NameCensus.

UK surname

Gwyn

Welsh surname derived from the word "gwyn," meaning "fair" or "white," often referring to someone with light hair or complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 245 people recorded with the Gwyn surname, ranking it #11,232 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 278, ranked #15,579, down from #11,232 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil and St Mary Church. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, IZ20 and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gwyn is 278 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.5%.

1881 census count

245

Ranked #11,232

Modern count

278

2016, ranked #15,579

Peak year

2016

278 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gwyn had 245 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,232 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016, ranked #15,579.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 267 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gwyn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gwyn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gwyn 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 257 #8,596
1861 historical 175 #13,409
1881 historical 245 #11,232
1891 historical 267 #12,136
1901 historical 265 #12,652
1911 historical 259 #12,585
1997 modern 235 #15,895
1998 modern 261 #15,241
1999 modern 260 #15,390
2000 modern 260 #15,360
2001 modern 250 #15,527
2002 modern 260 #15,415
2003 modern 244 #15,861
2004 modern 246 #15,854
2005 modern 235 #16,335
2006 modern 235 #16,439
2007 modern 236 #16,617
2008 modern 245 #16,295
2009 modern 256 #16,145
2010 modern 267 #16,029
2011 modern 265 #15,980
2012 modern 270 #15,667
2013 modern 275 #15,719
2014 modern 273 #15,914
2015 modern 271 #15,881
2016 modern 278 #15,579

Geography

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Where Gwyns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil, St Mary Church, Bedwelty and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, IZ20, Westminster and Gwynedd. 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 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
3 St Mary Church Glamorganshire
4 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 036 Sunderland
2 IZ20 East Lothian
3 Westminster 019 Westminster
4 Gwynedd 008 Gwynedd
5 Gwynedd 007 Gwynedd

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gwyn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gwyn

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Gwyn is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gwyn 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

Gwyn 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 Gwyn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

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

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gwyn

The surname GWYN originated from Wales, where it first appeared in the 13th century. It is derived from the Welsh word "gwyn," meaning "white" or "fair," and was likely originally a descriptive nickname given to someone with a pale complexion or light hair.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Merioneth Lay Subsidy Roll of 1292-3, which lists a Griffith Gwyn. The name also appears in various Welsh manuscripts and records from the Middle Ages, such as the Peniarth Manuscripts from the 14th and 15th centuries.

In the 16th century, the surname was found in various parts of Wales, with notable examples including Thomas Gwyn (c. 1520-1592), a Welsh lawyer and Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire, and John Gwyn (c. 1550-1628), a Welsh-born Anglican bishop who served as the Bishop of Raphoe in Ireland.

During the 17th century, the name continued to be prominent in Wales, with individuals like Morgan Gwyn (c. 1600-1675), a Welsh politician and Member of Parliament for Radnorshire, and Edward Gwyn (1637-1718), a Welsh-born Anglican clergyman who served as the Bishop of Raphoe from 1694 to 1718.

One of the most famous historical figures with the surname GWYN was Nell Gwyn (1650-1687), an English actress and mistress of King Charles II. Although not Welsh, her surname is believed to have derived from the Welsh word "gwyn."

In the 18th century, the name was still prevalent in Wales, with individuals like William Gwyn (1675-1741), a Welsh-born politician and Member of Parliament for Penrhyn, and John Gwyn (1713-1786), a Welsh-born Anglican clergyman who served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1766 to 1786.

Other notable individuals with the surname GWYN throughout history include Richard Gwyn (1537-1592), a Welsh politician and Member of Parliament for Anglesey; Richard Gwyn (1834-1906), a Welsh-born Australian politician and Premier of Queensland; and David Gwyn (1930-2022), a Welsh-born Canadian politician and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gwyn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gwyn 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 101 Gwyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.27x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 101 24.27x
Middlesex 44 1.84x
Carmarthenshire 17 16.88x
Norfolk 14 3.81x
Kent 12 1.47x
Lancashire 10 0.35x
Monmouthshire 10 5.79x
Gloucestershire 8 1.71x
Worcestershire 8 2.56x
Herefordshire 4 4.08x
Hertfordshire 3 1.82x
Warwickshire 3 0.50x
Northamptonshire 2 0.89x
Radnorshire 2 10.37x
Shropshire 2 0.97x
Yorkshire 2 0.08x
Lincolnshire 1 0.26x
Suffolk 1 0.34x
Sussex 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swansea Town in Glamorgan leads with 17 Gwyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.84x.

