NameCensus.

UK surname

Gulley

An English toponymic surname referring to someone living near a ravine, stream, or narrow channel.

In the 1881 census there were 276 people recorded with the Gulley surname, ranking it #10,305 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 339, ranked #13,492, down from #10,305 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Clifton, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Mid Devon and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gulley is 368 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.8%.

1881 census count

276

Ranked #10,305

Modern count

339

2016, ranked #13,492

Peak year

1999

368 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gulley had 276 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,305 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016, ranked #13,492.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 344 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gulley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gulley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gulley 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 237 #9,152
1861 historical 206 #11,725
1881 historical 276 #10,305
1891 historical 310 #10,812
1901 historical 304 #11,543
1911 historical 344 #10,386
1997 modern 348 #12,229
1998 modern 362 #12,259
1999 modern 368 #12,182
2000 modern 347 #12,642
2001 modern 347 #12,449
2002 modern 325 #13,275
2003 modern 322 #13,192
2004 modern 327 #13,094
2005 modern 323 #13,133
2006 modern 329 #13,044
2007 modern 340 #12,872
2008 modern 342 #12,933
2009 modern 346 #13,075
2010 modern 353 #13,156
2011 modern 347 #13,167
2012 modern 350 #12,965
2013 modern 347 #13,260
2014 modern 349 #13,293
2015 modern 337 #13,560
2016 modern 339 #13,492

Geography

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Where Gulleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Clifton, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob, Plympton St Mary and Shaugh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Mid Devon, Cardiff and Stratford-on-Avon. 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 Clifton Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
4 Plympton St Mary Devon
5 Shaugh Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 008 South Hams
2 Mid Devon 011 Mid Devon
3 Cardiff 011 Cardiff
4 Stratford-on-Avon 015 Stratford-on-Avon
5 Cardiff 017 Cardiff

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gulley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gulley

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

Gulley 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gulley

The surname Gulley is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "gylian," which means "to shout" or "to yell." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a loud or boisterous voice.

In its earliest forms, the name was often spelled as "Gullie" or "Gully," and it is thought to have been prevalent in areas such as Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1176, which mentions a person named "Gylly."

The Gulley surname also appears in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from the late 13th century and the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from the 13th century. These records provide valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of the name during that time period.

One notable individual bearing the Gulley surname was John Gulley, a English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake in 1555 during the Marian Persecutions. Another was William Gulley, a 16th-century English landowner and member of the gentry from Warwickshire, whose family held significant property in the area.

In the 17th century, the Gulley surname can be found associated with various places, such as Gulley's Green in Buckinghamshire and Gulley's Lane in Bedfordshire. These place names likely derived from individuals or families with the Gulley surname residing or owning land in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the Gulley surname include Benjamin Gulley (1732-1800), an English architect and surveyor, and John Gulley (1803-1882), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Coventry in the mid-19th century.

While the Gulley surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and migration patterns. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it emerged as a descriptive nickname reflecting a distinctive vocal characteristic.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gulley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gulley 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. Devon leads with 92 Gulleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.79x.

County Total Index
Devon 92 15.79x
Middlesex 30 1.07x
Gloucestershire 20 3.64x
Staffordshire 16 1.69x
Somerset 15 3.33x
Lancashire 14 0.42x
Surrey 14 1.03x
Yorkshire 13 0.47x
Hampshire 11 1.92x
Kent 9 0.94x
Channel Islands 8 9.64x
Cornwall 8 2.52x
Durham 8 0.96x
Derbyshire 6 1.37x
Essex 4 0.72x
Glamorgan 4 0.82x
Cheshire 3 0.49x
Dorset 3 1.63x
Norfolk 3 0.70x
Royal Navy 2 6.00x
Suffolk 2 0.59x
Sussex 2 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plympton St Mary in Devon leads with 25 Gulleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 741.84x.

Place Total Index
Plympton St Mary 25 741.84x
Clifton 14 50.43x
Plymouth St Andrew 12 26.73x
Southampton St Lawrence 10 3333.33x
Warkleigh 10 4545.45x
Plymouth Charles The 8 31.16x
St Brelade 8 375.59x
St Pancras London 8 3.55x
York St Cuthbert 8 314.96x
Rotherhithe 7 20.24x
Wednesbury 7 29.64x
Antony 6 196.08x
Oldham 6 5.60x
Stoke Damerel 6 14.71x
Wednesfield 6 43.13x
Chadderton 5 30.79x
Ermington 5 235.85x
Mile End Old Town London 5 8.39x
St Giles In Fields London 5 36.42x
Bishopwearmouth 4 5.60x
Chittlehampton 4 277.78x
Folkestone 4 21.59x
Precinct Of Savoy London 4 3333.33x
Rowberrow 4 2500.00x
Shaugh Prior 4 597.01x
Staveley 4 51.41x
Battersea 3 2.91x
Camberwell 3 1.68x
Child Okeford 3 370.37x
Cornwood 3 270.27x
Dewsbury 3 10.54x
Plympton Maurice 3 272.73x
Runcorn 3 21.05x
Tavistock 3 45.18x
Whickham 3 39.16x
Ystradyfodwg 3 7.02x
Backwell 2 217.39x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.64x
Bitton Oldland 2 35.65x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 3.87x
Broadwater 2 18.47x
Calstock 2 32.15x
Hindley 2 14.12x
Islington London 2 0.74x
North Walsham 2 64.52x
Royal Navy 2 7.01x
Satterleigh 2 3333.33x
Shipham 2 512.82x
South Petherton 2 85.84x
St Budeaux 2 110.50x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 2 55.10x
Barnstaple 1 10.93x
Bow London 1 2.81x
Bridlington 1 15.75x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 5.46x
Bristol St Michael 1 21.23x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 10.04x
Compton 1 256.41x
East Ham 1 9.75x
Eckington 1 9.39x
Elton 1 8.71x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.80x
Harwich St Nicholas 1 23.42x
High Ham 1 93.46x
Hillingdon 1 11.20x
Lambeth 1 0.41x
Leyton 1 10.50x
Leyton Low 1 8.90x
North Petherton 1 27.55x
Plumstead 1 3.14x
Rowley Regis 1 3.80x
South Stoneham 1 8.03x
St Anne Soho London 1 6.25x
Thornton Dale 1 135.14x
Tonbridge 1 2.90x
Whittington 1 51.81x
Willenhall 1 5.65x
Wilton 1 85.47x
Wolsingham 1 13.18x
Yealmpton 1 112.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 10
Emma 7
Jane 7
Ann 6
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Catherine 3
Florence 3
Grace 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Keziah 2
Laura 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Charity 1
Charlotte 1
Christeane 1
Clara 1
Else 1
Emmeline 1
Ethelwyn 1
Fanny 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Ilet. 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Lavinia 1
Lillie 1
Lucy 1
Malala 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Marie 1
Matilda 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
John 15
George 12
Edward 9
James 9
Thomas 9
Samuel 8
Charles 7
Richard 5
Henry 4
Robert 4
Frederick 3
Arthur 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Michael 2
Alfred 1
Auther 1
Clare 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Fordham 1
Harold 1
Horatio 1
Isaac 1
Lawrence 1
Mathew 1
Patric 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1
Rodney 1
Samual 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gulley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gulley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 276 people were recorded with the Gulley surname. That placed it at #10,305 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gulley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016. That gives Gulley a modern rank of #13,492.

What does the Gulley surname mean?

An English toponymic surname referring to someone living near a ravine, stream, or narrow channel.

What does the Gulley map show?

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