NameCensus.

UK surname

Guess

An occupational surname for a servant or attendant, derived from the Middle English term "gesse" meaning a guest.

In the 1881 census there were 218 people recorded with the Guess surname, ranking it #12,158 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 325, ranked #13,930, down from #12,158 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lowick, London parishes and Rolvenden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merthyr Tydfil, Central Bedfordshire and Luton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Guess is 381 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.1%.

1881 census count

218

Ranked #12,158

Modern count

325

2016, ranked #13,930

Peak year

2010

381 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Guess had 218 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,158 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 325 in 2016, ranked #13,930.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 347 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Guess surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Guess surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Guess 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 195 #10,620
1861 historical 206 #11,725
1881 historical 218 #12,158
1891 historical 283 #11,573
1901 historical 266 #12,617
1911 historical 347 #10,318
1997 modern 324 #12,859
1998 modern 335 #12,915
1999 modern 340 #12,870
2000 modern 341 #12,801
2001 modern 330 #12,893
2002 modern 333 #13,062
2003 modern 326 #13,076
2004 modern 344 #12,597
2005 modern 344 #12,521
2006 modern 343 #12,626
2007 modern 358 #12,383
2008 modern 360 #12,431
2009 modern 368 #12,476
2010 modern 381 #12,436
2011 modern 373 #12,496
2012 modern 353 #12,877
2013 modern 348 #13,239
2014 modern 331 #13,851
2015 modern 331 #13,739
2016 modern 325 #13,930

Geography

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Where Guess' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lowick, London parishes, Rolvenden, Loughborough and Hawkhurst, Etchingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merthyr Tydfil, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and South Hams. 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 Lowick Northamptonshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Rolvenden Kent
4 Loughborough Leicestershire
5 Hawkhurst, Etchingham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merthyr Tydfil 002 Merthyr Tydfil
2 Central Bedfordshire 025 Central Bedfordshire
3 Central Bedfordshire 021 Central Bedfordshire
4 Luton 006 Luton
5 South Hams 007 South Hams

Forenames

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First names often paired with Guess

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Guess

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Guess is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Guess is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Guess

The surname GUESS originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "guis," meaning "guide" or "leader." This occupation-based name was likely given to someone who worked as a guide or led travelers through unfamiliar territories.

One of the earliest records of the GUESS name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273, where it was listed as "Guyse." Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Guyss, Guyse, and eventually GUESS.

In the 14th century, the GUESS name was found in several historical documents, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where it was recorded as "Guyse." This suggests that the name was widespread across different regions of England during that period.

One notable individual with the GUESS surname was John Guess (c. 1592-1645), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Helen's, Bishopsgate in London. His work, "The Whole Body of Modern Divinity," published in 1636, was widely read and influential in its time.

Another prominent figure was Robert Guess (1782-1856), an American Baptist minister and early settler in Missouri. He played a significant role in the establishment of several churches in the state and was known for his missionary work among Native American tribes.

In the 19th century, the GUESS name gained recognition through the accomplishments of George Guess (1834-1912), a British explorer and naturalist. He made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in various parts of the world, including Australia and South Africa.

Additionally, the GUESS surname was associated with notable literary figures, such as Philip Guess (1820-1892), an English poet and writer who published several volumes of poetry and prose during the Victorian era.

Another individual of note was Emma Guess (1878-1964), an American educator and civil rights activist. She dedicated her life to promoting equal educational opportunities for African American students and played a pivotal role in the desegregation movement in the United States.

The GUESS surname has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in medieval England. Despite variations in spelling over time, the name has been carried by individuals who have made remarkable contributions across various fields, including religion, exploration, literature, and civil rights.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Guess families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Guess 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. Bedfordshire leads with 28 Guess' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.91x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 28 25.91x
Buckinghamshire 28 22.19x
Kent 28 3.93x
Middlesex 27 1.29x
Leicestershire 23 9.94x
Northamptonshire 22 11.21x
Hertfordshire 11 7.65x
Surrey 11 1.08x
Hampshire 6 1.40x
Lancashire 6 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 6 2.13x
Sussex 5 1.42x
Gloucestershire 4 0.98x
Yorkshire 3 0.15x
Berkshire 2 1.28x
Devon 1 0.23x
Essex 1 0.24x
Midlothian 1 0.36x
Monmouthshire 1 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Loughborough in Leicestershire leads with 16 Guess' recorded in 1881 and an index of 152.38x.

Place Total Index
Loughborough 16 152.38x
Wing 16 1367.52x
Leighton Buzzard 15 322.58x
Lowick 12 4285.71x
Rolvenden 12 1304.35x
Harpenden 11 502.28x
Hammersmith London 9 17.50x
Bedford St Paul 8 107.96x
Brenenden 8 869.57x
Yarwell 8 2962.96x
Leicester St Margaret 7 12.40x
Alverstoke 6 38.73x
Westminster St John 6 23.60x
Aylesbury 5 89.45x
Camberwell 5 3.75x
Heath Reach 5 649.35x
Lambeth 5 2.75x
Acton 4 32.68x
Church 4 114.29x
Hawkhurst 4 181.00x
Rotherfield 4 129.03x
Soulbury 4 1176.47x
Bromley London 3 6.53x
Kimberworth 3 26.13x
Linslade 3 241.94x
West Leake 3 2500.00x
Westbury On Severn East 3 32.43x
Benefield 2 588.24x
Kensington London 2 1.72x
White Waltham 2 338.98x
Woolwich 2 7.60x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.10x
Colchester St Giles 1 24.57x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 18.38x
Hendon 1 13.32x
Hougham 1 23.64x
Islington London 1 0.49x
Maidstone 1 4.71x
Monmouth 1 25.00x
Newland 1 29.07x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.37x
Nottingham St Nicholas 1 26.11x
Ordsall 1 46.51x
Preston 1 1.51x
Royton 1 13.19x
Throwleigh 1 434.78x
Wandsworth 1 4.98x
Worth 1 39.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 10
Mary 8
Alice 7
Annie 7
Ellen 6
Sarah 6
Ann 4
Eliza 4
Emma 4
Jane 4
Hannah 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
M. 2
Susan 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Elenor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth.Margaret 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
George 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Joanna 1
Kate 1
Lavina 1
Lizzette 1
Louisa 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Guess surname: questions and answers

How common was the Guess surname in 1881?

In 1881, 218 people were recorded with the Guess surname. That placed it at #12,158 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Guess surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 325 in 2016. That gives Guess a modern rank of #13,930.

What does the Guess surname mean?

An occupational surname for a servant or attendant, derived from the Middle English term "gesse" meaning a guest.

What does the Guess map show?

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