NameCensus.

UK surname

Gudgeon

A surname derived from a small freshwater fish resembling a minnow.

In the 1881 census there were 737 people recorded with the Gudgeon surname, ranking it #4,971 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,250, ranked #4,783, up from #4,971 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Lancaster Borough and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hyndburn, Harrogate and Ribble Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gudgeon is 1,299 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.6%.

1881 census count

737

Ranked #4,971

Modern count

1,250

2016, ranked #4,783

Peak year

2014

1,299 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gudgeon had 737 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,971 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,250 in 2016, ranked #4,783.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,150 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gudgeon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gudgeon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gudgeon 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 483 #5,157
1861 historical 420 #6,114
1881 historical 737 #4,971
1891 historical 830 #4,894
1901 historical 1,066 #4,528
1911 historical 1,150 #4,059
1997 modern 1,232 #4,613
1998 modern 1,271 #4,663
1999 modern 1,267 #4,705
2000 modern 1,291 #4,606
2001 modern 1,265 #4,598
2002 modern 1,282 #4,632
2003 modern 1,255 #4,628
2004 modern 1,258 #4,619
2005 modern 1,228 #4,667
2006 modern 1,212 #4,737
2007 modern 1,221 #4,745
2008 modern 1,200 #4,841
2009 modern 1,241 #4,807
2010 modern 1,265 #4,826
2011 modern 1,274 #4,734
2012 modern 1,267 #4,679
2013 modern 1,289 #4,687
2014 modern 1,299 #4,682
2015 modern 1,275 #4,718
2016 modern 1,250 #4,783

Geography

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Where Gudgeons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Lancaster Borough, London parishes and Luton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hyndburn, Harrogate, Ribble Valley and Nuneaton and Bedworth. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Luton Bedfordshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hyndburn 006 Hyndburn
2 Harrogate 005 Harrogate
3 Hyndburn 004 Hyndburn
4 Ribble Valley 003 Ribble Valley
5 Nuneaton and Bedworth 001 Nuneaton and Bedworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gudgeon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gudgeon

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Gudgeon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gudgeon 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

Gudgeon falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gudgeon

The surname Gudgeon is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "goujon," which means "gudgeon," a small freshwater fish belonging to the carp family.

The name likely originated as a nickname or occupational descriptor for someone who caught or sold gudgeon fish, a common practice in medieval times when fish was a staple food source. The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries.

One notable early bearer of the name was John Gudgeon, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. Another early record is that of William Gudgeon, whose name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1381.

Over time, the surname Gudgeon also developed variations in spelling, such as Gudjeon, Gudgion, and Gudjun, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time. Some of these variations have since fallen out of use, while others persist as alternative spellings.

In the 16th century, the surname Gudgeon can be found in various parish records and court rolls across England, indicating its widespread distribution. One notable bearer from this period was Thomas Gudgeon, born in 1553 in Gloucestershire, who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Tewkesbury.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several prominent individuals with the surname Gudgeon. One such figure was Richard Gudgeon, born in 1620 in Wiltshire, who was a renowned mathematician and served as a fellow at Christ's College, Cambridge.

As the centuries progressed, the Gudgeon surname continued to be found across various regions of England, with some bearers achieving notable accomplishments. For instance, John Gudgeon, born in 1789 in Lincolnshire, was a renowned architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in the region.

Another notable bearer was Emily Gudgeon, born in 1856 in Oxfordshire, who was a pioneering advocate for women's rights and suffrage. She played a significant role in the campaign for women's voting rights in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the origins of the surname Gudgeon can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by migration and settlement patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gudgeon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gudgeon 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. Lancashire leads with 220 Gudgeons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.60x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 220 2.60x
Middlesex 143 2.01x
Yorkshire 98 1.39x
Northamptonshire 69 10.29x
Bedfordshire 33 8.94x
Surrey 32 0.92x
Westmorland 21 13.40x
Leicestershire 13 1.64x
Cheshire 11 0.70x
Hertfordshire 10 2.03x
Worcestershire 10 1.07x
Durham 8 0.38x
Norfolk 7 0.64x
Angus 6 0.91x
Essex 6 0.43x
Hampshire 6 0.41x
Warwickshire 6 0.33x
Kent 5 0.21x
Suffolk 5 0.58x
Perthshire 4 1.25x
Ayrshire 3 0.56x
Derbyshire 3 0.27x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.21x
Staffordshire 2 0.08x
Sussex 2 0.17x
Devon 1 0.07x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.63x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.71x
Lincolnshire 1 0.09x
Northumberland 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edmonton in Middlesex leads with 42 Gudgeons recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.11x.

