NameCensus.

UK surname

Gull

A surname derived from the Old English name for a loud, noisy person.

In the 1881 census there were 315 people recorded with the Gull surname, ranking it #9,393 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 595, ranked #8,776, up from #9,393 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverton, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, Redditch and Rochford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gull is 601 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.9%.

1881 census count

315

Ranked #9,393

Modern count

595

2016, ranked #8,776

Peak year

2014

601 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gull had 315 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,393 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 595 in 2016, ranked #8,776.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 447 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Gull surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gull surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gull 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 233 #9,272
1861 historical 275 #9,082
1881 historical 315 #9,393
1891 historical 380 #9,231
1901 historical 395 #9,562
1911 historical 447 #8,552
1997 modern 471 #9,732
1998 modern 467 #10,120
1999 modern 490 #9,811
2000 modern 471 #10,073
2001 modern 468 #9,949
2002 modern 485 #9,846
2003 modern 497 #9,526
2004 modern 518 #9,274
2005 modern 523 #9,145
2006 modern 544 #8,890
2007 modern 563 #8,739
2008 modern 592 #8,504
2009 modern 588 #8,722
2010 modern 590 #8,902
2011 modern 592 #8,782
2012 modern 582 #8,793
2013 modern 596 #8,795
2014 modern 601 #8,792
2015 modern 590 #8,843
2016 modern 595 #8,776

Geography

Back to top

Where Gulls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverton, London parishes, Lambeth and Capel St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, Redditch, Rochford, Telford and Wrekin and Broxbourne. 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 Wolverton Norfolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Capel St Mary Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 005 Swale
2 Redditch 004 Redditch
3 Rochford 004 Rochford
4 Telford and Wrekin 009 Telford and Wrekin
5 Broxbourne 010 Broxbourne

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gull

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gull

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Gull surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Gull household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Gull is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gull 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

Gull falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gull

The surname GULL originated in England, with its earliest known origins dating back to the late 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "gull," which means a young seabird or a gull. This connection suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who lived near the sea or had some association with seabirds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the GULL surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a historical record compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This entry provides evidence of the name's existence in England during the Norman conquest.

In the 13th century, the surname GULL appeared in various records from counties along the southeast coast of England, such as Sussex and Kent. This geographical distribution aligns with the name's maritime association and its possible origins as a nickname for individuals living near the sea.

Notable historical figures bearing the GULL surname include Sir John Gull (c. 1619-1689), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lyme Regis in the late 17th century. Another prominent individual was William Court Gull (1816-1890), a renowned English physician and one of the founders of the modern study of endocrinology.

The surname GULL has also been associated with places like Gullane, a town in East Lothian, Scotland, and Gull Island, a small island off the coast of Wales. These place names may have influenced the spelling or pronunciation of the surname in certain regions.

Other individuals of note with the GULL surname include Edmund Gull (c. 1730-1800), an English portrait painter known for his works depicting members of the British gentry, and Sir William Cameron Gull (1816-1890), a prominent English physician and neurologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of anorexia nervosa and other neurological disorders.

Throughout its history, the GULL surname has maintained a strong connection to its origins, reflecting the maritime heritage and natural environments associated with seabirds and coastal regions of Britain.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gull families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gull 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. Middlesex leads with 67 Gulls recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.17x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 67 2.17x
Suffolk 56 14.92x
Essex 48 7.89x
Norfolk 27 5.70x
Surrey 19 1.27x
Hertfordshire 17 8.00x
Kent 13 1.24x
Hampshire 10 1.58x
Lincolnshire 9 1.83x
Yorkshire 8 0.26x
Cambridgeshire 7 3.59x
Warwickshire 7 0.90x
Angus 5 1.75x
Lancashire 5 0.14x
Derbyshire 4 0.83x
Sussex 3 0.58x
Northumberland 2 0.44x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.54x
Channel Islands 1 1.09x
Devon 1 0.16x
Lanarkshire 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.29x
Midlothian 1 0.24x
Northamptonshire 1 0.34x
Royal Navy 1 2.72x
Somerset 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolferton in Norfolk leads with 18 Gulls recorded in 1881 and an index of 9000.00x.

Place Total Index
Wolferton 18 9000.00x
Bacton 15 2205.88x
Bishop Stortford 12 169.01x
Islington London 10 3.35x
Carisbrooke 9 102.62x
Colchester St Giles 8 133.11x
Ipswich St Margaret 8 62.79x
Aston 7 3.27x
Great Baddow 7 324.07x
Hackney London 7 4.05x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 7 201.15x
Tydd St Giles 7 752.69x
Woodham Ferris 7 985.92x
Camberwell 6 3.05x
Chester All Sts 6 1224.49x
Colchester Holy Trinity 6 444.44x
Enfield 6 29.67x
Eston 6 90.23x
Ipswich St Clement 6 62.89x
Rochester St Margaret 6 54.10x
Ipswich St Mathew 5 47.53x
Monifieth 5 49.55x
Tottenham 5 10.19x
Worsley 5 22.17x
Bermondsey 4 4.36x
Capel St Mary 4 666.67x
Chelsea London 4 4.31x
Derby St Werburgh 4 14.36x
Hornsey 4 10.26x
Lambeth 4 1.49x
Paddington London 4 3.53x
Poplar London 4 6.88x
St George Hanover Square 4 7.37x
Sutton St Mary 4 85.84x
Barking 3 16.85x
Bromley London 3 4.42x
Castle Acre 3 212.77x
Danbury 3 291.26x
Milton In Gravesend 3 19.02x
Tattingstone 3 517.24x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.75x
Coddenham 2 232.56x
Edmonton 2 8.05x
Hatfield 2 46.40x
Holbeach 2 36.43x
Kingston On Thames 2 5.54x
Mile End New Town London 2 32.84x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 2 7.30x
Romford 2 20.79x
St Albans St Michael 2 84.39x
Sutton St Mary St James 2 344.83x
Wapping London 2 85.11x
Westminster St Margaret 2 13.45x
Ashford 1 9.77x
Assington 1 128.21x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 3.51x
Buxhall 1 200.00x
Chester St Nicholas 1 232.56x
Chigwell 1 17.42x
Copdock 1 294.12x
East Teignmouth 1 38.02x
Folkestone 1 4.90x
Glasgow 1 0.56x
Godstone 1 37.17x
Great Grimsby 1 3.20x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.55x
Hastings St Leonards 1 13.09x
Heybridge 1 56.50x
Inveresk 1 8.94x
Ipswich St Peter 1 19.80x
Itchingfield 1 217.39x
Little Hallingbury 1 161.29x
Morton On Hill 1 666.67x
Norwich St Mary In Marsh 1 188.68x
Peterborough 1 4.76x
Snettisham 1 76.34x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.61x
Springfield 1 37.45x
Whippingham 1 20.92x
Woking 1 11.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 26
John 15
George 13
James 9
Thomas 9
Arthur 7
Henry 7
Charles 6
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Walter 5
Daniel 4
Joseph 4
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Samuel 3
Chas. 2
David 2
Robert 2
Stephen 2
Adolph 1
Bertie 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredie 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jesse 1
Nathan 1
Philip 1
Rosina 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gull surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gull surname in 1881?

In 1881, 315 people were recorded with the Gull surname. That placed it at #9,393 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gull surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 595 in 2016. That gives Gull a modern rank of #8,776.

What does the Gull surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English name for a loud, noisy person.

What does the Gull map show?

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