Alice 92
Emma 92
Ann 80
Emily 79
Ellen 73
Jane 60
Hannah 55
Annie 54
Martha 45
Margaret 43
Maria 42
Caroline 39
Louisa 37
Harriet 36
Edith 35
Florence 30
Charlotte 29
Lucy 25
Ada 23
Clara 23
Harriett 21
Anne 20
Jessie 19
Amelia 18
Frances 18
Matilda 18
Susan 16
Anna 15
Kate 14
Minnie 14
Rebecca 14
Laura 12
Rose 12
Sophia 12
Susannah 12
Esther 11
Fanny 11
Amy 10
Catherine 10
Eleanor 10
Gertrude 10
Agnes 8
Beatrice 8
Bertha 8
Isabella 8
Ruth 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 302
John 242
George 188
James 145
Thomas 121
Henry 118
Charles 101
Joseph 83
Frederick 60
Alfred 58
Arthur 55
Robert 51
Samuel 50
Albert 46
Walter 46
Richard 35
Edward 33
Ernest 29
Harry 27
Edwin 22
Frank 19
Fred 17
Herbert 16
Francis 14
Fredk. 11
Isaac 11
Peter 11
Stephen 11
Wm. 11
Tom 10
David 9
Josiah 8
Thos. 8
Fredrick 7
Sydney 6
Chas. 5
Jacob 5
Benjamin 4
Daniel 4
Mark 4
Moses 4
Nathan 4
Oliver 4
Christopher 3
Frances 3
Jesse 3
Lewis 3
Percy 3
Phillip 3
Reginald 3

FAQ

Gosling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gosling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,669 people were recorded with the Gosling surname. That placed it at #954 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gosling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,770 in 2016. That gives Gosling a modern rank of #1,163.

What does the Gosling surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "gosling," referring to a young goose.

What does the Gosling map show?

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