UK surname
French toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "white" or "blessed," or from the Welsh name Gwyn.
In the 1881 census there were 88 people recorded with the Guin surname, ranking it #21,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 22, ranked #36,533, down from #21,211 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wick, London parishes and Apethorpe, Yarwell, Nassington, Wood Newton, Southwick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Guin is 149 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.0%.
1881 census count
88
Ranked #21,211
Modern count
22
2016, ranked #36,533
Peak year
1851
149 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Guin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Guin surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 149 | #12,967 |
| 1861 | historical | 115 | #18,880 |
| 1881 | historical | 88 | #21,211 |
| 1891 | historical | 87 | #25,802 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 74 | #25,423 |
| 1997 | modern | 17 | #36,181 |
| 1998 | modern | 15 | #36,457 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 15 | #36,415 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 21 | #36,083 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 24 | #36,148 |
| 2009 | modern | 27 | #36,045 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 28 | #36,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 25 | #36,227 |
| 2013 | modern | 22 | #36,477 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 22 | #36,533 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wick, London parishes, Apethorpe, Yarwell, Nassington, Wood Newton, Southwick, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wick | Caithness |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Apethorpe, Yarwell, Nassington, Wood Newton, Southwick | Northamptonshire |
| 4 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Guin surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Guin, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Guin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Guin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Guin is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Guin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Guin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GUIN has its origins in France, with the earliest records dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "guine," which means "wine-producing region" or "vineyard." This suggests that the name may have originated from a family who worked in the wine industry or lived in a wine-producing area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name GUIN can be found in the 13th century cartulary of the Abbey of Cysoing in northern France, where a certain Jehan Guin is mentioned as a witness to a land transaction. This indicates that the name was already established in the region by that time.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Guin, Guyn, and Guyne, in records from the city of Bordeaux, a major wine-producing region in southwestern France. This lends further credence to the theory that the name is connected to the wine industry.
The GUIN surname can also be traced back to the village of Guin in the Haute-Garonne department of southwestern France. It is possible that the name originated from this place name, which itself may have derived from the Occitan word "guine" or a similar root.
One notable figure bearing the GUIN surname was Jean de Guin (c. 1470-1545), a French jurist and diplomat who served as the ambassador of King Francis I to the Republic of Venice. He is known for his legal treatises and his role in negotiating the Treaty of Cambrai in 1529.
Another significant individual was Jean-Baptiste Guin (1592-1663), a French Jesuit missionary who traveled to New France (present-day Canada) in the 17th century. He worked among the Huron and Algonquin peoples, contributing to the early missionary efforts in North America.
In the 18th century, Jacques Guin (1715-1786) was a French architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Hôtel de Beauvau and the Église Saint-Jacques-du-Haut-Pas.
The name GUIN also appears in historical records from other parts of Europe, such as Spain and Italy, where it may have been introduced through migration or trade connections with France.
Léon Guin (1839-1925) was a French sculptor and engraver, known for his medallions and bas-reliefs, many of which can be found in museums and public spaces in Paris and other cities.
Overall, the surname GUIN has a rich history rooted in the wine-producing regions of France, with connections to various professions and notable individuals throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Guin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 33 Guins recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.93x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 33 | 3.93x |
| Kent | 10 | 3.49x |
| Essex | 9 | 5.44x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.84x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.50x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 2.36x |
| Devon | 4 | 2.29x |
| Hertfordshire | 3 | 5.19x |
| Renfrewshire | 2 | 3.08x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.49x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 1.59x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.54x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.58x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.89x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.98x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.71x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambourne in Essex leads with 7 Guins recorded in 1881 and an index of 2800.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambourne | 7 | 2800.00x |
| Leeds | 7 | 14.92x |
| Paddington London | 6 | 19.46x |
| St Pancras London | 6 | 8.89x |
| Deptford St Paul | 5 | 22.66x |
| Islington London | 5 | 6.15x |
| Northfleet | 5 | 198.41x |
| Aston | 4 | 6.87x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 4 | 29.74x |
| St George In East London | 4 | 50.70x |
| Gorton | 3 | 32.05x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 6.38x |
| Tottenham | 3 | 22.46x |
| Abbey | 2 | 20.16x |
| Little Munden | 2 | 1538.46x |
| St Giles Cripplegate | 2 | 180.18x |
| Westminster St John | 2 | 19.59x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 16.08x |
| Aspenden | 1 | 555.56x |
| Brereton Cum Smethwick | 1 | 555.56x |
| Dalmellington | 1 | 54.05x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 2.21x |
| Hailsham | 1 | 116.28x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.37x |
| Mortlake | 1 | 54.95x |
| Pentlow | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Preston | 1 | 3.76x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 15.85x |
| St Andrew Holborn London | 1 | 27.55x |
| Sudbury St Gregory | 1 | 121.95x |
| Wellesbourne Mountford | 1 | 500.00x |
| West Ham | 1 | 2.74x |
| Wigan | 1 | 7.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Guin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Guin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Guin households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 17 |
| Dressmaker | 4 |
| Labourer | 4 |
| Giger Cloth Mill | 3 |
| Purveyor Of Milk | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Tailor | 2 |
| Agri Lab | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Cook Dom | 1 |
| Cotton Operative | 1 |
| Directory Canvasser (PUBR) | 1 |
| Draper | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Fireman On Board Ship | 1 |
| Governess Private | 1 |
| House Decorator | 1 |
| Laberour Chimic Works | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Laundry Woman | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Pensioner In Army | 1 |
| Postman | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Sacking Weaver | 1 |
| Tailores | 1 |
| Washer Woman | 1 |
| Waterman | 1 |
| Worsted Wever Unemp | 1 |
| Writer R N | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 88 people were recorded with the Guin surname. That placed it at #21,211 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 22 in 2016. That gives Guin a modern rank of #36,533.
French toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "white" or "blessed," or from the Welsh name Gwyn.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Guin bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.