NameCensus.

UK surname

Gunns

A surname derived from the Old Norse name Gunnar, meaning "bold warrior".

In the 1881 census there were 118 people recorded with the Gunns surname, ranking it #17,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 151, ranked #23,615, down from #17,935 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to King's Lynn St Margaret, St Pancras and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Northumberland and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gunns is 236 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.0%.

1881 census count

118

Ranked #17,935

Modern count

151

2016, ranked #23,615

Peak year

1911

236 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gunns had 118 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,935 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016, ranked #23,615.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 236 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Gunns surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gunns surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gunns 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 66 #21,617
1861 historical 87 #22,681
1881 historical 118 #17,935
1891 historical 168 #16,937
1901 historical 199 #15,173
1911 historical 236 #13,452
1997 modern 167 #19,722
1998 modern 175 #19,658
1999 modern 168 #20,312
2000 modern 158 #21,055
2001 modern 159 #20,710
2002 modern 166 #20,532
2003 modern 164 #20,483
2004 modern 160 #20,926
2005 modern 163 #20,627
2006 modern 161 #20,972
2007 modern 157 #21,546
2008 modern 164 #21,137
2009 modern 168 #21,290
2010 modern 171 #21,481
2011 modern 167 #21,642
2012 modern 159 #22,361
2013 modern 164 #22,236
2014 modern 164 #22,445
2015 modern 153 #23,413
2016 modern 151 #23,615

Geography

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Where Gunns' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around King's Lynn St Margaret, St Pancras, London parishes, Downham Market, Stow Bardolph, Wimbotsham 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 Fenland, Northumberland, Breckland, Waveney and Reading. 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 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Downham Market, Stow Bardolph, Wimbotsham Norfolk
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 003 Fenland
2 Northumberland 029 Northumberland
3 Breckland 006 Breckland
4 Waveney 008 Waveney
5 Reading 010 Reading

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gunns

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gunns

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Gunns, 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 Gunns surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Gunns 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Gunns is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gunns is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gunns falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gunns

The surname Gunns is believed to have originated in Scotland, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old Norse personal name "Gunni" or "Gunn," which means "battle" or "warrior."

The name Gunns is particularly associated with the Scottish Highlands, where it was prevalent in the counties of Caithness, Sutherland, and Ross-shire. Some of the earliest known bearers of the name were recorded in charters and other historical documents from this region.

One notable historical reference to the name Gunns is found in the Orkneyinga Saga, an Icelandic saga that chronicles the history of the Orkney and Shetland Islands. The saga mentions a Norwegian nobleman named Gunni who was granted lands in Caithness by King David I of Scotland in the 12th century.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Gunns can be traced back to the 13th century, with a mention of a certain Gillechrist Gunne in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1264. Other early spellings of the name include Gune, Gunn, and Gunne.

One of the most notable figures in history with the surname Gunns was John Gunns (1758-1852), a Scottish architect known for his work in the Georgian style. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Regent Bridge and the Calton Gaol.

Another prominent individual with the surname Gunns was Sir George Gunns (1760-1847), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was involved in several important naval battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

In the literary world, Samuel Gunns (1817-1890) was a Scottish poet and writer who published several volumes of poetry and prose works. His most notable work was the poem "The Hills o' Gallowa'," which celebrated the rural landscape of his native Galloway region.

The surname Gunns is also associated with the clan system of Scotland, where it is considered a sept (branch) of the larger Clan Gunn. The Clan Gunn has a long and storied history in the Scottish Highlands, with its traditional territory centered around Caithness and Sutherland.

Another notable figure with the surname Gunns was Sir William Gunns (1835-1912), a British lawyer and judge who served as Lord Justice of Appeal in England and Wales. He was renowned for his legal expertise and his contributions to the development of English law.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gunns families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gunns 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. Norfolk leads with 64 Gunns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.16x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 64 36.16x
Middlesex 28 2.43x
Yorkshire 8 0.70x
Cambridgeshire 7 9.60x
Northumberland 4 2.34x
Cheshire 3 1.18x
Berkshire 1 1.16x
Leicestershire 1 0.78x
Lincolnshire 1 0.54x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 23 Gunns' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.82x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 23 24.82x
Stow Bardolph 9 1698.11x
Ryther Cum Ossendyke 8 6666.67x
Blofield 7 1555.56x
Walsoken 6 566.04x
Hampstead London 5 27.89x
Tharston 5 3333.33x
Tilney All Sts 5 2272.73x
Reedham 4 1176.47x
Terrington St Clement 4 500.00x
Tynemouth 4 43.62x
Wisbech St Mary 4 476.19x
Chesterton 3 133.33x
Hassingham 3 7500.00x
Heigham 3 31.58x
Northen Etchells 3 1000.00x
South Walsham St Mary 3 2000.00x
Thurton 3 3750.00x
Watlington 3 1250.00x
Bergh Apton 2 1052.63x
Old Buckenham 2 444.44x
Poringland 2 1052.63x
East Garston 1 555.56x
Heckingham 1 769.23x
North Walsham 1 78.13x
Nottingham St Peter 1 57.80x
Scunthorpe 1 120.48x
Sheepshed 1 57.14x
Trowse Cum Newton 1 227.27x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Gunns surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gunns surname in 1881?

In 1881, 118 people were recorded with the Gunns surname. That placed it at #17,935 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gunns surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016. That gives Gunns a modern rank of #23,615.

What does the Gunns surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old Norse name Gunnar, meaning "bold warrior".

What does the Gunns map show?

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