NameCensus.

UK surname

Gwynn

A Welsh surname derived from the word "gwyn," meaning "white," "fair," or "blessed."

In the 1881 census there were 544 people recorded with the Gwynn surname, ranking it #6,344 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 652, ranked #8,163, down from #6,344 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean and Bishopston, Nicholaston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Swansea and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gwynn is 697 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.9%.

1881 census count

544

Ranked #6,344

Modern count

652

2016, ranked #8,163

Peak year

1999

697 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gwynn had 544 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,344 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 652 in 2016, ranked #8,163.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 617 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gwynn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gwynn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gwynn 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 417 #5,829
1861 historical 280 #8,953
1881 historical 544 #6,344
1891 historical 555 #6,831
1901 historical 531 #7,717
1911 historical 617 #6,692
1997 modern 657 #7,612
1998 modern 685 #7,604
1999 modern 697 #7,542
2000 modern 669 #7,758
2001 modern 658 #7,722
2002 modern 663 #7,826
2003 modern 652 #7,816
2004 modern 667 #7,699
2005 modern 653 #7,741
2006 modern 655 #7,756
2007 modern 646 #7,901
2008 modern 644 #7,967
2009 modern 667 #7,919
2010 modern 667 #8,082
2011 modern 679 #7,873
2012 modern 657 #8,004
2013 modern 664 #8,074
2014 modern 667 #8,088
2015 modern 664 #8,056
2016 modern 652 #8,163

Geography

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Where Gwynns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, Bishopston, Nicholaston, Alvechurch and Clifton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Swansea, Herefordshire and Mid Sussex. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean Monmouthshire
3 Bishopston, Nicholaston Glamorganshire
4 Alvechurch Worcestershire
5 Clifton Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 001 Doncaster
2 Swansea 005 Swansea
3 Herefordshire 004 Herefordshire, County of
4 Mid Sussex 013 Mid Sussex
5 Swansea 024 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gwynn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gwynn

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Gwynn is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gwynn is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Gwynn falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Gwynn 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 Gwynn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Gwynn

The surname Gwynn is believed to have originated in Wales, deriving from the Welsh personal name Gwyn, which means "fair" or "blessed". It's likely that this name was initially given as a nickname or descriptive name to someone with fair hair or a fair complexion.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Gwynn can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of Wales. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Gruffydd Gwyn, a Welsh nobleman who lived in the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the name Gwynn appeared in several historical records and manuscripts, including the Register of the Gwydir Family, which documented the genealogy of an influential Welsh family with members bearing the surname Gwynn.

The surname Gwynn has also been associated with various place names in Wales, such as Gwynedd, which means "fair/blessed land" in Welsh. This suggests that some individuals may have adopted the surname Gwynn based on their place of origin or residence.

One notable figure in history with the surname Gwynn was Nell Gwynn (1650-1687), a famous English actress and mistress of King Charles II. She was born Eleanor Gwynn and became a celebrated figure in the Restoration era, known for her wit and charm.

Another prominent individual with the surname Gwynn was Matthew Gwyn (c. 1558-1627), a Welsh bishop and translator who played a significant role in the translation of the Bible into Welsh.

In the literary world, Edmund Gwynn (1877-1964) was an Irish scholar and historian who specialized in Anglo-Norman literature and served as the Provost of Trinity College Dublin from 1937 to 1951.

John Gwynn (c. 1713-1786) was an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Magdalen Chapel and the London Hospital.

