NameCensus.

UK surname

Gulliver

A locational surname derived from the French place name Gulliver, meaning "deceiver of wolves".

In the 1881 census there were 1,010 people recorded with the Gulliver surname, ranking it #3,876 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,532, ranked #4,041, down from #3,876 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bowerchalk, London parishes and New Forest (Lady Cross Walk, Whitley Ridge Walk, Rhinefield Walk, Wilverley Walk, Holmesley Walk, Br. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Stratford-on-Avon and New Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gulliver is 1,605 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.7%.

1881 census count

1,010

Ranked #3,876

Modern count

1,532

2016, ranked #4,041

Peak year

1999

1,605 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gulliver had 1,010 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,876 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,532 in 2016, ranked #4,041.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,418 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gulliver surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gulliver surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gulliver 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 479 #5,198
1861 historical 441 #5,853
1881 historical 1,010 #3,876
1891 historical 1,056 #3,971
1901 historical 1,305 #3,826
1911 historical 1,418 #3,403
1997 modern 1,468 #3,985
1998 modern 1,578 #3,880
1999 modern 1,605 #3,866
2000 modern 1,592 #3,876
2001 modern 1,543 #3,896
2002 modern 1,542 #3,981
2003 modern 1,527 #3,938
2004 modern 1,537 #3,913
2005 modern 1,499 #3,966
2006 modern 1,490 #3,982
2007 modern 1,504 #3,990
2008 modern 1,516 #3,985
2009 modern 1,517 #4,077
2010 modern 1,543 #4,101
2011 modern 1,526 #4,093
2012 modern 1,505 #4,075
2013 modern 1,532 #4,079
2014 modern 1,546 #4,065
2015 modern 1,544 #4,016
2016 modern 1,532 #4,041

Geography

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Where Gullivers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bowerchalk, London parishes, New Forest (Lady Cross Walk, Whitley Ridge Walk, Rhinefield Walk, Wilverley Walk, Holmesley Walk, Br and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Stratford-on-Avon, New Forest, Isle of Wight and Aylesbury Vale. 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 Bowerchalk Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 New Forest (Lady Cross Walk, Whitley Ridge Walk, Rhinefield Walk, Wilverley Walk, Holmesley Walk, Br Hampshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 054 Wiltshire
2 Stratford-on-Avon 004 Stratford-on-Avon
3 New Forest 012 New Forest
4 Isle of Wight 008 Isle of Wight
5 Aylesbury Vale 004 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gulliver

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gulliver

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

Gulliver is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gulliver falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gulliver

The surname Gulliver is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "goulafre," which means "glutton" or "greedy eater." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with a large appetite or a fondness for food.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gulliver appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a William Gulafre is listed. The name is also found in various other medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1279, where a John Gulafre is mentioned.

During the Middle Ages, the name underwent several spelling variations, including Gulafre, Gulafer, and Guliver, before eventually settling on the modern form of Gulliver. Some of these early spellings may have been influenced by place names or locations where the family resided.

Notably, the name gained literary prominence in the early 18th century with the publication of Jonathan Swift's satirical novel "Gulliver's Travels" in 1726. The book's protagonist, Lemuel Gulliver, embarks on a series of fantastical voyages, and his name has become synonymous with the concept of travel and adventure.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Gulliver throughout history are:

1. Sir Lemuel Gulliver (1621-1703), an English explorer and the fictional protagonist of Jonathan Swift's novel. 2. John Gulliver (c. 1700-1762), an English engraver and printmaker known for his landscapes and seascapes. 3. Mary Gulliver (1766-1832), an English author and playwright who wrote several novels and plays in the early 19th century. 4. Edward Gulliver (1837-1920), a British architect and civil engineer who designed numerous buildings in London and other parts of England. 5. Henry Gulliver (1869-1944), an American educator and author who served as the president of the National Education Association from 1931 to 1932.

