NameCensus.

UK surname

Gunson

A surname originating from a nickname for a warrior or skilled marksman.

In the 1881 census there were 581 people recorded with the Gunson surname, ranking it #6,004 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 514, ranked #9,806, down from #6,004 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme, Millom, Muncaster and High Hoyland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Wakefield and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gunson is 667 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.5%.

1881 census count

581

Ranked #6,004

Modern count

514

2016, ranked #9,806

Peak year

1901

667 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gunson had 581 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,004 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 514 in 2016, ranked #9,806.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 667 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gunson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gunson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gunson 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 454 #5,427
1861 historical 488 #5,352
1881 historical 581 #6,004
1891 historical 625 #6,193
1901 historical 667 #6,517
1911 historical 660 #6,361
1997 modern 513 #9,138
1998 modern 533 #9,135
1999 modern 538 #9,134
2000 modern 534 #9,157
2001 modern 519 #9,204
2002 modern 544 #9,049
2003 modern 539 #8,981
2004 modern 530 #9,117
2005 modern 536 #8,968
2006 modern 535 #9,007
2007 modern 535 #9,087
2008 modern 539 #9,098
2009 modern 552 #9,145
2010 modern 560 #9,225
2011 modern 552 #9,243
2012 modern 552 #9,138
2013 modern 543 #9,432
2014 modern 538 #9,556
2015 modern 526 #9,654
2016 modern 514 #9,806

Geography

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Where Gunsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme, Millom, Muncaster, High Hoyland, Egremont and Batley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Wakefield, Kirklees and Barrow-in-Furness. 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 Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme Lincolnshire
2 Millom, Muncaster Cumberland
3 High Hoyland Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Egremont Cumberland
5 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 038 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Wakefield 025 Wakefield
3 Kirklees 054 Kirklees
4 Barrow-in-Furness 001 Barrow-in-Furness
5 Kirklees 057 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gunson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gunson

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Gunson is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Gunson is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gunson falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Gunson

The surname Gunson has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to have emerged as an occupational name for a person who worked as a gunner, someone skilled in operating and maintaining cannons or guns.

Gunson is derived from the Old English words "gunne" and "sunu," which together mean "son of the gunner." The earliest known spelling of the name was "Gunnesone," found in records from the 13th century.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Gunson can be traced back to the 1273 Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, which mentioned a William Gunnesone. This suggests that the name was already in use during the reign of King Henry III.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, where a Richard Gunson was recorded as a resident in 1347.

During the Tudor period, the name Gunson was found in various records, including the Parish Registers of St. James, Clerkenwell, London, where the christening of John Gunson was recorded in 1564.

Notable Gunsons throughout history include Sir Thomas Gunson (1575-1646), an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1643. Another prominent figure was Sir Roger Gunson (1611-1675), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Middlesex in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, Richard Gunson (1714-1770) was a respected English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works. His contemporary, Thomas Gunson (1727-1799), was a prominent lawyer and judge in Lincolnshire.

One of the most remarkable Gunsons was George Gunson (1803-1864), an English engineer and inventor who pioneered the development of early railway locomotives. His innovations contributed significantly to the advancement of rail transportation during the Industrial Revolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gunson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gunson 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. Yorkshire leads with 173 Gunsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.09x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 173 3.09x
Cumberland 107 22.00x
Lancashire 105 1.57x
Lincolnshire 100 11.07x
Durham 16 0.95x
Leicestershire 11 1.76x
Dumfriesshire 10 8.02x
Lanarkshire 10 0.55x
Essex 8 0.72x
Middlesex 8 0.14x
Caithness 7 9.05x
Glamorgan 4 0.41x
Northamptonshire 4 0.75x
Worcestershire 3 0.41x
Cheshire 2 0.16x
Devon 2 0.17x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.19x
Derbyshire 1 0.11x
Norfolk 1 0.12x
Orkney 1 1.61x
Oxfordshire 1 0.29x
Perthshire 1 0.39x
Royal Navy 1 1.49x
Westmorland 1 0.81x
Wigtownshire 1 1.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Clayton in Yorkshire leads with 25 Gunsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 899.28x.