Lastly, Stephen Gwynn (1864-1950) was an Irish journalist, writer, and politician who served as a Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons and wrote extensively on Irish history and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gwynn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gwynn 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. Worcestershire leads with 78 Gwynns recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.32x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 78 11.32x
Middlesex 63 1.19x
Glamorgan 58 6.31x
Surrey 46 1.79x
Gloucestershire 41 3.96x
Shropshire 33 7.24x
Warwickshire 32 2.40x
Monmouthshire 26 6.82x
Lancashire 21 0.34x
Staffordshire 21 1.18x
Kent 19 1.06x
Pembrokeshire 19 11.33x
Yorkshire 13 0.25x
Herefordshire 12 5.55x
Renfrewshire 10 2.45x
Montgomeryshire 8 6.62x
Cambridgeshire 7 2.09x
Wiltshire 7 1.50x
Lanarkshire 5 0.29x
Essex 4 0.38x
Brecknockshire 3 2.84x
Hampshire 3 0.28x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.31x
Devon 1 0.09x
Flintshire 1 0.70x
Hertfordshire 1 0.27x
Norfolk 1 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 1.59x
Somerset 1 0.12x
Stirlingshire 1 0.51x
West Lothian 1 1.26x
Westmorland 1 0.86x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 24 Gwynns recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.41x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 24 5.41x
Great Malvern 19 132.13x
Clifton 15 28.67x
Trevethin 14 38.86x
Crayford 12 152.67x
Northfield 12 91.81x
Swansea Town 12 15.93x
Bermondsey 11 7.00x
Bromsgrove 11 47.43x
Lambeth 11 2.39x
Wem 10 147.49x
West Greenock 10 13.62x
Barrow In Furness 9 10.57x
Battersea 9 4.63x
Hendon 9 47.39x
Islington London 9 1.76x
Newington 9 4.62x
Newland 9 103.45x
Bristol St James St Paul 8 23.18x
Dudley 8 9.55x
Featherstone 8 136.29x
Martley 8 406.09x
Newtown 8 103.49x
Shoreditch London 8 3.50x
West Bromwich 8 7.84x
Bishopston Lower 7 1076.92x
Oystermouth 7 98.45x
Widnes 7 15.50x
Clase 6 17.56x
Harborne 6 10.51x
Monckton 6 200.00x
Neath 6 32.09x
St Andrewthe Less 6 15.71x
Worcester St John 6 72.90x
Aldbourn 5 183.82x
Dawley 5 30.14x
Llangarren 5 257.73x
Manor Bier 5 438.60x
Oswestry Town 5 34.25x
Rawmarsh 5 27.07x
St Andrew Holborn London 5 21.88x
Whitchurch 5 56.50x
Clerkenwell London 4 3.21x
Horfield 4 38.39x
Llanishen 4 909.09x
Llanover 4 30.70x
Llanrhidian Lower 4 465.12x
Llawhaden 4 408.16x
Merthyr Tydfil 4 4.53x
Mile End Old Town London 4 3.56x
Spitalfields London 4 10.08x
St Pancras London 4 0.94x
Swansea Higher 4 41.80x
Walsall Foreign 4 4.35x
Abergavenny 3 20.99x
Aston 3 0.82x
Cardiff St Mary 3 5.93x
Chiswick 3 10.40x
Dymock 3 121.46x
Gwenddwr North 3 789.47x
Llantood 3 714.29x
Ludlow St Lawrence 3 33.08x
Madeley 3 17.94x
New Monkland 3 5.95x
Ombersley 3 78.13x
Rochford 3 99.01x
Southwark St Saviour 3 11.06x
St George Hanover Square 3 3.23x
St Martin In Fields 3 9.50x
Sutton Coldfield 3 21.44x
Alvechurch 2 68.26x
Crondall 2 34.42x
Goodrich 2 148.15x
Govan 2 0.47x
Great Crosby 2 11.72x
Ledbury 2 26.92x
Llanwonno 2 6.06x
Paddington London 2 1.03x
Pewsey 2 58.31x
Toxteth Park 2 0.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Elizabeth 23
Sarah 18
Eliza 14
Emma 13
Ann 12
Emily 10
Ellen 9
Alice 8
Jane 7
Annie 6
Martha 6
Catherine 5
Margaret 5
Ada 4
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Rachel 4
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Cecilia 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Elsie 2
Ethel 2
Gertrude 2
Jennet 2
Lydia 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Catharine 1
Ceinnen 1
Clare 1
Elizth. 1
Emelia 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Katharine 1
Kezia 1
Lavinia 1
Letitia 1
Lillie 1
Lily 1
Lina 1
Margeret 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
John 31
George 16
Henry 16
Thomas 16
Charles 12
James 12
Joseph 11
Arthur 7
Edward 7
Richard 7
David 6
Edwin 6
Frederick 6
Samuel 6
Walter 6
Fred 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Francis 3
Wm. 3
Chas. 2
Frank 2
Robert 2
Birty 1
Cressatt 1
Edith 1
Edmund 1
Felix 1
Frederic 1
Frerick 1
Geo. 1
Gerald 1
Graham 1
Gronow 1
Harry 1
Josh.W. 1
Kingsmill 1
Llewellyn 1
Lwyn 1
Mabbett 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Percival 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Ralph 1
Reginald 1
Reuben 1
Richd. 1

FAQ

Gwynn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gwynn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 544 people were recorded with the Gwynn surname. That placed it at #6,344 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gwynn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 652 in 2016. That gives Gwynn a modern rank of #8,163.

What does the Gwynn surname mean?

A Welsh surname derived from the word "gwyn," meaning "white," "fair," or "blessed."

What does the Gwynn map show?

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