Place Total Index
Edmonton 42 73.11x
Accrington 26 33.80x
Kendal 19 66.23x
Egham 18 84.39x
Luton 16 25.03x
Aighton Bailey 15 367.65x
Blackburn 15 6.66x
Bow London 13 14.32x
Clitheroe 13 52.21x
Great Ouseburn 13 1065.57x
St Marylebone London 13 3.41x
Bowland Forest High 12 2142.86x
Headingley Cum Burley 12 26.38x
Islington London 12 1.74x
Caton 11 415.09x
Odell 11 1067.96x
Preston 11 4.86x
Skipton 11 49.46x
Upper Heyford 10 3571.43x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 6.70x
Lower Darwen 9 81.01x
Weedon Beck 9 187.11x
Wigston Magna 9 85.80x
Church 8 66.95x
Nether Heyford 8 404.04x
Over Darwen 8 11.84x
Upper Dunsforth W 8 2962.96x
Westoe 8 6.65x
Aldborough In Great 7 560.00x
Baildon 7 52.59x
Camberwell 7 1.54x
Marton Cum Grafton 7 786.52x
Oswaldtwistle 7 23.41x
Pennington In Ulverston 7 166.27x
Southwark St Saviour 7 19.10x
St George Bloomsbury 7 17.11x
Standish With Langtree 7 67.18x
Blisworth 6 231.66x
Dundee 6 2.43x
Habergham Eaves 6 7.76x
Mile End Old Town London 6 3.95x
St Martin In Fields 6 14.05x
St Pancras London 6 1.05x
Broughton In Salford 5 6.46x
Gomersal 5 15.16x
Hendon 5 19.49x
Kidderminster Borough 5 9.17x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 5 15.19x
Lancaster 5 9.93x
Leyton Low 5 17.48x
Liverpool 5 0.97x
Pattishall 5 224.22x
Stockport 5 6.17x
Tottenham 5 4.40x
Ulverston 5 20.28x
Whistones 5 74.18x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 2.16x
Bury 4 4.14x
Castleton 4 4.73x
Dilworth 4 77.22x
Hammersmith London 4 2.28x
Inchture 4 251.57x
Moss Side 4 8.98x
Northampton St Giles 4 15.66x
Nuneaton 4 19.20x
Rothwell 4 59.35x
Shoreditch London 4 1.29x
St John Winchester 4 130.29x
Stowe Nine Churches 4 634.92x
Tadcaster West 4 71.56x
Tiffield 4 666.67x
Chelsea London 3 1.40x
Cheriton 3 30.24x
Cold Higham 3 340.91x
Earls Barton 3 52.45x
Hardingstone 3 46.88x
Hulme 3 1.70x
Kensington London 3 0.76x
Rishton 3 30.24x
Stowmarket 3 29.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 42
Mary 38
Jane 18
Ann 16
Alice 14
Ellen 13
Margaret 13
Sarah 11
Annie 9
Hannah 9
Catherine 8
Charlotte 8
Eliza 8
Emily 8
Louisa 8
Agnes 7
Emma 6
Isabella 5
Martha 5
Ada 4
Caroline 4
Clara 4
Edith 4
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Sophia 4
Anne 3
Betsy 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Theresa 3
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Eliz. 2
Florence 2
Lousia 2
Lydia 2
Maud 2
Rachel 2
Rose 2
Susannah 2
Caterina 1
Catharine 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizebth 1
Elten 1
Janet 1
Violetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 50
William 40
Thomas 39
James 24
George 22
Robert 21
Richard 13
Joseph 12
Alfred 9
Edward 9
Charles 8
Arthur 7
Henry 7
Christopher 6
Frederick 6
Simon 6
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Francis 4
Herbert 4
Jonathan 4
Joshua 4
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Walter 3
Alexander 2
Cornelius 2
Harry 2
Robt. 2
Sidney 2
Clifford 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Edmund 1
Elisha 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Greenwood 1
Infant 1
Joe 1
Johnathan 1
Judd 1
Matthew 1
Ralph 1
Reuben 1
Rodolphus 1
Sarah 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gudgeon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gudgeon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 737 people were recorded with the Gudgeon surname. That placed it at #4,971 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gudgeon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,250 in 2016. That gives Gudgeon a modern rank of #4,783.

What does the Gudgeon surname mean?

A surname derived from a small freshwater fish resembling a minnow.

What does the Gudgeon map show?

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