NameCensus.

UK surname

Govan

A Scottish locational surname derived from a place near Glasgow, likely meaning "small hill" in Gaelic.

In the 1881 census there were 548 people recorded with the Govan surname, ranking it #6,297 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 951, ranked #6,039, up from #6,297 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ayr Newton and St Quivox, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fallin, Carse and Grangemouth Old Town and Forth, Braehead and Auchengray.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Govan is 951 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.5%.

1881 census count

548

Ranked #6,297

Modern count

951

2016, ranked #6,039

Peak year

2016

951 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Govan had 548 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,297 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 951 in 2016, ranked #6,039.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 605 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Govan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Govan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Govan 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 409 #5,929
1861 historical 453 #5,718
1881 historical 548 #6,297
1891 historical 583 #6,554
1901 historical 605 #7,027
1911 historical 177 #16,129
1997 modern 850 #6,239
1998 modern 889 #6,218
1999 modern 910 #6,150
2000 modern 921 #6,074
2001 modern 901 #6,083
2002 modern 938 #5,997
2003 modern 917 #5,991
2004 modern 914 #6,014
2005 modern 906 #5,998
2006 modern 890 #6,095
2007 modern 908 #6,044
2008 modern 908 #6,092
2009 modern 919 #6,154
2010 modern 937 #6,183
2011 modern 907 #6,288
2012 modern 921 #6,138
2013 modern 940 #6,143
2014 modern 948 #6,137
2015 modern 943 #6,102
2016 modern 951 #6,039

Geography

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Where Govans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ayr Newton and St Quivox, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fallin, Carse and Grangemouth Old Town, Forth, Braehead and Auchengray, Cranhill, Lightburn and Queenslie South and Bolton. 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 Ayr Newton and St Quivox Ayr
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fallin Stirling
2 Carse and Grangemouth Old Town Falkirk
3 Forth, Braehead and Auchengray South Lanarkshire
4 Cranhill, Lightburn and Queenslie South Glasgow City
5 Bolton 015 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Govan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Govan

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Govan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Govan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Govan 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

Govan is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Govan falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Govan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Govan

The surname Govan is of Scottish origin, deriving from the town of Govan, located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Renfrewshire. The name is believed to have originated from the Brythonic word 'go-uan', meaning 'little meadow' or 'little plain'. Alternatively, it may stem from the Old Welsh 'gau-fann', signifying a place of refuge or sanctuary.

Records indicate that the name Govan has been present in Scotland since the 12th century. One of the earliest known references to the name is found in the Register of the Monastery of Paisley, dated 1163, which mentions a 'Robertus de Govan'. This suggests that the Govan family held lands in the area during this time.

The Domesday Book, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct mentions of the name Govan. However, it is possible that individuals with this surname were present in Scotland at the time, as the survey did not extend to that region.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Govan throughout history include:

1. John Govan (c. 1500 - c. 1570), a Scottish Protestant reformer and Presbyterian minister who served as the first Minister of Glasgow Cathedral.

2. William Govan (1625 - 1698), a Scottish merchant and provost of Glasgow from 1677 to 1680, known for his involvement in the city's trade and governance.

3. Archibald Govan (1804 - 1887), a Scottish-born Canadian engineer and shipbuilder who established the Govan shipyard in Glasgow, one of the largest shipyards in the world during the late 19th century.

4. Janet Govan (1854 - 1931), a Scottish author and feminist activist who campaigned for women's suffrage and wrote several novels and short stories.

5. William Govan (1908 - 1988), a Scottish footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Rangers F.C. and the Scotland national team in the 1930s.

