NameCensus.

UK surname

Gubbins

An English surname derived from a medieval term for scraps, fragments, or odds and ends.

In the 1881 census there were 511 people recorded with the Gubbins surname, ranking it #6,667 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 603, ranked #8,687, down from #6,667 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newchurch, London parishes and Byfield, Chipping Warden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wychavon, South Somerset and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gubbins is 784 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.0%.

1881 census count

511

Ranked #6,667

Modern count

603

2016, ranked #8,687

Peak year

1911

784 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gubbins had 511 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,667 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 603 in 2016, ranked #8,687.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 784 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gubbins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gubbins surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gubbins 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 308 #7,478
1861 historical 289 #8,711
1881 historical 511 #6,667
1891 historical 594 #6,436
1901 historical 690 #6,352
1911 historical 784 #5,554
1997 modern 620 #7,967
1998 modern 650 #7,904
1999 modern 640 #8,060
2000 modern 638 #8,047
2001 modern 620 #8,085
2002 modern 630 #8,163
2003 modern 635 #7,970
2004 modern 615 #8,203
2005 modern 597 #8,299
2006 modern 584 #8,450
2007 modern 597 #8,383
2008 modern 592 #8,504
2009 modern 599 #8,612
2010 modern 599 #8,796
2011 modern 605 #8,639
2012 modern 608 #8,522
2013 modern 606 #8,678
2014 modern 614 #8,643
2015 modern 615 #8,556
2016 modern 603 #8,687

Geography

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Where Gubbins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newchurch, London parishes, Byfield, Chipping Warden, Brixworth and Wootton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wychavon, South Somerset, Isle of Wight, Broxtowe and West Oxfordshire. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Byfield, Chipping Warden Northamptonshire
4 Brixworth Northamptonshire
5 Wootton Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wychavon 012 Wychavon
2 South Somerset 020 South Somerset
3 Isle of Wight 011 Isle of Wight
4 Broxtowe 015 Broxtowe
5 West Oxfordshire 004 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gubbins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gubbins

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gubbins 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

Gubbins is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gubbins falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gubbins

The surname Gubbins has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gobban," which means "lump" or "clod." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person with a particularly stout or rotund physique.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gubbins can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1195, where it appears as "Gobbyn." This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

During the medieval period, the Gubbins family was primarily concentrated in the counties of Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, with some branches also found in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

In the 14th century, the Gubbins name appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, an important record of landowners and taxpayers from that time. This suggests that members of the Gubbins family had achieved a certain level of prominence and wealth.

One notable individual bearing the Gubbins surname was Sir John Gubbins (1508-1556), a member of the English gentry from Gloucestershire. He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Tewkesbury in 1547 and was knighted by King Edward VI.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Gubbins (1592-1664), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Kilscoran in County Wexford, Ireland. He wrote several religious works, including "The Divine Law of Positive Sanctions" and "The Present Reformation of the Church of England."

In the 17th century, the Gubbins name was associated with the village of Gubbins Green in Buckinghamshire, which likely took its name from a local landowner or prominent member of the Gubbins family.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several members of the Gubbins family made notable contributions in various fields. William Gubbins (1736-1811) was an English architect who designed several churches and country houses in the Neoclassical style.

Another noteworthy individual was Martin Gubbins (1805-1873), an Irish-born British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery at the Battle of Sebastopol in 1855.

While the Gubbins surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration to former British colonies and territories.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gubbins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gubbins 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. Northamptonshire leads with 87 Gubbins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.52x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 87 18.52x
Middlesex 79 1.58x
Hampshire 77 7.52x
Warwickshire 44 3.49x
Kent 33 1.94x
Oxfordshire 31 10.05x
Surrey 31 1.27x
Gloucestershire 30 3.06x
Staffordshire 24 1.42x
Dorset 18 5.49x
Lancashire 7 0.12x
Yorkshire 7 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.90x
Huntingdonshire 6 6.05x
Devon 5 0.48x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.32x
Sussex 4 0.48x
Cheshire 3 0.27x
Worcestershire 3 0.46x
Berkshire 2 0.53x
Glamorgan 2 0.23x
Derbyshire 1 0.13x
Hertfordshire 1 0.29x
Leicestershire 1 0.18x
Monmouthshire 1 0.28x
Renfrewshire 1 0.26x
Royal Navy 1 1.68x
Somerset 1 0.12x
Suffolk 1 0.16x
Wiltshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brixworth in Northamptonshire leads with 36 Gubbins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1791.04x.