Place Total Index
Swansea Town 17 49.84x
Swansea Lower 16 754.72x
Hampstead London 11 29.55x
Paddington London 10 11.38x
Merthyr Tydfil 9 22.51x
Cheriton 8 5714.29x
Margam 8 172.41x
Llanelly 7 30.86x
Llangain 7 2500.00x
St Mary Church 7 8750.00x
Twickenham 7 68.29x
Ramsgate 6 45.08x
Westbury On Trym 6 37.78x
Cardiff St Mary 5 21.82x
Llandough Near 5 5000.00x
Aberavon 4 104.44x
Chelsea London 4 5.55x
Everton 4 4.43x
Liverpool 4 2.32x
Llanover 4 67.80x
Llanwonno 4 26.76x
Lower Mitton 4 145.45x
Cowbridge 3 300.00x
Llantwit Lower 3 81.97x
Southrepps 3 422.54x
Sprowston 3 185.19x
St Marylebone London 3 2.35x
Westminster St John 3 10.31x
Birmingham 2 1.00x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 8.88x
Brandon Parva 2 1538.46x
Bristol St James In 2 29.03x
Broxbourne 2 61.35x
Cardiff St John 2 14.72x
Carmarthen St Ishmael 2 188.68x
Coyty Lower 2 74.07x
Folkestone 2 12.64x
Greenwich 2 5.26x
Kensington London 2 1.51x
Neath 2 23.61x
Rockingham 2 1052.63x
Ross 2 51.28x
Worcester All Sts 2 110.50x
Yaxham 2 500.00x
Aberdare 1 3.50x
Bilton 1 71.94x
Blaenhonddan 1 51.55x
Bromsgrove 1 9.52x
Bryngwyn 1 416.67x
Burnham Westgate 1 126.58x
Caerau 1 1111.11x
Cefnllys 1 178.57x
Chatham 1 4.46x
Claines 1 11.68x
Dyffryn Clydach 1 100.00x
Feltham 1 41.84x
Henllys 1 357.14x
Horbury 1 24.15x
Isleworth 1 9.42x
Kington 1 41.15x
Little Dewchurch 1 370.37x
Llandefeilog 1 106.38x
Llangstone 1 714.29x
Lowestoft 1 7.27x
Mirfield 1 7.69x
Mynyddyslwyn 1 14.68x
Neath Upper 1 91.74x
Oldbury 1 476.19x
Oystermouth 1 31.06x
Penrose 1 400.00x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 12.27x
Sibertswold 1 232.56x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 9.66x
St Margaret Lincoln 1 294.12x
St Pancras London 1 0.52x
Stevenage 1 39.22x
Swaffham 1 33.44x
Tharston 1 322.58x
Ticehurst 1 40.49x
Trevethin 1 6.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 13
Margaret 10
Jane 8
Edith 7
Catherine 5
Sarah 5
Alice 4
Ellen 4
Ann 3
Anne 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Rachael 2
C.E. 1
Caroline 1
Celia 1
Charlotte 1
E. 1
E.Ellen 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
G.E. 1
George 1
Georgie 1
Grace 1
Gwendoline 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Hermion 1
Jemimah 1
Jennet 1
Jesse 1
Larnor 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Mildred 1
Minna 1
Patti 1
Priscilla 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 13
George 12
David 6
Charles 5
James 5
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Herbert 3
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Edmund 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Philip 2
Phillip 2
Richard 2
Augustus 1
Basil 1
Benjamin 1
Bilson 1
Cecil 1
Cyril 1
Davied 1
Frederick 1
Frek.C. 1
Gwyn 1
Hamond 1
Haward 1
Howal 1
Howard 1
Howell 1
Josheph 1
Lionel 1
Percy 1
Reginal 1
Reginald 1
Stadly 1
Tatham 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wm 1

FAQ

Gwyn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gwyn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 245 people were recorded with the Gwyn surname. That placed it at #11,232 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gwyn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 278 in 2016. That gives Gwyn a modern rank of #15,579.

What does the Gwyn surname mean?

Welsh surname derived from the word "gwyn," meaning "fair" or "white," often referring to someone with light hair or complexion.

What does the Gwyn map show?

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