NameCensus.

UK surname

Gunn

A Scottish and English occupational surname referring to someone who operated or manufactured guns or other weapons.

In the 1881 census there were 7,357 people recorded with the Gunn surname, ranking it #581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,391, ranked #689, down from #581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wick, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caithness North West, Caithness South and Wick South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gunn is 9,512 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.6%.

1881 census count

7,357

Ranked #581

Modern count

9,391

2016, ranked #689

Peak year

2000

9,512 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gunn had 7,357 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,391 in 2016, ranked #689.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,803 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Gunn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gunn surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gunn 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 5,514 #501
1861 historical 5,359 #519
1881 historical 7,357 #581
1891 historical 7,749 #573
1901 historical 8,803 #596
1911 historical 5,247 #995
1997 modern 9,035 #695
1998 modern 9,372 #698
1999 modern 9,486 #695
2000 modern 9,512 #691
2001 modern 9,234 #693
2002 modern 9,338 #703
2003 modern 9,131 #703
2004 modern 9,100 #706
2005 modern 8,938 #706
2006 modern 8,895 #712
2007 modern 9,022 #708
2008 modern 9,016 #709
2009 modern 9,221 #711
2010 modern 9,424 #713
2011 modern 9,331 #709
2012 modern 9,256 #702
2013 modern 9,405 #704
2014 modern 9,481 #698
2015 modern 9,389 #694
2016 modern 9,391 #689

Geography

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Where Gunns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wick, London parishes, Edinburgh, Halkirk and Thurso. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caithness North West, Caithness South, Wick South, Wick North and Thurso West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Wick Caithness
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Halkirk Caithness
5 Thurso Caithness

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caithness North West Highland
2 Caithness South Highland
3 Wick South Highland
4 Wick North Highland
5 Thurso West Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gunn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gunn

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Gunn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Gunn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gunn 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

Gunn is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Gunn

The surname Gunn is of Scottish origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "gonn," which means "war" or "battle." This suggests that the name may have been initially adopted by someone who was a skilled warrior or soldier.

The earliest known record of the name Gunn is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of homage rolls recording those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England following the conquest of Scotland. In these rolls, the name appears as "Gwn" and "Gunnild." Over time, the spelling evolved into the more recognizable "Gunn."

In the 15th century, the Gunns were established as a prominent clan in the northern Scottish Highlands, particularly in the counties of Caithness and Sutherland. The clan's ancestral lands were located in the parish of Latheron in Caithness, where the Gunn family held significant influence and power.

One of the earliest recorded Gunns was Sir Alexander Gunn, who lived in the late 14th century and was a prominent figure in the clan. He is believed to have been involved in the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, a significant conflict between the Scottish nobility and the Lord of the Isles.

Another notable Gunn was Robert Gunn, who was born in 1670 and served as the Bishop of Caithness from 1714 to 1727. He played an important role in the Scottish Episcopal Church during a turbulent period in Scottish history.

In the 18th century, George Gunn (1718-1782) was a Scottish mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits.

The Gunns were also involved in the Jacobite risings of the 18th century, with several members of the clan supporting the cause of the exiled House of Stuart. One such Gunn was John Gunn (1718-1800), who fought at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the final confrontation of the Jacobite uprising.

In the 19th century, George Gunn (1801-1868) was a Scottish surgeon and anatomist who made notable contributions to the field of medical education and the study of human anatomy.

The Gunn surname has spread throughout the world, with many descendants of the Scottish clan now found in various countries, including England, Ireland, the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, the name remains strongly associated with its Scottish Highland origins and the rich history of the Gunn clan.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gunn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gunn 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. Caithness leads with 1,279 Gunns recorded in 1881 and an index of 130.59x.

County Total Index
Caithness 1,279 130.59x
Lanarkshire 480 2.07x
Midlothian 473 4.94x
Middlesex 471 0.66x
Essex 427 3.02x
Sutherland 424 77.08x
Nottinghamshire 257 2.67x
Lancashire 247 0.29x
Surrey 235 0.67x
Ross-shire 206 10.49x
Sussex 200 1.66x
Warwickshire 155 0.86x
Oxfordshire 142 3.21x
Orkney 133 16.90x
Durham 132 0.62x
Devon 122 0.82x
Yorkshire 122 0.17x
Northamptonshire 115 1.71x
Northumberland 95 0.89x
Suffolk 95 1.09x
Aberdeenshire 91 1.37x
Angus 91 1.37x
Inverness-shire 86 4.03x
Kent 83 0.34x
Leicestershire 76 0.96x
Staffordshire 76 0.31x
Cornwall 75 0.93x
Norfolk 67 0.61x
Dunbartonshire 64 3.33x
Renfrewshire 64 1.15x
Hertfordshire 55 1.12x
Banffshire 48 3.23x
Derbyshire 46 0.41x
Perthshire 43 1.34x
Fife 41 0.97x
Glamorgan 40 0.32x
Hampshire 31 0.21x
Stirlingshire 28 1.06x
Ayrshire 27 0.50x
Buckinghamshire 26 0.60x
Shetland 26 3.56x
Cheshire 24 0.15x
Gloucestershire 23 0.16x
Lincolnshire 21 0.18x
Cambridgeshire 20 0.44x
Cumberland 19 0.31x
Berwickshire 17 1.96x
Monmouthshire 16 0.31x
Herefordshire 15 0.51x
Worcestershire 15 0.16x
Somerset 14 0.12x
Morayshire 12 1.08x
Argyllshire 11 0.55x
Clackmannanshire 11 1.86x
Peeblesshire 11 3.27x
Selkirkshire 11 1.70x
Bedfordshire 10 0.27x
West Lothian 10 0.93x
East Lothian 9 0.95x
Kincardineshire 9 1.03x
Buteshire 7 1.62x
Royal Navy 7 0.82x
Westmorland 7 0.45x
Wiltshire 6 0.09x
Anglesey 5 0.39x
Rutland 5 0.95x
Berkshire 4 0.07x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 0.39x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.21x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.07x
Kinross-shire 2 1.11x
Nairnshire 2 0.92x
Roxburghshire 2 0.15x
Dorset 1 0.02x
Shropshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Latheron in Caithness leads with 419 Gunns recorded in 1881 and an index of 255.74x.