Place Total Index
Brixworth 36 1791.04x
Wootton 23 1243.24x
Chipping Warden 21 3088.24x
Bisley 20 225.23x
Northwood 17 116.60x
Tonbridge 16 26.03x
Aston 15 4.33x
Millbrook 15 58.18x
Shalfleet 12 609.14x
Staines 10 126.42x
Cottesbrooke 9 2432.43x
Hammersmith London 9 7.32x
Holdenhurst 8 29.80x
Northampton Priory St 8 28.38x
St George In East London 8 17.03x
St Pancras London 8 1.99x
Welford 8 503.14x
Westminster St John 8 13.15x
Dunstall 7 1489.36x
Weybridge 7 134.10x
Wolverhampton 7 5.40x
Alwalton 6 1090.91x
Bishops Itchington 6 495.87x
Croydon 6 4.44x
Hampreston 6 252.10x
Wisbech St Peter 6 37.83x
Birmingham 5 1.19x
Chelsea London 5 3.32x
Ecclesfield 5 13.78x
Gussage All Sts 5 704.23x
Hackney London 5 1.79x
Kensington London 5 1.80x
Long Ditton 5 125.94x
Milverton 5 135.50x
Newport 5 90.09x
Stroud 5 26.23x
Brill 4 181.00x
Deptford St Paul 4 3.04x
Melcombe Regis 4 29.46x
Priors Hardwick 4 833.33x
St George Hanover Square 4 4.55x
St Luke London 4 4.99x
St Marylebone London 4 1.50x
Thame 4 71.30x
Upham 4 357.14x
Bermondsey 3 2.02x
Camberwell 3 0.94x
Carisbrooke 3 21.11x
Christchurch 3 13.51x
Deenethorpe 3 857.14x
Everton 3 1.59x
Folkestone 3 9.08x
Lutley 3 967.74x
Manchester 3 1.13x
Minchinhampton 3 38.46x
Ramsgate 3 10.78x
Whitgreave 3 1153.85x
Barnstaple 2 12.25x
Birkenhead 2 2.28x
Brighton 2 1.18x
Brockenhurst 2 112.99x
Cuckfield 2 23.50x
Isleworth 2 9.01x
Laleston 2 217.39x
Lambeth 2 0.46x
Lamerton 2 101.01x
Leamington Priors 2 6.45x
Lee 2 8.08x
Leek Lowe 2 8.92x
Radford Semele 2 210.53x
Ringwood 2 30.53x
St Giles Cripplegate 2 30.17x
Streatham 2 5.40x
West Bromwich 2 2.07x
Wimborne Minster 2 37.74x
Woodstock 2 103.09x
Ospringe 1 47.62x
Rothwell 1 21.19x
Twyford 1 40.82x
Yarlett 1 500.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 38
John 33
Thomas 15
Joseph 14
James 13
Charles 11
George 11
Edward 10
Henry 10
Alfred 8
Frederick 6
Frank 5
Richard 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
Albert 3
Samuel 3
Daniel 2
Edgar 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Levi 2
Stephen 2
Caleb 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Lucius 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Owen 1
Patrick 1
Quartus 1
Reuben 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Russell 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gubbins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gubbins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 511 people were recorded with the Gubbins surname. That placed it at #6,667 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gubbins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 603 in 2016. That gives Gubbins a modern rank of #8,687.

What does the Gubbins surname mean?

An English surname derived from a medieval term for scraps, fragments, or odds and ends.

What does the Gubbins map show?

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