NameCensus.

UK surname

Gosnell

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Gosa's hill" or "Gosa's hall."

In the 1881 census there were 154 people recorded with the Gosnell surname, ranking it #15,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 333, ranked #13,670, up from #15,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Reigate and Banstead, South Bucks and Chichester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gosnell is 391 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 116.2%.

1881 census count

154

Ranked #15,259

Modern count

333

2016, ranked #13,670

Peak year

1999

391 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gosnell had 154 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 333 in 2016, ranked #13,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 268 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Gosnell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gosnell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gosnell 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 93 #17,946
1861 historical 68 #25,196
1881 historical 154 #15,259
1891 historical 177 #16,330
1901 historical 243 #13,358
1911 historical 268 #12,332
1997 modern 347 #12,251
1998 modern 370 #12,052
1999 modern 391 #11,640
2000 modern 378 #11,882
2001 modern 375 #11,774
2002 modern 377 #11,962
2003 modern 366 #12,010
2004 modern 367 #12,028
2005 modern 357 #12,194
2006 modern 348 #12,498
2007 modern 343 #12,773
2008 modern 353 #12,616
2009 modern 357 #12,766
2010 modern 364 #12,851
2011 modern 363 #12,738
2012 modern 332 #13,501
2013 modern 345 #13,326
2014 modern 344 #13,426
2015 modern 333 #13,676
2016 modern 333 #13,670

Geography

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Where Gosnells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, St George the Martyr and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Reigate and Banstead, South Bucks, Chichester, Harlow and South Staffordshire. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
4 St George the Martyr London (South Districts)
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Reigate and Banstead 013 Reigate and Banstead
2 South Bucks 002 South Bucks
3 Chichester 014 Chichester
4 Harlow 009 Harlow
5 South Staffordshire 012 South Staffordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gosnell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gosnell

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Gosnell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Gosnell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Gosnell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gosnell 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

Gosnell falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gosnell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gosnell

The surname Gosnell is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, with roots tracing back to the 12th century. The name is thought to have derived from the Old English words "gos" meaning goose and "nell" meaning a small valley or stream, suggesting that the original bearers of this name may have resided near a stream frequented by geese.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named Roger de Gosenhulle is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Gosenhulle," provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

The Gosnell surname is also associated with various place names across England, such as Gosnell's Leys in Bedfordshire and Gosnell's Green in Hertfordshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and spread of the surname.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Gosnell surname. One such person was John Gosnell (1625-1696), an English painter known for his still-life and portrait works. Another was Thomas Gosnell (1676-1742), a renowned maker of musical instruments, particularly violins, in London.

In the 18th century, William Gosnell (1756-1832) made a name for himself as a successful chemist and soap manufacturer in London. His company, Gosnell & Co., became renowned for its high-quality products and innovative techniques.

Moving into the 19th century, Reverend Peter Gosnell (1796-1869) was a respected Anglican clergyman and author, serving as the Vicar of St. Peter's Church in Wolverhampton.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Gosnell surname in America dates back to the late 17th century, when Thomas Gosnell (1660-1720) settled in Virginia and became a prominent landowner and planter.

While the Gosnell surname may have varied in spelling and distribution over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the English countryside, where the name's meaning and history were deeply rooted in the landscape and occupations of its earliest bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gosnell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gosnell 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. Surrey leads with 37 Gosnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.02x.

County Total Index
Surrey 37 5.02x
Middlesex 30 1.98x
Essex 15 5.03x
Shropshire 15 11.48x
Renfrewshire 13 11.10x
Staffordshire 13 2.55x
Wiltshire 9 6.73x
Hampshire 5 1.61x
Glamorgan 3 1.14x
Kent 3 0.58x
Suffolk 3 1.63x
Warwickshire 3 0.79x
Herefordshire 2 3.23x
Argyllshire 1 2.38x
Dorset 1 1.01x
Lancashire 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 5.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwark St George Martyr in Surrey leads with 16 Gosnells recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.60x.

Place Total Index
Southwark St George Martyr 16 52.60x
Colchester St Mary At 13 1226.42x
West Greenock 12 57.06x
Islington London 11 7.51x
Trowbridge 9 152.28x
Wolverhampton 9 22.94x
Ratcliffe London 8 95.81x
Bermondsey 7 15.55x
Camberwell 5 5.18x
Chelsea London 5 10.97x
Newport 5 316.46x
Drayton In Hales 4 148.70x
Eling 4 127.39x
Ashford 3 59.76x
Birmingham 3 2.36x
Cardiff St Mary 3 20.69x
Kingston On Thames 3 16.95x
Lambeth 3 2.28x
Stafford St Mary 3 41.55x
Stoke Upon Tern 3 625.00x
Stutton 3 1071.43x
Bethnal Green London 2 3.05x
Chester All Sts 2 833.33x
Mordiford 2 689.66x
Moreton Say 2 588.24x
Sutton 2 37.52x
Church Oakley 1 666.67x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.80x
Donington 1 500.00x
East Greenock 1 9.04x
Hopton Coton 1 138.89x
Kensington London 1 1.19x
Knapdale South 1 68.97x
Lyme Regis 1 84.03x
Reigate Foreign 1 12.53x
Royal Navy 1 6.49x
Spitalfields London 1 8.80x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 32.15x
Warrington 1 4.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 7
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Alice 2
Constance 2
Jane 2
Maria 2
Amy 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Anola 1
Charlotta 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Eujenie 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Francess 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
M.F. 1
Nellie 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
George 11
John 9
Thomas 5
Edward 4
Alfred 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Henry 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Alfd.J. 1
Carl 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Chas. 1
H.Clfford 1
J.R.S. 1
Leonard 1
Thos.Hudes 1
W.H. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Gosnell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gosnell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 154 people were recorded with the Gosnell surname. That placed it at #15,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gosnell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 333 in 2016. That gives Gosnell a modern rank of #13,670.

What does the Gosnell surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Gosa's hill" or "Gosa's hall."

What does the Gosnell map show?

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