NameCensus.

UK surname

Gunton

A locational surname derived from the parish of Gunton in Norfolk, England.

In the 1881 census there were 670 people recorded with the Gunton surname, ranking it #5,386 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 668, ranked #8,003, down from #5,386 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Plumstead, Great and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Broadland and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gunton is 848 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.3%.

1881 census count

670

Ranked #5,386

Modern count

668

2016, ranked #8,003

Peak year

1911

848 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gunton had 670 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,386 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 668 in 2016, ranked #8,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 848 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gunton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gunton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gunton 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 535 #4,703
1861 historical 421 #6,096
1881 historical 670 #5,386
1891 historical 704 #5,575
1901 historical 750 #5,941
1911 historical 848 #5,237
1997 modern 745 #6,920
1998 modern 776 #6,925
1999 modern 797 #6,815
2000 modern 789 #6,850
2001 modern 784 #6,748
2002 modern 787 #6,866
2003 modern 770 #6,859
2004 modern 757 #6,972
2005 modern 716 #7,196
2006 modern 714 #7,249
2007 modern 719 #7,277
2008 modern 710 #7,396
2009 modern 737 #7,351
2010 modern 744 #7,423
2011 modern 717 #7,557
2012 modern 705 #7,562
2013 modern 693 #7,790
2014 modern 703 #7,744
2015 modern 691 #7,806
2016 modern 668 #8,003

Geography

Back to top

Where Guntons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Plumstead, Great, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Broadland, South Norfolk, Waveney and Norwich. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Plumstead, Great Norfolk
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 004 Breckland
2 Broadland 008 Broadland
3 South Norfolk 008 South Norfolk
4 Waveney 004 Waveney
5 Norwich 004 Norwich

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gunton

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gunton

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gunton is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gunton 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gunton

The surname Gunton has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English words "gund" and "tun," meaning "battle" and "enclosure" or "settlement," respectively. This suggests that the name may have been associated with a fortified or defensive settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Guntone." This reference indicates that the name was present in England during the Norman era, shortly after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The name Gunton is closely linked to several place names in England, particularly in Norfolk and Suffolk. For example, the village of Gunton in Norfolk is believed to have derived its name from the surname. Similarly, the hamlet of Gunton in Suffolk may also share this connection.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Gunton throughout history. One such person was Sir Ralph Gunton (c. 1567-1628), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk in the early 17th century. Another was William Gunton (1588-1675), an English clergyman and author who wrote a historical work titled "The History of the Church of Peterburgh."

In the 18th century, Gunton Park in Norfolk was the seat of the Harbord family, who had adopted the surname Gunton. One prominent member of this family was Sir William Gunton Harbord (1683-1745), a British politician and landowner.

Moving into the 19th century, William Gunton (1803-1864) was an English engraver and artist known for his work on various publications, including "The Art Journal." In the field of architecture, Sir Nathaniel Gunton (1838-1908) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Throughout its history, the surname Gunton has maintained a strong presence in England, particularly in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. While its precise origins may be open to interpretation, the name's connection to place names and its inclusion in historical records like the Domesday Book attest to its deep-rooted English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gunton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gunton 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 190 Guntons recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.55x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 190 18.55x
Middlesex 99 1.49x
Cambridgeshire 95 22.51x
Essex 84 6.39x
Yorkshire 28 0.42x
Surrey 20 0.62x
Huntingdonshire 16 12.09x
Lancashire 15 0.19x
Warwickshire 15 0.89x
Kent 14 0.62x
Leicestershire 13 1.76x
Northamptonshire 11 1.76x
Somerset 11 1.03x
Cheshire 10 0.68x
Channel Islands 9 4.56x
Durham 9 0.45x
Bedfordshire 8 2.32x
Hertfordshire 8 1.74x
Gloucestershire 5 0.38x
Suffolk 5 0.62x
Lanarkshire 3 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.33x
Royal Navy 3 3.78x
Shropshire 3 0.52x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.50x
Sussex 2 0.18x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Merionethshire 1 0.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Plumstead in Norfolk leads with 27 Guntons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3552.63x.

