NameCensus.

UK surname

Gotch

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "goche" meaning "coat" or "robe".

In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Gotch surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 210, ranked #18,965, down from #18,324 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, St John Hackney and Kettering. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harborough, Selby and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gotch is 219 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.2%.

1881 census count

114

Ranked #18,324

Modern count

210

2016, ranked #18,965

Peak year

2015

219 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gotch had 114 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,324 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016, ranked #18,965.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 206 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Gotch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gotch surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gotch 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 80 #19,558
1861 historical 55 #27,007
1881 historical 114 #18,324
1891 historical 150 #18,328
1901 historical 191 #15,579
1911 historical 206 #14,677
1997 modern 202 #17,514
1998 modern 210 #17,600
1999 modern 208 #17,808
2000 modern 199 #18,278
2001 modern 197 #18,108
2002 modern 200 #18,294
2003 modern 215 #17,286
2004 modern 215 #17,384
2005 modern 209 #17,629
2006 modern 199 #18,357
2007 modern 196 #18,737
2008 modern 201 #18,584
2009 modern 204 #18,779
2010 modern 209 #18,893
2011 modern 210 #18,677
2012 modern 207 #18,777
2013 modern 214 #18,671
2014 modern 215 #18,764
2015 modern 219 #18,406
2016 modern 210 #18,965

Geography

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Where Gotchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, St John Hackney, Kettering, St Mary Islington and Selby, Hemingborough (Barlby). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harborough, Selby, Kensington and Chelsea and Huntingdonshire. 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 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
2 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
3 Kettering Northamptonshire
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Selby, Hemingborough (Barlby) Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harborough 008 Harborough
2 Selby 005 Selby
3 Kensington and Chelsea 020 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Huntingdonshire 012 Huntingdonshire
5 Harborough 007 Harborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gotch

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gotch

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Gotch surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Gotch household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Gotch 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

Gotch is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gotch falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gotch

The surname "GOTCH" is believed to have originated in England, with roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is considered a locational name, derived from a place called Gotch or Goch, which could have been a small village or hamlet in the English countryside.

Some experts suggest that the name "GOTCH" may be derived from the Old English word "goc," meaning "a cuckoo" or "a foolish person." This could indicate that the name was initially used as a nickname for someone who exhibited qualities associated with a cuckoo or a foolish individual.

The earliest recorded instance of the name "GOTCH" appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it is spelled as "Gocche." This document was a survey of landowners and tenants conducted during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 16th century, the name "GOTCH" was found in various records, including parish registers and tax rolls. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Gotch, a merchant from London who was born around 1540 and played a role in the expansion of the English wool trade.

During the 17th century, the surname "GOTCH" was well-established in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire. One prominent individual with this name was John Gotch, a Puritan minister born in 1592 who served as the rector of St. Andrew's Church in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

In the 18th century, the name "GOTCH" continued to be found in various records, including marriage registers and wills. One notable figure was William Gotch, a prominent clockmaker from Kettering, Northamptonshire, who was born in 1736 and gained recognition for his intricate and well-crafted timepieces.

Moving into the 19th century, the name "GOTCH" was still present in various parts of England. One notable individual was Henry Gotch, an architect and surveyor from Kettering, Northamptonshire, who was born in 1823 and designed several notable buildings in the region.

Throughout its history, the surname "GOTCH" has been associated with various professions and backgrounds, including merchants, clergymen, artisans, and professionals. While not a particularly common name, it has left its mark on the historical records of England and continues to be carried by families around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gotch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gotch 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 33 Gotchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.97x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 33 2.97x
Northamptonshire 28 26.77x
Essex 10 4.56x
Leicestershire 10 8.11x
Hampshire 9 3.95x
Warwickshire 8 2.85x
Yorkshire 7 0.64x
Gloucestershire 2 0.92x
Herefordshire 2 4.39x
Staffordshire 2 0.53x
Surrey 2 0.37x
Sussex 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 16 Gotchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.67x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 16 25.67x
Hornsey 11 78.24x
Arthingworth 10 14285.71x
West Ham 10 20.64x
Humberstone 9 891.09x
Kettering 9 212.77x
Birmingham 8 8.56x
St Faith Winchester 7 660.38x
Northampton St Peter 5 781.25x
Selby 5 217.39x
Kensington London 4 6.47x
Northampton All Sts 4 112.68x
Bristol St Paul In 2 34.42x
Clapham 2 14.39x
Handsworth 2 21.62x
Hereford All Sts 2 95.69x
Ryde 2 40.82x
Broadwater 1 23.26x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 14.10x
Holy Trinity 1 3.77x
Husbands Bosworth 1 312.50x
Paddington London 1 2.45x
St George Bloomsbury 1 15.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Caroline 4
Elizabeth 4
Alice 3
Sarah 3
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Florence 2
Louisa 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizh. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Sofia 1
Susanah 1
Susannah 1
Temperance 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 9
John 5
Charles 4
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
George 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
William 2
Abraham 1
Archibald 1
Benjn. 1
Bernard 1
Davis 1
Eli 1
Frank 1
Fredk.W. 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Fredrick 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Wm.P.H. 1

FAQ

Gotch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gotch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Gotch surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gotch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016. That gives Gotch a modern rank of #18,965.

What does the Gotch surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "goche" meaning "coat" or "robe".

What does the Gotch map show?

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