UK surname
A Chinese surname derived from the state of Gum, which existed during the Zhou dynasty.
In the 1881 census there were 123 people recorded with the Gum surname, ranking it #17,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 32, ranked #35,887, down from #17,506 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Melksham, Christchurch and Keevil. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gum is 140 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 74.0%.
1881 census count
123
Ranked #17,506
Modern count
32
2016, ranked #35,887
Peak year
1851
140 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gum surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gum surname density by area, 1881 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 | 140 | #13,593 |
| 1881 | historical | 123 | #17,506 |
| 1891 | historical | 12 | #33,181 |
| 1901 | historical | 88 | #24,270 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 20 | #35,923 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 21 | #35,825 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 21 | #36,179 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 28 | #35,875 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 23 | #36,400 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 26 | #36,166 |
| 2013 | modern | 28 | #36,096 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 28 | #36,106 |
| 2016 | modern | 32 | #35,887 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Melksham, Christchurch, Keevil, Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith and St Pancras. 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 | Melksham | Wiltshire |
| 2 | Christchurch | Monmouthshire |
| 3 | Keevil | Wiltshire |
| 4 | Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gum 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 Gum, 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 Gum surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gum 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, Gum 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 Gum is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gum, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "Gum" has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period, around the 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English word "gumme," which referred to a resin or gum extracted from certain trees.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a certain "Willelmus de Gumme" was mentioned. This suggests that the name may have originated in Yorkshire, possibly referring to a person who lived near an area with an abundance of resin-producing trees or worked with resin as part of their trade.
The name "Gum" is closely related to the place name "Gomersal," a village in West Yorkshire. In the Domesday Book of 1086, this place was recorded as "Gumersale," which further reinforces the connection between the surname and the Old English word "gumme."
Historically, the surname "Gum" has been associated with various notable individuals, including John Gum (c. 1430-1492), a prominent English cleric and theologian who served as the Bishop of Rochester from 1486 until his death. Another notable bearer of the name was Thomas Gum (1654-1733), an English philosopher and scientist known for his contributions to early modern optics and the study of vision.
In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the significance of Wendell Gum (1824-1876), an American poet and journalist who played a crucial role in the development of the Southern literary tradition during the mid-19th century.
The surname also has a notable presence in the field of sports, with Robert Gum (1863-1941), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century, and Dorothy Gum (1912-1995), an American tennis player who won multiple Grand Slam titles in the 1930s.
While the surname "Gum" may not be as widely prevalent as some other surnames, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, scholars, writers, athletes, and more.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gum 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. Wiltshire leads with 39 Gums recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.98x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wiltshire | 39 | 38.98x |
| Middlesex | 26 | 2.30x |
| Somerset | 11 | 6.04x |
| Glamorgan | 8 | 4.06x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.09x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 3.28x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.22x |
| Monmouthshire | 3 | 3.67x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 1.05x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 1.56x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.52x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.18x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.42x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.66x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.57x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.59x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.26x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.52x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Melksham in Wiltshire leads with 20 Gums recorded in 1881 and an index of 1149.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Melksham | 20 | 1149.43x |
| West Pennard | 9 | 3103.45x |
| Llandaff | 8 | 122.14x |
| St Pancras London | 8 | 8.78x |
| Harrow On The Hill | 7 | 309.73x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 5 | 12.67x |
| Caterham | 4 | 163.93x |
| Great Hinton | 4 | 6666.67x |
| Shoreditch London | 4 | 8.15x |
| Bulkington | 3 | 4285.71x |
| Clerkenwell London | 3 | 11.23x |
| Rugby | 3 | 77.72x |
| Westbury | 3 | 128.21x |
| Bradford On Avon | 2 | 62.50x |
| Christchurch | 2 | 79.05x |
| Colerne | 2 | 487.80x |
| Kirkdale | 2 | 8.85x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 2.03x |
| Lostwithel | 2 | 555.56x |
| Rowde | 2 | 434.78x |
| Seend | 2 | 1000.00x |
| Walcot | 2 | 20.62x |
| Ardingly | 1 | 163.93x |
| Barnsley | 1 | 8.65x |
| Calne | 1 | 48.54x |
| East Bedfont | 1 | 178.57x |
| Great Yarmouth | 1 | 6.94x |
| Grimsargh With | 1 | 714.29x |
| Halifax | 1 | 6.08x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 5.68x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 10.63x |
| Islington London | 1 | 0.91x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 4.86x |
| Liberton | 1 | 42.74x |
| Llandegreth | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Longbenton | 1 | 14.03x |
| Malborough | 1 | 106.38x |
| Sevenoaks | 1 | 31.95x |
| St George In East London | 1 | 9.40x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gum surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 9 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Ellen | 4 |
| Agnes | 2 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| (Mrs) | 1 |
| Alexandra | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Dorcas | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Elisa | 1 |
| Elizabeth | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lillie | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Ruth | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
| Timothy | 1 |
| Wilhemina | 1 |
| Williamena | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Gum 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 Gum households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 14 |
| Ag Lab | 6 |
| General Labourer | 4 |
| Domestic | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Watchmaker | 2 |
| Bookkeeper | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carpenters Wife | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Clerk (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Domestic Serv Cook | 1 |
| Draper Ast | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farmer 8 Acres | 1 |
| Farmer Of 30 Acres | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Fire Wood Vendor (Hawker) | 1 |
| Fishmonger | 1 |
| Flower Seed Packer | 1 |
| Footman Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| Gen Servant | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Jobbing Gardener | 1 |
| Labourer Farm | 1 |
| Lace Finisher | 1 |
| Lady Help D V | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Mariners Wife | 1 |
| Masons Lab | 1 |
| Miller | 1 |
| Millers Carter | 1 |
| Needle Woman | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Nurse Girl | 1 |
| On Parish | 1 |
| Packer On The Line (Ry Lab) | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Pensioner (Chelsea) (Canteen Steward) | 1 |
| Railway Labourer | 1 |
| Railway Servant | 1 |
| Tailor Master | 1 |
| Wood Carver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 123 people were recorded with the Gum surname. That placed it at #17,506 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 32 in 2016. That gives Gum a modern rank of #35,887.
A Chinese surname derived from the state of Gum, which existed during the Zhou dynasty.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gum 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.