NameCensus.

UK surname

Gummer

An archaic English surname derived from the Old English word "guma" meaning man or warrior.

In the 1881 census there were 358 people recorded with the Gummer surname, ranking it #8,638 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 477, ranked #10,344, down from #8,638 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Petherton, South and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Blaenau Gwent and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gummer is 562 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.2%.

1881 census count

358

Ranked #8,638

Modern count

477

2016, ranked #10,344

Peak year

1911

562 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gummer had 358 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,638 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 477 in 2016, ranked #10,344.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 562 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gummer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gummer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gummer 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 242 #9,001
1861 historical 199 #12,062
1881 historical 358 #8,638
1891 historical 376 #9,319
1901 historical 462 #8,539
1911 historical 562 #7,170
1997 modern 544 #8,739
1998 modern 556 #8,853
1999 modern 561 #8,842
2000 modern 545 #9,017
2001 modern 535 #8,989
2002 modern 555 #8,919
2003 modern 530 #9,093
2004 modern 514 #9,327
2005 modern 509 #9,328
2006 modern 512 #9,319
2007 modern 522 #9,254
2008 modern 504 #9,575
2009 modern 521 #9,554
2010 modern 523 #9,726
2011 modern 530 #9,541
2012 modern 515 #9,663
2013 modern 523 #9,697
2014 modern 510 #9,945
2015 modern 499 #10,021
2016 modern 477 #10,344

Geography

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Where Gummers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Petherton, South, London parishes, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford and Kingsbury Episcopi. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Blaenau Gwent and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Petherton, South Somerset
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
5 Kingsbury Episcopi Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 024 South Somerset
2 Blaenau Gwent 007 Blaenau Gwent
3 South Somerset 019 South Somerset
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 009 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 South Somerset 023 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gummer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gummer

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

Gummer 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

Gummer 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 Gummer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gummer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gummer

The surname Gummer is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "guma," meaning "man" or "warrior." This etymology suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person of valor or strength.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gummer can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population compiled in 1086 on the orders of William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions a landowner named Gumme, which is likely a variant spelling of the same name.

In the following centuries, the name appears to have spread across various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. Historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries reveal individuals bearing the surname Gummer residing in these areas.

The name Gummer has also been associated with several place names, such as Gummer's How in Norfolk, which may have been named after an early inhabitant bearing this surname. Similarly, the village of Gummer's Hole in Suffolk is believed to have derived its name from the same source.

One notable individual with the surname Gummer was Sir John Gummer, a 16th-century English politician and landowner. He served as a Member of Parliament for Suffolk and held substantial landholdings in the county.

Another prominent figure was John Gummer, 1st Baron Gummer of Selborne (1919-2018), a British Conservative politician who served as the Secretary of State for the Environment under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher from 1988 to 1993.

In the literary realm, the English novelist and playwright Benjamin Gummer (1907-1987) gained recognition for his works, including the novel "The Pennine Way" and the play "The Tin Can Dance."

The surname Gummer has also been associated with the field of horticulture. One notable individual was George Gummer (1818-1881), a renowned English horticulturist and nurseryman who introduced several new plant varieties to the market.

Additionally, the name Gummer has been linked to the military, with individuals such as Major General Henry Gummer (1881-1962), who served in the British Army and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his service during World War I.

While the surname Gummer may have evolved from its original meaning over time, it continues to hold a significant place in English history, reflecting the diverse contributions of those who have borne this name across various fields and endeavors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gummer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gummer 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. Somerset leads with 96 Gummers recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.98x.

County Total Index
Somerset 96 16.98x
Middlesex 32 0.91x
Yorkshire 30 0.86x
Surrey 29 1.69x
Herefordshire 28 19.45x
Norfolk 22 4.07x
Gloucestershire 19 2.76x
Kent 19 1.59x
Radnorshire 11 38.83x
Wiltshire 11 3.54x
Glamorgan 10 1.64x
Dorset 8 3.47x
Rutland 8 31.03x
Devon 7 0.96x
Essex 6 0.87x
Cornwall 4 1.01x
Derbyshire 4 0.73x
Northamptonshire 3 0.91x
Durham 2 0.19x
Midlothian 2 0.43x
Royal Navy 2 4.78x
Shropshire 2 0.66x
Staffordshire 2 0.17x
Brecknockshire 1 1.42x
Cheshire 1 0.13x
Sussex 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rotherham in Yorkshire leads with 20 Gummers recorded in 1881 and an index of 101.94x.