While the name Govan is primarily associated with Scotland, it has also been found in other parts of the United Kingdom, as well as in countries with significant Scottish immigration, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The name has also been subject to various spelling variations over time, including Gowan, Gouane, and Govane.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Govan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Govan 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. Lanarkshire leads with 179 Govans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.39x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 179 10.39x
Renfrewshire 94 22.77x
Ayrshire 59 14.80x
Midlothian 39 5.47x
Dunbartonshire 29 20.26x
Lancashire 23 0.36x
Stirlingshire 20 10.18x
Warwickshire 18 1.34x
Fife 15 4.76x
Berwickshire 8 12.40x
Brecknockshire 8 7.51x
East Lothian 8 11.34x
Middlesex 7 0.13x
Glamorgan 6 0.65x
Cheshire 4 0.34x
Durham 4 0.25x
Clackmannanshire 3 6.82x
Kent 3 0.17x
Perthshire 3 1.26x
Yorkshire 3 0.06x
Royal Navy 2 3.15x
Staffordshire 2 0.11x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.20x
Argyllshire 1 0.67x
Derbyshire 1 0.12x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.85x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Roxburghshire 1 1.04x
Shropshire 1 0.22x
Surrey 1 0.04x
Wigtownshire 1 1.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 72 Govans recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.90x.

Place Total Index
Govan 72 16.90x
Eastwood 38 149.49x
Barony 29 6.65x
Newton On Ayr 23 192.63x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 18 6.27x
Stonehouse 18 308.22x
Stirling 17 68.63x
Cardross 13 75.67x
Bothwell 12 25.69x
Cadder 12 94.34x
Coylton 12 212.01x
West Greenock 12 16.20x
Houston Killallan 11 275.69x
St Andrews 11 76.66x
Birmingham 9 2.01x
Glasgow 9 2.94x
Monkton Prestwick 9 231.96x
Barrow In Furness 8 9.31x
Cathcart 8 35.83x
Edrom 8 289.86x
Harpurhey 8 91.22x
Irvine 8 72.27x
Llanelly 8 62.79x
Mearns 8 110.65x
New Monkland 8 15.71x
Prestonkirk 8 226.63x
Duddingston 7 48.88x
Kirkintilloch 7 36.01x
Middle Greenock 7 62.17x
Avondale 6 59.58x
Coleshill 6 139.21x
Liverpool 6 1.56x
Maryhill 6 17.79x
Auckinleck 5 40.52x
Dumbarton 5 25.10x
Edinburgh New 5 90.25x
Paisley High Church 5 15.22x
Swansea Town 5 6.58x
Bonhill 4 17.41x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 5.83x
Liscard 4 18.89x
Cambusnethan 3 7.84x
Dunfermline 3 6.19x
Dunipace 3 87.21x
East Greenock 3 7.70x
Edinburgh Trinity 3 130.43x
Greenwich 3 3.54x
Little Packington 3 1363.64x
Logie 3 34.97x
Middlesbrough 3 4.36x
Tillicoultry 3 30.67x
Ayr 2 10.63x
Cambuslang 2 11.51x
Chelsea London 2 1.25x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 2 11.85x
Edinburgh St Stephens 2 14.23x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 0.97x
Aldershot 1 2.73x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.43x
Burton Upon Trent 1 2.38x
Cramond 1 18.48x
Cupar 1 7.29x
Dore 1 62.89x
Kensington London 1 0.34x
Kinnerley 1 45.66x
Kirkcolm 1 29.50x
Kirkdale 1 0.94x
Knapdale North 1 59.17x
Lesmahagow 1 5.49x
Morton 1 25.58x
Paisley Middle Church 1 4.16x
Roath 1 2.37x
Royal Navy 1 1.84x
Spitalfields London 1 2.50x
St Marylebone London 1 0.35x
St Pancras London 1 0.23x
Wimbledon 1 3.43x
Wolstanton 1 1.83x
Yetholm 1 52.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 3
Henrietta 2
Jane 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bessie 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Emma 1
Harriet 1
Janet 1
Manghan 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1
Martha 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 5
James 4
George 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Edward 2
Lewis 2
Solomon 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Barney 1
Bernard 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Ebenezor 1
Evan 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Hugh 1
Patrick 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Govan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Govan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 548 people were recorded with the Govan surname. That placed it at #6,297 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Govan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 951 in 2016. That gives Govan a modern rank of #6,039.

What does the Govan surname mean?

A Scottish locational surname derived from a place near Glasgow, likely meaning "small hill" in Gaelic.

What does the Govan map show?

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