Place Total Index
Latheron 419 255.74x
Wick 301 95.14x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 187 4.85x
Brighton 168 6.90x
Thurso 161 105.39x
Govan 153 2.67x
Barony 131 2.24x
Halkirk 106 159.98x
Glasgow 103 2.51x
Reay 85 158.29x
Tongue 84 176.73x
South Leith 79 7.33x
Barvas 78 59.46x
Hatfield Broad Oak 69 144.81x
Clyne 63 142.08x
Dundee 59 2.38x
Inverness 59 10.98x
Gairloch 58 51.23x
Olrig 56 114.47x
Ruddington 56 86.63x
Nottingham St Mary 54 2.17x
St Pancras London 54 0.94x
Watten 54 156.84x
Creich 50 91.24x
Islington London 49 0.71x
Aston 48 0.97x
Lambeth 48 0.77x
Basford 44 9.90x
North Leith 44 9.92x
Croydon 43 2.22x
Golspie 43 112.80x
Kea 41 67.93x
Dunnet 40 101.60x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 39 3.15x
Liverpool 39 0.76x
West Ham 39 1.25x
Kildonan 35 73.48x
West Derby 35 1.41x
Chilvers Coton 34 45.83x
Canisbay 33 51.32x
Hanwell 32 516.96x
Leicester St Margaret 32 1.65x
Stornoway 32 12.50x
Bishopwearmouth 31 1.70x
Durness 30 124.12x
Eddrachillis 30 80.28x
Radford 28 5.72x
South Ronaldshay 28 34.38x
Walls Flotta 27 73.27x
Hackney London 26 0.65x
Tynemouth 26 4.56x
Dornoch 25 40.34x
Farr 25 52.71x
Aberdeen Old Machar 24 1.74x
Bethnal Green London 24 0.77x
Bower 24 60.84x
Everton 24 0.89x
Wethersfield 24 67.42x
Horley 23 298.31x
Kirkwall St Ola 23 19.51x
Broxted 22 128.88x
Denford 22 180.48x
West Greenock 22 2.21x
Camberwell 21 0.46x
Newington 21 0.79x
Westoe 21 1.74x
Ardersier 20 39.05x
Cullompton 20 30.76x
Edinburgh St Stephens 20 10.60x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 20 2.17x
Mile End Old Town London 20 1.31x
Woodford 20 53.46x
Berwick Upon Tweed 19 8.43x
Birmingham 19 0.32x
Edinburgh St Georges 18 9.05x
Gorton 18 2.26x
Great Dunmow 18 24.46x
Limehouse London 18 2.29x
Paddington London 18 0.68x
Romford 18 8.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 220
Elizabeth 123
Sarah 112
Eliza 74
Ellen 66
Ann 64
Emma 63
Jane 63
Annie 51
Alice 48
Emily 42
Margaret 34
Louisa 32
Harriet 28
Hannah 27
Martha 27
Catherine 25
Charlotte 25
Edith 24
Ada 23
Caroline 23
Isabella 23
Fanny 22
Kate 22
Maria 20
Florence 19
Susan 19
Clara 18
Agnes 17
Harriett 17
Amelia 16
Jessie 13
Minnie 13
Julia 12
Esther 11
Lucy 11
Rebecca 11
Sophia 11
Elizth. 10
Anne 9
Bertha 8
Beatrice 7
Frances 7
Matilda 7
Maud 7
Rosa 7
Rose 7
Amy 6
Nellie 6
Rachel 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 256
John 198
George 131
James 122
Thomas 105
Charles 73
Joseph 52
Henry 47
Alfred 40
Arthur 40
Robert 37
Frederick 34
Samuel 34
Albert 33
Walter 33
David 23
Alexander 21
Harry 21
Richard 20
Frank 19
Edward 16
Daniel 15
Francis 15
Isaac 14
Herbert 10
Benjamin 9
Donald 9
Ernest 9
Wm. 9
Hugh 8
Peter 8
Edmund 7
Fred 7
Nathaniel 7
Stephen 7
Fredrick 6
Philip 6
Thos. 6
Andrew 5
Archibald 5
Geo. 5
Adam 4
Edwin 4
Abraham 3
Fredk. 3
Jno. 3
Matthew 3
Percy 3
Saml. 3
Tom 3

FAQ

Gunn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gunn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,357 people were recorded with the Gunn surname. That placed it at #581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gunn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,391 in 2016. That gives Gunn a modern rank of #689.

What does the Gunn surname mean?

A Scottish and English occupational surname referring to someone who operated or manufactured guns or other weapons.

What does the Gunn map show?

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