NameCensus.

UK surname

Gwyther

A surname derived from a Welsh place name or location.

In the 1881 census there were 539 people recorded with the Gwyther surname, ranking it #6,395 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 801, ranked #6,910, down from #6,395 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary and Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gwyther is 856 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.6%.

1881 census count

539

Ranked #6,395

Modern count

801

2016, ranked #6,910

Peak year

1999

856 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gwyther had 539 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,395 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 801 in 2016, ranked #6,910.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 705 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gwyther surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gwyther surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gwyther 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 367 #6,469
1861 historical 389 #6,580
1881 historical 539 #6,395
1891 historical 545 #6,931
1901 historical 704 #6,257
1911 historical 705 #6,048
1997 modern 807 #6,497
1998 modern 843 #6,478
1999 modern 856 #6,447
2000 modern 838 #6,531
2001 modern 819 #6,523
2002 modern 829 #6,590
2003 modern 813 #6,568
2004 modern 804 #6,642
2005 modern 794 #6,646
2006 modern 787 #6,715
2007 modern 787 #6,779
2008 modern 793 #6,802
2009 modern 807 #6,837
2010 modern 810 #6,949
2011 modern 816 #6,829
2012 modern 817 #6,724
2013 modern 814 #6,844
2014 modern 813 #6,892
2015 modern 797 #6,954
2016 modern 801 #6,910

Geography

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Where Gwythers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lamphey and Manorbier. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire and Swansea. 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 St Mary Pembrokeshire
3 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
4 Lamphey Pembrokeshire
5 Manorbier Pembrokeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 013 Pembrokeshire
2 Pembrokeshire 011 Pembrokeshire
3 Pembrokeshire 014 Pembrokeshire
4 Swansea 007 Swansea
5 Pembrokeshire 015 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gwyther

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gwyther

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Gwyther is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Gwyther 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

Gwyther 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 Gwyther is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gwyther

The surname Gwyther originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "gythere," which means a conflux or meeting of streams. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near the junction of two rivers or streams.

Gwyther is an Anglo-Saxon name that first emerged in the county of Worcestershire. It is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landholdings and properties across England and parts of Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror. The earliest known bearer of the name was Osbert Gwyther, mentioned in records from the village of Abberton in Worcestershire during the late 11th century.

By the 13th century, the surname had spread to other parts of England, with various spellings appearing in historical records, such as Gwythere, Gwithere, and Gwithor. One notable individual was Sir John Gwyther, a knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the mid-14th century.

In the 16th century, the name was found in the parish records of several counties, including Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. William Gwyther (1540-1615) was a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Somerset, owning estates in the village of Batcombe.

Another notable bearer of the name was Richard Gwyther (1603-1676), a clergyman and academic who served as the Provost of Eton College from 1645 to 1676. He played a significant role in the college's affairs during the English Civil War and the Interregnum period.

During the 18th century, the Gwyther family had established themselves as landowners and farmers in various parts of southwestern England. John Gwyther (1725-1799) was a successful merchant and ship owner based in Bristol, involved in the trade with the American colonies.

Throughout its history, the surname Gwyther has maintained a strong presence in the counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire, where many of its bearers have been prominent members of local communities and contributed to the region's history and development.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gwyther families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gwyther 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. Pembrokeshire leads with 311 Gwythers recorded in 1881 and an index of 185.77x.

County Total Index
Pembrokeshire 311 185.77x
Glamorgan 57 6.21x
Middlesex 29 0.55x
Gloucestershire 26 2.52x
Surrey 17 0.66x
Warwickshire 17 1.28x
Monmouthshire 12 3.15x
Staffordshire 12 0.67x
Yorkshire 12 0.23x
Carmarthenshire 11 4.95x
Cheshire 10 0.86x
Lancashire 5 0.08x
Devon 4 0.36x
Wiltshire 4 0.86x
Hampshire 3 0.28x
Cornwall 2 0.34x
Derbyshire 2 0.24x
Royal Navy 2 3.19x
Shropshire 2 0.44x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.47x
Kent 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pembroke St Mary in Pembrokeshire leads with 99 Gwythers recorded in 1881 and an index of 459.18x.

