NameCensus.

UK surname

Gwillim

A surname of Welsh origin meaning "servitor" or "page."

In the 1881 census there were 312 people recorded with the Gwillim surname, ranking it #9,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 352, ranked #13,104, down from #9,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Ewyas Harrold and St Margaret. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Ashford and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gwillim is 383 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.8%.

1881 census count

312

Ranked #9,451

Modern count

352

2016, ranked #13,104

Peak year

1851

383 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gwillim had 312 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 352 in 2016, ranked #13,104.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 383 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Gwillim surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gwillim surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Gwillim 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 383 #6,247
1861 historical 226 #10,797
1881 historical 312 #9,451
1891 historical 271 #11,992
1901 historical 345 #10,541
1911 historical 369 #9,867
1997 modern 341 #12,407
1998 modern 364 #12,201
1999 modern 369 #12,147
2000 modern 377 #11,903
2001 modern 361 #12,102
2002 modern 364 #12,268
2003 modern 341 #12,655
2004 modern 333 #12,927
2005 modern 326 #13,045
2006 modern 340 #12,722
2007 modern 344 #12,743
2008 modern 354 #12,591
2009 modern 359 #12,714
2010 modern 358 #13,001
2011 modern 369 #12,600
2012 modern 360 #12,673
2013 modern 351 #13,159
2014 modern 351 #13,227
2015 modern 357 #12,979
2016 modern 352 #13,104

Geography

Back to top

Where Gwillims are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Ewyas Harrold, St Margaret, Bedwelty and Aberystruth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Ashford, Herefordshire and Torfaen. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Ewyas Harrold Herefordshire
3 St Margaret Herefordshire
4 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
5 Aberystruth Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 015 Powys
2 Ashford 002 Ashford
3 Herefordshire 021 Herefordshire, County of
4 Powys 014 Powys
5 Torfaen 001 Torfaen

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Gwillim

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Gwillim

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Gwillim is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Gwillim 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

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

Meaning and origin of Gwillim

The surname GWILLIM originated in Wales, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Welsh personal name Gwilym, which is a cognate of the name William, derived from the Germanic elements "wil" meaning desire or will, and "helm" meaning helmet or protection.

GWILLIM is believed to have originated as a patronymic surname, meaning "son of Gwilym." The earliest known bearer of the name was Gwilym ap Rhys, who lived in Glamorgan, South Wales, in the late 13th century. Records from this time show the name spelled variously as Gwillim, Gwillym, and Gwylym.

In the 14th century, the name GWILLIM appeared in the Merionethshire Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1292-1293, which recorded individuals liable for taxation. This suggests that the name was well-established in various parts of Wales by this time.

One of the earliest known references to the name GWILLIM in English records is found in the Calendar of Patent Rolls from 1349, which mentions a John Gwillim from Gloucestershire. This suggests that the name had spread from Wales into neighboring English counties by the mid-14th century.

Notable individuals with the surname GWILLIM include:

1. John Gwillim (c.1605-1675), an English writer and herald who authored the influential heraldic work "A Display of Heraldry." 2. Elizabeth Gwillim (c. 1555-1610), a Welsh heiress and landowner who inherited substantial estates in Glamorgan. 3. Gwilym Gwillim (c. 1500-1560), a Welsh landowner and member of the gentry from Breconshire. 4. Henry Gwillim (c. 1570-1630), an English clergyman and author of religious works. 5. John Gwillim (c. 1675-1735), an English lawyer and legal writer from Wiltshire.

The name GWILLIM has also been associated with various place names in Wales, such as Gwillimston in Pembrokeshire and Gwillim's Hill in Monmouthshire, reflecting the historical presence of the surname in these regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Gwillim families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gwillim 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. Herefordshire leads with 78 Gwillims recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.52x.

County Total Index
Herefordshire 78 63.52x
Brecknockshire 63 105.19x
Monmouthshire 56 25.87x
Middlesex 28 0.93x
Radnorshire 16 66.23x
Glamorgan 13 2.49x
Kent 10 0.98x
Shropshire 10 3.87x
Flintshire 7 8.70x
Cheshire 6 0.91x
Essex 6 1.02x
Gloucestershire 2 0.34x
Norfolk 2 0.43x
Somerset 2 0.41x
Worcestershire 2 0.51x
Berkshire 1 0.44x
Cardiganshire 1 1.37x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.79x
Devon 1 0.16x
Hampshire 1 0.16x
Surrey 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hay in Brecknockshire leads with 18 Gwillims recorded in 1881 and an index of 810.81x.

Place Total Index
Hay 18 810.81x
Aberystruth 17 89.10x
Longtown 17 2236.84x
Bedwellty 11 28.78x
Woolwich 10 26.49x
Clerkenwell London 9 12.73x
Talgarth 9 608.11x
Abergavenny 8 98.64x
Oswestry Town 8 96.62x
Hawarden Saltney 7 619.47x
Llangattock Vibon Avel 7 1400.00x
Michaelchurch Escely 7 2187.50x
Rowlstone 7 5384.62x
St Devereux 7 3333.33x
Llanfihangel Bryn 6 2000.00x
Presteigne 6 392.16x
West Ham 6 4.60x
Fownhope 5 467.29x
Llantwit Lower 5 109.17x
Llysdinam 5 2500.00x
Merthyr Cynog 5 666.67x
St Luke London 5 10.41x
St Margarets 5 1724.14x
Tranmere 5 20.58x
Upper Cwmyoy 5 2941.18x
Bryngwyn 4 1600.00x
Chelsea London 4 4.43x
Clyro 4 533.33x
Ganarew 4 2222.22x
Holmer 4 181.00x
Llanelieu 4 4444.44x
Llanthew 4 1666.67x
Newton In Hereford 4 2000.00x
Redwick 4 1481.48x
Shoreditch London 4 3.08x
Abbey Dore 3 545.45x
Dylais Higher 3 344.83x
Llanguick 3 32.12x
Llangunider 3 80.43x
Bedminster 2 4.42x
Christchurch 2 29.85x
Dorstone 2 434.78x
Great Malvern 2 24.51x
Llandefalley 2 333.33x
Llanelly 2 27.89x
Llanvillo 2 909.09x
Lugwardine 2 256.41x
St George Hanover 2 5.12x
Aberystwyth 1 86.21x
Boughrood 1 370.37x
Bredwardine 1 285.71x
Cleobury Mortimer 1 61.35x
Credenhill 1 400.00x
Dymock 1 71.43x
Eastham 1 113.64x
Hackney London 1 0.60x
Hentland 1 169.49x
Hereford St Peter 1 30.49x
Leominster 1 19.69x
Linton In Newent 1 105.26x
Little Birch 1 344.83x
Little Cowarne 1 588.24x
Llanarth 1 400.00x
Llandefailog Tregraig 1 2500.00x
Llanelly 1 3.52x
Llangattock 1 20.49x
Llangenny 1 192.31x
Llanover 1 13.53x
Llansilin 1 53.19x
Madley 1 116.28x
Norwich St George Tombland 1 123.46x
Rhayader 1 109.89x
Sandhurst 1 22.99x
Southampton All Sts 1 9.50x
St Marylebone London 1 0.63x
Stonehouse East 1 31.65x
Swansea Town 1 2.34x
Wandsworth 1 3.47x
Weobley 1 109.89x
Ystradyfodwg 1 2.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 10
Margaret 8
Ann 5
Catherine 5
Martha 5
Jane 4
Alice 3
Eleanor 3
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Alma 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Eva 2
Kate 2
Addliza 1
Armine 1
Caroline 1
Celia 1
Christiana 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
E.M. 1
Eliz 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
F. 1
Florence 1
Getrude 1
Gwenlliant 1
H.F. 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Jesse 1
Katherine 1
L. 1
L.A. 1
Laura 1
Lilli 1
Linda 1
M.A. 1
Mabel 1
Magdaline 1
Margarette 1
Margt. 1
Maryann 1
Matilda 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 25
John 24
William 19
James 15
David 7
Robert 6
Philip 5
Edward 4
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
George 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Ebenezer 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Eli 1
F.A. 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
J. 1
J.R.P. 1
Jas.H. 1
Natham 1
Owen 1
Phillip 1
Rees 1
Saml. 1
T. 1
T.A. 1
W.E. 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Gwillim surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gwillim surname in 1881?

In 1881, 312 people were recorded with the Gwillim surname. That placed it at #9,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gwillim surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 352 in 2016. That gives Gwillim a modern rank of #13,104.

What does the Gwillim surname mean?

A surname of Welsh origin meaning "servitor" or "page."

What does the Gwillim map show?

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