UK surname
A occupational surname for a guide or leader, derived from the Middle English term "gyer" meaning "guide."
In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Guyer surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 86, ranked #32,570, down from #18,324 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lewisham and Charton-next-Woolwich. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Guyer is 140 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.6%.
1881 census count
114
Ranked #18,324
Modern count
86
2016, ranked #32,570
Peak year
1901
140 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Guyer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Guyer surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 60 | #22,584 |
| 1861 | historical | 50 | #27,636 |
| 1881 | historical | 114 | #18,324 |
| 1891 | historical | 131 | #20,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 140 | #18,795 |
| 1911 | historical | 132 | #19,313 |
| 1997 | modern | 97 | #27,342 |
| 1998 | modern | 98 | #27,923 |
| 1999 | modern | 85 | #29,578 |
| 2000 | modern | 83 | #29,809 |
| 2001 | modern | 83 | #29,617 |
| 2002 | modern | 81 | #30,294 |
| 2003 | modern | 83 | #30,088 |
| 2004 | modern | 90 | #29,481 |
| 2005 | modern | 85 | #30,219 |
| 2006 | modern | 80 | #31,149 |
| 2007 | modern | 77 | #31,856 |
| 2008 | modern | 75 | #32,373 |
| 2009 | modern | 80 | #32,277 |
| 2010 | modern | 85 | #32,185 |
| 2011 | modern | 81 | #32,558 |
| 2012 | modern | 74 | #33,348 |
| 2013 | modern | 86 | #32,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 85 | #32,743 |
| 2015 | modern | 87 | #32,514 |
| 2016 | modern | 86 | #32,570 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lewisham, Charton-next-Woolwich and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Lewisham | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Charton-next-Woolwich | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Guyer surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Guyer, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Guyer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Guyer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Guyer is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Guyer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Guyer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "GUYER" is believed to have originated in Germany, with the earliest known records dating back to the 16th century. The name is thought to be derived from the German word "gier," which means "greed" or "desire." This suggests that the surname may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was perceived as greedy or overly ambitious.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the church records of the town of Worms, Germany, where a certain Hans Guyer was mentioned in 1567. Another early reference is found in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where a Johannes Guyer was documented in 1589.
During the 17th century, the name began to spread to other regions of Germany, as well as neighboring countries like Switzerland and Austria. In the Swiss canton of Bern, for instance, there are records of a family named Guyer residing in the village of Münsingen as early as 1621.
As the name spread, it also underwent various spelling variations, such as Guier, Guyer, and Guyher. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.
One notable individual with the surname "GUYER" was Johann Guyer (1592-1658), a Swiss Protestant theologian and professor at the University of Basel. Another was Samuel Guyer (1748-1828), a Swiss-born American Revolutionary War soldier who fought in the Battle of Saratoga.
In the 19th century, the name began to appear in the United States as a result of German and Swiss immigration. One of the earliest recorded instances in America was that of Johannes Guyer (1813-1888), who was born in Switzerland and later settled in Ohio.
Other notable individuals with the surname "GUYER" include:
1. Michael Guyer (1699-1764), a Swiss pastor and theologian. 2. Bernhard Guyer (1820-1887), a Swiss politician and lawyer. 3. Jacob Guyer (1819-1908), an American farmer and pioneer in Wisconsin. 4. Ida Guyer (1888-1958), an American artist and educator. 5. Melchior Guyer (1486-1549), a Swiss theologian and reformer.
While the surname "GUYER" may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has since become a well-established family name with a rich history spanning multiple countries and centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Guyer surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 28 Guyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.52x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Charlton Next Woolwich in Kent leads with 16 Guyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 404.04x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Charlton Next Woolwich | 16 | 404.04x |
| Lambeth | 10 | 10.31x |
| Richmond | 10 | 131.75x |
| Willesden | 9 | 85.88x |
| St Luke London | 7 | 39.26x |
| Milford | 6 | 1132.08x |
| Speen | 6 | 437.96x |
| Tormoham | 6 | 61.29x |
| Bethnal Green London | 5 | 10.35x |
| Blackburn | 5 | 14.25x |
| Southampton St Mary | 5 | 34.89x |
| Clarendon Park | 2 | 2500.00x |
| Great Little Marsden | 2 | 33.11x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 2 | 31.85x |
| Ryde | 2 | 40.82x |
| Scotforth | 2 | 232.56x |
| St Helen Bishopsgate | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Woolwich | 2 | 14.27x |
| Batley | 1 | 9.55x |
| Battersea | 1 | 2.44x |
| Bridewell Precinct London | 1 | 909.09x |
| Brighton | 1 | 2.64x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 3.81x |
| East Ham | 1 | 24.57x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 1.67x |
| Islington London | 1 | 0.93x |
| Lee | 1 | 18.15x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 4.94x |
| Plumstead | 1 | 7.91x |
| Portsmouth | 1 | 19.05x |
| Salisbury St Martin | 1 | 98.04x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 5.10x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.12x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Guyer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 6 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Fanny | 4 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Jessie | 2 |
| Marian | 2 |
| Rhoda | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Amey | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Ceclia | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Lelitia | 1 |
| Lillie | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Louise | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Marianne | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Munnica | 1 |
| Nellie | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
| Seager | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Guyer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Guyer households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 34 |
| Dividends | 2 |
| Home Duties | 2 |
| Licensed Victualler | 2 |
| Shipwright | 2 |
| Shoe Maker | 2 |
| Auctioneer | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Barman (Inn Servt) | 1 |
| Boot Finisher | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Butchers Daur | 1 |
| Butchers Wife | 1 |
| Cattle Dealer | 1 |
| Cheesemonger | 1 |
| Chemist F.C.S. | 1 |
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engine Fitter At Works | 1 |
| Engineer Student E&M | 1 |
| Farrier | 1 |
| Fitter | 1 |
| Gardiner ND | 1 |
| Gent | 1 |
| Governess | 1 |
| Housekeeper In Office | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| M... ... | 1 |
| Miliners Appren | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Plumber | 1 |
| Principal Of Boarding School | 1 |
| Railway Laborer | 1 |
| Russia Merchant | 1 |
| Ship Wright | 1 |
| Shipwright (Apprentice) | 1 |
| Wife Of A Gentleman | 1 |
| Writer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Guyer surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 86 in 2016. That gives Guyer a modern rank of #32,570.
A occupational surname for a guide or leader, derived from the Middle English term "gyer" meaning "guide."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Guyer bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.