UK surname
A German surname derived from the occupation of lacquering, painting, or varnishing.
In the 1881 census there were 11 people recorded with the Lacker surname, ranking it #32,081 among surnames in the records. By 2004, the modern count was 1, ranked #38,771, down from #32,081 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Llanwonno, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Kings Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lacker is 122 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 90.9%.
1881 census count
11
Ranked #32,081
Modern count
1
2004, ranked #38,771
Peak year
1861
122 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lacker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lacker surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 20 | #29,743 |
| 1861 | historical | 122 | #18,036 |
| 1881 | historical | 11 | #32,081 |
| 1891 | historical | 43 | #30,933 |
| 1901 | historical | 12 | #32,772 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 3 | #38,248 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Llanwonno, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Kings Norton, Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), and Whitwick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Llanwonno | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 3 | Kings Norton | Worcestershire |
| 4 | Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), | Berkshire |
| 5 | Whitwick | Leicestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lacker surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lacker, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Lacker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lacker household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Lacker is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lacker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lacker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Lacker originates from Germany, with its earliest recordings dating back to the 16th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Middle High German word "lacker," which referred to a person who made or sold lacquer, a type of varnish. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have been associated with the lacquer trade or held occupations related to the production or application of lacquer.
Lacker is a relatively uncommon surname, with few historical records mentioning individuals bearing this name. However, one notable reference can be found in the Stadtarchiv Nürnberg (City Archives of Nuremberg), which contains records of a Johann Lacker, a lacquer maker who lived in Nuremberg in the late 16th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Lacker surname dates back to 1582, when a Hans Lacker was mentioned in the parish records of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a town in the German state of Bavaria. This entry provides evidence of the surname's existence in the region during the late 16th century.
In the 17th century, a Johann Lacker was born in the village of Gönningen, located in the Kingdom of Württemberg (now part of Baden-Württemberg, Germany). Johann Lacker (1623-1690) was a notable figure in the region, serving as a Protestant clergyman and author of several theological works.
Another notable bearer of the Lacker surname was Johann Friedrich Lacker (1692-1756), a German composer and organist who lived and worked in the city of Nuremberg during the early 18th century. His compositions for organ and harpsichord were highly regarded in his time and contributed to the development of German Baroque music.
In the 19th century, Karl Lacker (1825-1891) was a prominent German architect and urban planner. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings in the city of Frankfurt, including the Alte Oper (Old Opera House) and the Stadtbibliothek (City Library).
While the Lacker surname is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history rooted in the German lacquer trade and has been borne by notable figures in various fields, including religion, music, and architecture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lacker surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Glamorgan leads with 3 Lackers recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.07x.
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 3 Lackers recorded in 1881 and an index of 196.08x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Swansea Town | 3 | 196.08x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 34.97x |
| Cheetham | 1 | 105.26x |
| Devonport | 1 | 384.62x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 10.70x |
| Preston Candover | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 1 | 256.41x |
| Stockport | 1 | 81.97x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lacker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 11 people were recorded with the Lacker surname. That placed it at #32,081 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2004. That gives Lacker a modern rank of #38,771.
A German surname derived from the occupation of lacquering, painting, or varnishing.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lacker bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.