While the surname Gulliver may not be among the most common in English-speaking countries, its rich historical roots and literary associations have contributed to its enduring legacy and recognition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gulliver families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gulliver 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. Hampshire leads with 144 Gullivers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.09x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 144 7.09x
Warwickshire 105 4.20x
Northamptonshire 102 10.94x
Wiltshire 102 11.64x
Middlesex 99 1.00x
Surrey 55 1.14x
Oxfordshire 46 7.52x
Dorset 39 6.00x
Durham 31 1.05x
Monmouthshire 30 4.19x
Somerset 26 1.63x
Devon 24 1.16x
Kent 23 0.68x
Staffordshire 21 0.63x
Glamorgan 19 1.10x
Leicestershire 17 1.55x
Berkshire 14 1.88x
Gloucestershire 14 0.72x
Worcestershire 14 1.08x
Yorkshire 13 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 11 1.84x
Lancashire 10 0.09x
Brecknockshire 9 4.54x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.45x
Sussex 6 0.36x
Channel Islands 5 1.70x
Derbyshire 5 0.32x
Lanarkshire 4 0.12x
Bedfordshire 3 0.58x
Denbighshire 3 0.80x
Essex 3 0.15x
Herefordshire 3 0.74x
Cumberland 2 0.23x
Norfolk 2 0.13x
Northumberland 2 0.14x
Hertfordshire 1 0.15x
Lincolnshire 1 0.06x
Perthshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 0.85x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burton Dassett in Warwickshire leads with 50 Gullivers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2262.44x.

Place Total Index
Burton Dassett 50 2262.44x
Marston St Lawrence 28 2121.21x
Broad Chalk 25 1004.02x
Semington 20 1388.89x
Burley 18 837.21x
Lambeth 16 1.85x
Piddington 16 930.23x
Bower Chalk 15 1056.34x
Southampton All Sts 13 37.30x
Eling 12 58.31x
Aberystruth 11 17.42x
Combe Florey 11 1018.52x
Millbrook 11 21.50x
Plymouth Charles The 11 12.10x
Tudhoe 11 42.64x
Wyke Regis 11 117.90x
Hackney London 10 1.80x
Hetton Le Hole 10 26.77x
Napton On Hill 10 332.23x
Ringwood 10 76.92x
St Marylebone London 10 1.89x
Sunderland Bridge 10 214.13x
Tipton 10 9.76x
Battersea 9 2.47x
Broomy 9 2093.02x
Kingston On Thames 9 7.76x
Llangattock 9 55.76x
Northampton St Giles 9 25.35x
St Pancras London 9 1.13x
Steeple Ashton 9 381.36x
Swansea Town 9 6.36x
Ufton 9 1323.53x
Aston 8 1.16x
Britford 8 138.17x
Carisbrooke 8 28.37x
Kings Norton 8 6.89x
Mollington 8 860.22x
Southampton St Mary 8 6.26x
Barnsley 7 6.91x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 3.82x
Droxford 7 90.32x
Evenley 7 409.36x
Kensington London 7 1.27x
Northampton St Peter 7 123.46x
Rotherhithe 7 5.72x
Shalbourn 7 250.90x
Stoke Newington London 7 9.07x
Sutton At Hone 7 99.72x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.39x
Bramshott 6 119.76x
Hilperton 6 215.05x
Hucknall Torkard 6 17.71x
Leamington Hastings 6 384.62x
Lewisham 6 3.33x
Lewknor 6 335.20x
Llanover 6 24.52x
Marston Trussell 6 857.14x
Milton 6 118.81x
Moore Critchell 6 480.00x
Neithrop 6 29.17x
Sopley 6 215.05x
Templenewsam 6 84.39x
Bermondsey 5 1.69x
Brockenhurst 5 142.45x
Caversham 5 40.85x
Clewer 5 16.41x
Clifton 5 5.09x
Denny Lodge 5 505.05x
Hampstead London 5 3.24x
Holdenby 5 714.29x
Leicester St Margaret 5 1.87x
Melcombe Regis 5 18.55x
Northampton St Sepulchre 5 10.54x
Oxford St Thomas 5 17.51x
Paddington London 5 1.37x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 3.15x
St George Hanover Square 5 2.86x
St Woollos 5 6.25x
Wilbarston In Market 5 289.02x
Winterbourne Gunner 5 862.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 62
John 43
George 42
James 37
Thomas 34
Henry 24
Charles 21
Harry 16
Alfred 13
Frederick 11
Joseph 11
Arthur 9
Frank 9
Walter 9
Richard 8
Albert 7
Edward 7
Robert 7
Isaac 6
Ernest 5
Francis 5
Wm. 5
Geo. 4
Herbert 4
Samuel 4
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
Fred 3
Jas. 3
Mark 3
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Frances 2
Fredrick 2
G. 2
Jesse 2
Morgan 2
Peter 2
Phillip 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
W. 2
Chas.E. 1
D. 1
Esau 1
France 1
Infant 1
Jabez 1
Worthy 1

FAQ

Gulliver surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gulliver surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,010 people were recorded with the Gulliver surname. That placed it at #3,876 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gulliver surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,532 in 2016. That gives Gulliver a modern rank of #4,041.

What does the Gulliver surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the French place name Gulliver, meaning "deceiver of wolves".

What does the Gulliver map show?

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