A solid Welsh favourite that is well known, though not overly used, across Britain.
When we dig deeper we find that it is currently the third most
popular "G" name for boys in England and Wales after George and Gabriel.
Origin: |
From the Welsh adjective cethin meaning "ruddy, dark, swarthy, dusky." In the Middle Ages it was originally used as an epithet (byname) after a personal name, most likely to describe a person as "swarthy" or "ruddy." One of the most famous examples is Rhys Gethin (d.c.1405), the notable captain of the great Welsh prince Owain Glyndwr. |
Usage: |
From the Middle Ages, Cethin, Gethin and Gething are found as surnames in England and Wales, and, as with many early surnames, we can find its use as a first name in Wales from the 16th century onwards. From the 15th up until the late 19th century, Wales was heavily anglicised and Welsh names were in the minority. An increasing sense of patriotism in Wales in the late 19th century led to a revival of many indigenous Welsh names that began to spread beyond the country's borders. We can see the effect on the usage of Gethin as a first name. In the 1851 UK census there were only 13 males listed named Gethin or Gething, all living in Wales. By the 1901 UK census the number had risen to 52; 81% of whom were living in Wales, and by 1911 108 males were listed with 79% living in Wales. Over the last century Gethin has been consistently used in Wales, and it has particularly grown in popularity in the last three decades. In 1998 Gethin ranked #82 (42 births) in Wales and #2338 (4 births) in England. In 2010 Gethin was #49 (91 births) in Wales and #671 (44 births) in England. If we look at the combined statistics, Gethin has been steadily rising over the past decade. In 2000 the name stood at a combined rank of #616, while in 2010 it had risen to #329. In Scotland the name ranked #490 in 2011 with 4 births. |
Famous Bearers: |
History: * Rhys Gethin (d. c. 1405) was a captain for Owain Glyndwr, and a principle figure in the Welsh Revolt. Contemporary: * Gethin Jones (b.1978) is a well known television presenter. |
Variants: |
Gething, Cethin |
Pronunciation: |
GETH-in [key] |
Sibling Names: |
Cerys Elin Seren Delyth Catrin Lowri |
Name Lists: |
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