Place Total Index
West Clayton 25 899.28x
Manchester 14 4.65x
Wrangle 13 577.78x
Crigglestone 11 204.08x
Ecclesall Bierlow 11 9.66x
Egremont 11 94.91x
Kirkdale 11 9.76x
Dalton In Furness 10 38.65x
Everton 10 4.68x
Guisbrough 10 81.77x
Moffat 10 175.75x
West Derby 10 5.10x
Gosforth 9 379.75x
Kirkburton 9 136.36x
Middle Rasen 9 523.26x
Wainfleet All Sts 9 342.21x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 8 41.80x
Corney 8 1777.78x
Glasgow 8 2.47x
Great Clifton 8 425.53x
Great Crosby 8 43.79x
Leicester St Mary 8 15.81x
Walthamstow 8 19.94x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 7 34.45x
Beckermet St Bridget 7 546.88x
Holy Trinity 7 5.20x
Leake 7 169.08x
Micklefield 7 522.39x
Spilsby 7 243.90x
Stainton Le Vale 7 2258.06x
Wick 7 28.02x
Cockermouth 6 58.59x
Dawdon 6 29.03x
Hunslet 6 6.88x
Lancaster 6 15.05x
Lowick 6 800.00x
Millom 6 40.27x
Surfleet 6 319.15x
Thurlstone 6 108.70x
Arlecdon 5 38.67x
Bagmore Burton By 5 819.67x
Barrow On Humber 5 95.42x
Birkby 5 2500.00x
Dean 5 314.47x
Dewsbury 5 8.71x
Kensington London 5 1.59x
Liverpool 5 1.23x
North Kelsey 5 306.75x
Ponsonby 5 1562.50x
Preston Quarter 5 36.68x
Ryhill 5 324.68x
Sculcoates 5 5.64x
Thirsk 5 77.40x
Toxteth Park 5 2.20x
Wakefield 5 11.64x
Barrow In Furness 4 4.39x
Bowness 4 212.77x
Cleator 4 19.76x
Drigg Carleton 4 366.97x
Gomersal 4 15.31x
Hartlepool 4 16.75x
Merthyr Tydfil 4 4.23x
North Ferriby 4 434.78x
Northampton Priory St 4 12.55x
Scotforth 4 91.74x
Spalding 4 22.32x
Whitehaven 4 15.43x
Willington 4 41.19x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 5.75x
Boston 3 10.95x
Loughborough 3 10.56x
Luddington 3 260.87x
Market Rasen 3 59.41x
Monk Bretton 3 52.91x
Soothill 3 14.84x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 3 11.54x
Ulpha 3 526.32x
West Halton Gunness 3 1153.85x
Droitwich St Peter 2 120.48x
Middlesbrough 2 2.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 35
Sarah 29
Elizabeth 22
Margaret 14
Hannah 13
Jane 13
Ann 11
Annie 10
Eliza 10
Harriet 9
Eleanor 7
Fanny 6
Ada 5
Kate 5
Lucy 5
Ellen 4
Anne 3
Charlotte 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Ruth 3
Sophia 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Betsy 2
Bridget 2
Dinah 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Francis 2
Isabella 2
Mabel 2
Magaret 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Victoria 2
Amelia 1
Caroline 1
Catherin 1
Catherine 1
Edna 1
Elaoner 1
Elizth. 1
Evelyn 1
Louisa 1
Lusey 1
Lydia 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 54
William 31
James 16
George 15
Thomas 15
Charles 14
Joseph 14
Henry 9
Walter 7
Alfred 5
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Jeremiah 4
Robert 4
Benjamin 3
David 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Alexander 2
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Fredrick 2
Pearson 2
Richard 2
Wm. 2
Alexr. 1
Christopher 1
Clinton 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Friend 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Hugh 1
Isac 1
Joe 1
Jonathan 1
Loyd 1
Mark 1
Marsden 1
Mathew 1
Michael 1
R.W. 1
Rd. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Gunson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gunson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 581 people were recorded with the Gunson surname. That placed it at #6,004 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gunson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 514 in 2016. That gives Gunson a modern rank of #9,806.

What does the Gunson surname mean?

A surname originating from a nickname for a warrior or skilled marksman.

What does the Gunson map show?

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