Place Total Index
Pembroke St Mary 99 459.18x
Monckton 36 1204.01x
St Issells 25 706.21x
Carew 18 1077.84x
Lamphey 14 2500.00x
Swansea Town 13 17.29x
Merthyr Tydfil 12 13.61x
Stackpole Elidor 12 2264.15x
Birmingham 11 2.48x
Brawdy 11 1208.79x
Manor Bier 11 964.91x
Pembroke St Michael 11 452.67x
Tenby St Mary In 11 129.11x
Bristol St George 10 20.93x
Cannock 10 32.23x
Steynton 10 184.84x
Aberdare 9 14.29x
Clerkenwell London 9 7.24x
Rhoscrowther 9 2368.42x
Robeston Wathan 9 1551.72x
Swansea Higher 9 94.24x
Kingston On Thames 8 12.97x
Llangunnor 8 406.09x
Bradford 6 4.75x
Christchurch 6 50.93x
Clifton 6 11.49x
Croydon 6 4.21x
Liscard 6 28.64x
Nash 6 3157.89x
St Pancras London 6 1.42x
Haverfordwest St Mary 5 207.47x
Llanwonno 5 15.17x
Middlesbrough 5 7.36x
Newport 5 27.52x
Aston 4 1.09x
Bristol St Augustine 4 24.00x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 11.61x
Chester St John Baptist 4 19.14x
Cosheston 4 392.16x
Islington London 4 0.78x
Penally 4 360.36x
Pendlebury 4 30.30x
Poplar London 4 4.02x
Pwllcrochan 4 1176.47x
Portsea 3 1.42x
Stoke Damerel 3 3.91x
Swindon 3 8.30x
Ystradyfodwg 3 3.73x
Aberavon 2 23.70x
Angle 2 240.96x
Carmarthen St Ishmael 2 85.47x
Castlemartin 2 281.69x
Haselor 2 322.58x
Little Eaton 2 116.96x
Llandaff 2 6.56x
Royal Navy 2 3.73x
Scilly Islands St Mary 2 85.84x
Shenstone 2 44.25x
St Luke London 2 2.37x
St Marylebone London 2 0.71x
St Petrox 2 909.09x
Battersea 1 0.52x
Bedwellty 1 1.49x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 1.03x
Bristol Temple 1 14.71x
Burton 1 59.52x
Canterbury St Augustine 1 151.52x
Lambeth 1 0.22x
Llandudno 1 13.18x
Llangennith 1 188.68x
Llanstadwell 1 18.28x
Otley 1 7.89x
Paddington London 1 0.52x
Potterne Worton 1 163.93x
St Brides Major 1 81.30x
St Clears 1 55.87x
Stanton Lacy 1 25.45x
Warren 1 370.37x
Wellington 1 3.91x
Yerbeston 1 500.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 43
William 32
George 28
James 26
Thomas 24
Alfred 9
Henry 9
Frederick 8
Edward 7
Joseph 7
Charles 6
Richard 6
Stephen 6
Peter 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Howard 2
Lewis 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Aaron 1
Agustus 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Clement 1
David 1
Desmond 1
Fredk. 1
Fredy 1
Geo. 1
Graham 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jno.Fred. 1
Julian 1
Leslie 1
Llewellyn 1
Lot 1
Osmond 1
Robert 1
Samuell 1
Stepen 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Gwyther surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gwyther surname in 1881?

In 1881, 539 people were recorded with the Gwyther surname. That placed it at #6,395 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gwyther surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 801 in 2016. That gives Gwyther a modern rank of #6,910.

What does the Gwyther surname mean?

A surname derived from a Welsh place name or location.

What does the Gwyther map show?

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