NameCensus.

UK surname

Gregor

A surname derived from the Latin name Gregorius, meaning "watchful" or "alert."

In the 1881 census there were 508 people recorded with the Gregor surname, ranking it #6,704 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 521, ranked #9,701, down from #6,704 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Padstow, London parishes and Methven. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cherwell, Deans Village and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gregor is 738 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.6%.

1881 census count

508

Ranked #6,704

Modern count

521

2016, ranked #9,701

Peak year

1901

738 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gregor had 508 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,704 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 521 in 2016, ranked #9,701.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 738 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Gregor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gregor surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gregor 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 424 #5,760
1861 historical 449 #5,764
1881 historical 508 #6,704
1891 historical 655 #5,925
1901 historical 738 #6,008
1911 historical 329 #10,688
1997 modern 399 #11,028
1998 modern 433 #10,718
1999 modern 430 #10,855
2000 modern 416 #11,086
2001 modern 408 #11,056
2002 modern 430 #10,840
2003 modern 427 #10,720
2004 modern 423 #10,816
2005 modern 414 #10,899
2006 modern 430 #10,624
2007 modern 426 #10,809
2008 modern 434 #10,756
2009 modern 454 #10,590
2010 modern 477 #10,410
2011 modern 472 #10,400
2012 modern 475 #10,232
2013 modern 487 #10,227
2014 modern 507 #9,981
2015 modern 516 #9,789
2016 modern 521 #9,701

Geography

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Where Gregors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Padstow, London parishes, Methven, Edinburgh and Gwennap. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cherwell, Deans Village, Cornwall and Aberchirder and Whitehills. 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 Padstow Cornwall
2 London parishes London 3
3 Methven Perth
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Gwennap Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cherwell 014 Cherwell
2 Deans Village City of Edinburgh
3 Cornwall 045 Cornwall
4 Aberchirder and Whitehills Aberdeenshire
5 Cornwall 008 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gregor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gregor

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Gregor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Gregor household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gregor 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

Gregor 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

Gregor 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 Gregor 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 Gregor, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gregor

The surname "GREGOR" is of Scottish origin and dates back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Greek name "Gregorios", meaning "watchful" or "vigilant". The name was likely brought to Scotland by Christian missionaries who sought to spread the faith in the region.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname can be found in the Scottish parish records from the late 1500s, where it appears as "Gregour" and "Greigour". These early spellings reflect the phonetic variations that were common before standardized spelling became more widespread.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Gregor, a Scottish landowner who lived in the late 16th century. Records indicate he owned property in the Aberdeenshire region, which was likely how the surname became established in that area.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various historical documents, including the Baillie's Register of Glasgow, where a merchant named Robert Gregor is mentioned in the year 1635. This suggests the name had spread to urban centers by this time.

As the centuries progressed, the Gregor surname became more widely dispersed throughout Scotland and beyond. Notable individuals bearing this name include:

1. Walter Gregor (1799-1887), a Scottish minister and folklore collector who published extensively on the traditions and customs of the North-East of Scotland.

2. William Gregor (1761-1817), a Cornish clergyman and mineralogist who discovered the metal titanium in 1791.

3. Everett Gregor (1913-1994), an American baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1930s and 1940s.

4. Aleksandr Gregor (1875-1965), a Russian-born American chemist who made significant contributions to the development of synthetic rubber during World War II.

5. Iain Gregor (born 1958), a Scottish actor best known for his roles in television series such as "Taggart" and "Rebus".

