This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Gatward family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Gatward Family History

Gatward Surname Meaning

for a goatherd Middle English gate-werde (Old English gātweard). See also Gathard with which the name was sometimes confused.

The final element -ward sometimes developed in modern times to -wood and -worth and perhaps also to -forth and -ford though the reverse changes also occur.

for a gate keeper Middle English gateward Old English ʒeatweard dialect *gātward.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gatward family from?

You can see how Gatward families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gatward family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1880 and 1920. The most Gatward families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 60 Gatward families living in London. This was about 22% of all the recorded Gatward's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Gatward families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gatward surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Gatward ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gatward. 42% of Gatward men worked as a General Labourer and 88% of Gatward women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gatward were Chimney Sweep and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Gatward | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    42%
  • Lorry Driver
    12%
  • Cowman
    6%
  • Chimney Sweep
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    88%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Gatward family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Gatward. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gatward census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gatward

Passenger Lists

There are 670 immigration records available for the last name Gatward. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Gatward immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 498 military records available for the last name Gatward. For the veterans among your Gatward ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gatward military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gatward family history

Discover More

What is the average Gatward lifespan?

Between 1965 and 1995, in the United States, Gatward life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1976, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Gatward in 1965 was 60, and 67 in 1995.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gatward

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gatward ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Gatward family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial