NameCensus.

UK surname

Gwilym

In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Gwilym surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 233, ranked #17,625, up from #17,841 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Mynyddyslwyn and Llanguick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Gwynedd and Conwy.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gwilym is 236 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.8%.

1881 census count

119

Ranked #17,841

Modern count

233

2016, ranked #17,625

Peak year

2013

236 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gwilym had 119 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,841 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016, ranked #17,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 171 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gwilym surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gwilym surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gwilym 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 119 #17,841
1891 historical 149 #18,420
1901 historical 171 #16,689
1911 historical 114 #21,064
1997 modern 190 #18,199
1998 modern 211 #17,532
1999 modern 214 #17,494
2000 modern 212 #17,554
2001 modern 215 #17,159
2002 modern 224 #17,042
2003 modern 227 #16,718
2004 modern 225 #16,882
2005 modern 217 #17,217
2006 modern 224 #16,990
2007 modern 226 #17,103
2008 modern 223 #17,395
2009 modern 235 #17,151
2010 modern 231 #17,711
2011 modern 231 #17,530
2012 modern 230 #17,479
2013 modern 236 #17,472
2014 modern 230 #17,872
2015 modern 234 #17,577
2016 modern 233 #17,625

Geography

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Where Gwilyms are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Mynyddyslwyn, Llanguick, Aberystruth and St John near Swansea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Gwynedd, Conwy, Cardiff and South Gloucestershire. 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 Mynyddyslwyn Monmouthshire
3 Llanguick Glamorganshire
4 Aberystruth Monmouthshire
5 St John near Swansea Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 021 Powys
2 Gwynedd 004 Gwynedd
3 Conwy 015 Conwy
4 Cardiff 037 Cardiff
5 South Gloucestershire 015 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gwilym

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gwilym

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

Gwilym is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gwilym 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 Gwilym is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Gwilym, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Gwilym families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gwilym 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. Glamorgan leads with 76 Gwilyms recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.61x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 76 37.61x
Carmarthenshire 20 40.88x
Brecknockshire 12 51.70x
Monmouthshire 11 13.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llandilo Fawr in Carmarthenshire leads with 18 Gwilyms recorded in 1881 and an index of 825.69x.

Place Total Index
Llandilo Fawr 18 825.69x
St John Near Swansea 13 520.00x
Swansea Town 11 66.39x
Llantrisant 10 196.46x
Cilybebill 8 1038.96x
Lower Ystradgynlais 8 559.44x
Rhyndwyclydach 8 571.43x
Aberystruth 7 94.59x
Llanguick 7 193.37x
Eglwysilan 6 170.94x
Ystradyfodwg 6 33.84x
Bedwas 4 655.74x
Llanelly 2 71.94x
Llanwonno 2 27.55x
Neath 2 48.66x
Newcastle Lower 2 476.19x
Talgarth 2 350.88x
Llangadock 1 74.07x
Llangennech 1 128.21x
Llansamlet Higher 1 66.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Elizabeth 7
Ann 5
Sarah 5
Margt. 2
Alice 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Diana 1
Ellen 1
Gwenllian 1
Hannah 1
Jennet 1
Jenneta 1
Jennett 1
Lizie 1
Lizzie 1
Lizzy 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Margreta 1
Margt.Jane 1
Martha 1
Miriam 1
Olivia 1
Rachel 1
Susanah 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Richard 9
William 9
David 8
John 8
Thomas 7
Rees 6
Moses 3
James 2
Morgan 2
Benjmain 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
George 1
Gomer 1
Gwilym 1
Henry 1
Michael 1
Noah 1
Richd. 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Taliesain 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Gwilym surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gwilym surname in 1881?

In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Gwilym surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gwilym surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016. That gives Gwilym a modern rank of #17,625.

What does the Gwilym map show?

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