While the Gregor surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by emigrants and descendants of Scottish families. Today, it remains a notable surname with a rich historical legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gregor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gregor 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. Cornwall leads with 93 Gregors recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.84x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 93 16.84x
Midlothian 77 11.78x
Aberdeenshire 57 12.62x
Morayshire 25 32.99x
Perthshire 23 10.51x
Fife 22 7.62x
Lanarkshire 22 1.39x
Durham 21 1.45x
Banffshire 18 17.79x
Glamorgan 14 1.65x
Lancashire 11 0.19x
Devon 10 0.99x
Surrey 10 0.42x
Gloucestershire 8 0.84x
Kent 8 0.48x
West Lothian 8 10.89x
Argyllshire 7 5.16x
Essex 7 0.73x
Middlesex 7 0.14x
Ross-shire 7 5.23x
Angus 6 1.33x
Kincardineshire 5 8.42x
Inverness-shire 4 2.75x
Isle of Man 4 4.42x
Wiltshire 4 0.93x
Berkshire 3 0.82x
Cumberland 3 0.71x
Hampshire 3 0.30x
Somerset 2 0.25x
Ayrshire 1 0.27x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Denbighshire 1 0.54x
East Lothian 1 1.55x
Nairnshire 1 6.72x
Norfolk 1 0.13x
Northumberland 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 1.72x
Suffolk 1 0.17x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 33 Gregors recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.55x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 33 12.55x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 25 29.58x
Gwennap 20 191.94x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 18 116.43x
St Merryn 17 1868.13x
Edinburgh St Marys 12 94.49x
Elgin 12 81.41x
Phillack 11 154.28x
St Allen 11 1134.02x
Barony 10 2.51x
Tanfield 10 57.97x
Gulval 9 253.52x
South Leith 9 12.24x
Duffus 8 119.76x
Methven 8 249.22x
Newbottle 8 101.01x
Abbotshall 7 64.87x
Clifton 7 14.47x
Govan 7 1.79x
Perranzabuloe 7 147.06x
Stoke Damerel 7 9.85x
West Ham 7 3.29x
Burntisland 6 74.35x
Dundee 6 3.56x
Greenwich 6 7.73x
Kennethmont 6 357.14x
Midmar 6 344.83x
Rathen 6 126.85x
Rosemarkie 6 410.96x
St Clement 6 104.17x
Strachur Stralachlan 6 535.71x
Swansea Town 6 8.62x
Battersea 5 2.79x
Durris 5 294.12x
Glasgow 5 1.79x
Markinch 5 51.02x
Marnoch 5 92.08x
Tibbermore 5 159.24x
Aberdare 4 6.86x
Boness 4 39.49x
Carriden 4 120.12x
Clase 4 12.67x
Dunfermline 4 9.01x
Great Crosby 4 25.35x
Perth East Church 4 19.38x
Pitsligo 4 92.59x
St Columb Major 4 87.34x
Swindon 4 11.95x
Banff 3 34.13x
Blairgowrie 3 34.64x
Holdenhurst 3 11.44x
Kincardine O Neil 3 92.88x
Liverpool 3 0.85x
Monquhitter 3 64.10x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 2.12x
Bermondsey 2 1.38x
Braddan 2 40.40x
Colinton 2 27.43x
Cookham 2 17.53x
Fordyce 2 27.47x
Forres 2 25.09x
Inverness 2 5.46x
Kilmorack 2 45.25x
Kinnoull 2 34.78x
Lambeth 2 0.47x
Onchan 2 7.67x
Rathven 2 10.53x
Rickergate 2 22.50x
St Marylebone London 2 0.77x
Stranton 2 4.09x
Aberlady 1 59.52x
Birnie 1 163.93x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 5.76x
Grange 1 33.78x
Inveravon 1 23.20x
Milton In Gravesend 1 4.01x
Prestwich 1 6.93x
St Bartholomew Less 1 39.84x
Thatcham 1 17.73x
Westminster St James 1 1.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 7
Sarah 6
Annie 5
Caroline 5
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Edith 3
Grace 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Susan 2
Alace 1
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Claria 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Emilyn 1
Flossy 1
Harrt. 1
Joanna 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lenora 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Mabel 1
Matilda 1
Nellie 1
Valetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 13
Thomas 9
George 8
Henry 5
Richard 5
Charles 4
Edwin 4
James 4
Arthur 3
Joseph 3
Alfred 2
Edmund 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Anthony 1
Carl 1
Donald 1
Earnest 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Jame 1
Joanna 1
Macadam 1
Max 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Ralph 1
Sydney 1
Thos.B. 1
W. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Gregor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gregor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 508 people were recorded with the Gregor surname. That placed it at #6,704 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gregor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 521 in 2016. That gives Gregor a modern rank of #9,701.

What does the Gregor surname mean?

A surname derived from the Latin name Gregorius, meaning "watchful" or "alert."

What does the Gregor map show?

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