Place Total Index
Great Plumstead 27 3552.63x
Chatteris 26 241.41x
Costessey 25 1136.36x
Great Yarmouth 15 17.68x
Ryton On Dunsmore 15 1442.31x
Wisbech St Peter 15 70.89x
Barking 14 36.38x
Bethnal Green London 13 4.49x
Mattishall 13 634.15x
Leicester St Margaret 12 6.66x
Fletton 9 212.77x
Heigham 9 16.37x
Islington London 9 1.39x
Sprowston 9 199.12x
Whittlesey St Mary St 9 61.06x
Hatfield 8 85.93x
St Saviour 8 73.33x
Collierley 7 79.28x
Ealing 7 11.76x
Fen Ditton 7 460.53x
Hackney London 7 1.87x
Limehouse London 7 9.57x
Mile End Old Town London 7 4.94x
Peterborough 7 15.43x
Rivenhall 7 445.86x
Soham 7 77.09x
St Pancras London 7 1.31x
Whitechapel London 7 10.66x
Beaghall 6 779.22x
Bedford St Peter 6 66.96x
Bedminster 6 5.95x
Camberwell 6 1.41x
Colchester St Giles 6 46.19x
Doddington 6 193.55x
Feering 6 346.82x
Grays Thurrock 6 49.10x
Halifax 6 6.19x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 6 19.51x
Leyton Low 6 22.45x
Manea 6 225.56x
Norwich St Lawrence 6 428.57x
Shipdham 6 172.41x
Shoreditch London 6 2.08x
Tunstall 6 2400.00x
Walthamstow 6 12.67x
Woolwich 6 7.14x
Cheltenham 5 4.96x
Chesterton 5 38.43x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.18x
Earls Colne 5 137.74x
Easton In Gordano 5 115.74x
Great Coggeshall 5 73.10x
Gressenhall 5 263.16x
Harwich St Nicholas 5 49.21x
Norwich St Clement 5 42.09x
Swanton Morley 5 318.47x
Witton 5 50.25x
Bowling 4 6.12x
Brentwood 4 49.88x
Chelmsford 4 17.73x
Chester St Oswald 4 15.02x
Gillingham 4 8.53x
Holt 4 114.29x
Norwich St Etheldred 4 275.86x
Norwich St James 4 49.75x
Paddington London 4 1.63x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 4 23.64x
Ratcliffe London 4 10.87x
Southcoates 4 10.91x
St Peter Cambridge 4 281.69x
Beighton 3 483.87x
Chelsea London 3 1.49x
Downham Market 3 42.61x
Egham 3 15.05x
Everton 3 1.19x
Mansfield 3 9.65x
Northampton All Sts 3 14.11x
Norwich St Andrew 3 171.43x
Royal Navy 3 4.42x
Wellington 3 9.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 50
George 27
John 25
Thomas 24
Charles 19
James 16
Henry 14
Robert 11
Joseph 9
Alfred 8
Richard 8
Arthur 7
Edward 7
Frank 6
Herbert 5
Frederick 4
Walter 4
Abraham 3
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
David 3
Josiah 3
Mathew 3
Samuel 3
Tom 3
Andrew 2
Christopher 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Isaac 2
Jonathan 2
Leonard 2
Philip 2
Wm. 2
Daniel 1
Dav. 1
Dennis 1
Edgar 1
Fred 1
Fredric 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Handel 1
Harry 1
Malachi 1
Manning 1
Mileeson 1
Pearson 1
Percival 1
Saml. 1

FAQ

Gunton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gunton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 670 people were recorded with the Gunton surname. That placed it at #5,386 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gunton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 668 in 2016. That gives Gunton a modern rank of #8,003.

What does the Gunton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the parish of Gunton in Norfolk, England.

What does the Gunton map show?

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