Place Total Index
Rotherham 20 101.94x
Great Yarmouth 13 29.07x
Lambeth 13 4.25x
Kingsbury Episcopi 11 601.09x
Puckington 11 3928.57x
Curry Rivell 10 529.10x
Deptford St Paul 10 10.82x
Newington 10 7.71x
Kingstone 9 1698.11x
Oakham Deanshold 8 695.65x
Old Radnor Evenjobb 8 2105.26x
Fisherton Anger 7 121.74x
Rodd Nash Little 7 3333.33x
Scarborough 7 22.14x
Seavington St Michael 7 2500.00x
Swansea St Thomas 7 114.01x
Wyke Regis 7 211.48x
Bedminster 6 11.30x
Cheltenham 6 11.29x
Islington London 6 1.76x
Stoke Under Hambdon 6 324.32x
Kington 5 140.06x
Little Stanmore 5 480.77x
South Petherton 5 171.23x
Stocklinch Ottersey 5 3571.43x
West Ham 5 3.27x
Westbury On Trym 5 21.43x
Whitstable 5 85.03x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 4 210.53x
Canterbury St Paul 4 186.05x
Clifton 4 11.49x
Mark 4 303.03x
St George In East London 4 12.11x
St Giles In Fields London 4 23.22x
St Pancras London 4 1.42x
Walcot 4 13.29x
Weston Super Mare 4 28.03x
Bermondsey 3 2.87x
Bristol St Augustine 3 27.00x
Chard 3 43.80x
Cheddar 3 105.63x
Derby St Werburgh 3 9.45x
Eardisland 3 319.15x
Maker 3 81.74x
Old Radnor Walton 3 1363.64x
Peterborough 3 12.55x
Pulham St Mary Virgin 3 303.03x
Salisbury St Martin 3 92.88x
St James Taunton 3 1111.11x
Devonport 2 23.81x
Docklow 2 869.57x
Doncaster 2 7.87x
Eardisley 2 192.31x
Hackney London 2 1.02x
Ilminster 2 50.63x
Leith South 2 312.50x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 3.55x
Redenhall 2 95.24x
Roath 2 7.20x
Royal Navy 2 5.59x
St Sepulchre London 2 38.91x
Stanton Lacy 2 76.34x
Stocklinch Magdalen 2 1666.67x
Stoke Damerel 2 3.91x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.59x
Taunton St James 2 24.27x
Westoe 2 3.38x
Yeovil 2 17.41x
Barrington 1 200.00x
Battersea 1 0.77x
Croydon 1 1.05x
Egham 1 9.52x
Fowey 1 54.95x
Hove 1 3.85x
Isle Brewers 1 263.16x
Langport Eastover 1 121.95x
South Mimms 1 20.75x
Stapleton 1 7.66x
Warminster 1 14.71x
Wellow 1 60.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 17
Mary 17
Eliza 13
Sarah 13
Jane 9
Emily 8
Martha 8
Alice 6
Emma 6
Harriet 5
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Hannah 4
Anne 3
Elizth. 3
Louisa 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Anna 2
Bessie 2
Edith 2
Esther 2
Harriett 2
Lucia 2
Lucy 2
Sophia 2
Beatrice 1
Betsey 1
Blanche 1
Cate 1
Catherine 1
Elwina 1
Emmer 1
Ethelinda 1
Eva 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
H. 1
Hetty 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Keziah 1
Laura 1
Linda 1
Madeline 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Zipporah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 22
Thomas 13
George 12
Joseph 11
James 10
Samuel 9
Charles 7
Henry 7
Walter 5
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Arthur 3
Daniel 3
Edward 3
Albert 2
Fred 2
Mark 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Adolphus 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Cecil 1
Cornelius 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Frf. 1
Geo.Hy. 1
H. 1
Horace 1
Horatio 1
Jethro 1
N. 1
Percy 1
Sam 1
Samuell 1
Simon 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Gummer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gummer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 358 people were recorded with the Gummer surname. That placed it at #8,638 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gummer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 477 in 2016. That gives Gummer a modern rank of #10,344.

What does the Gummer surname mean?

An archaic English surname derived from the Old English word "guma" meaning man or warrior.

What does the Gummer map show?

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