NameCensus.

UK surname

Lacy

Derived from the Old French word "lacier" meaning "to entwine or lace," likely referring to a lace-maker or seller.

In the 1881 census there were 1,951 people recorded with the Lacy surname, ranking it #2,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,351, ranked #4,463, down from #2,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chorley, Babergh and York.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lacy is 1,951 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.8%.

1881 census count

1,951

Ranked #2,243

Modern count

1,351

2016, ranked #4,463

Peak year

1881

1,951 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lacy had 1,951 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,351 in 2016, ranked #4,463.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,951 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Lacy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lacy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lacy 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 1,497 #1,922
1861 historical 1,504 #1,879
1881 historical 1,951 #2,243
1891 historical 1,828 #2,513
1901 historical 1,838 #2,859
1911 historical 1,605 #3,028
1997 modern 1,318 #4,351
1998 modern 1,340 #4,435
1999 modern 1,362 #4,413
2000 modern 1,331 #4,475
2001 modern 1,313 #4,450
2002 modern 1,322 #4,504
2003 modern 1,299 #4,490
2004 modern 1,301 #4,479
2005 modern 1,272 #4,523
2006 modern 1,237 #4,654
2007 modern 1,236 #4,705
2008 modern 1,243 #4,704
2009 modern 1,293 #4,632
2010 modern 1,324 #4,621
2011 modern 1,335 #4,530
2012 modern 1,321 #4,502
2013 modern 1,386 #4,414
2014 modern 1,382 #4,434
2015 modern 1,358 #4,458
2016 modern 1,351 #4,463

Geography

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Where Lacys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chorley, Babergh, York, Wolverhampton and Wakefield. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton Nottinghamshire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chorley 012 Chorley
2 Babergh 009 Babergh
3 York 010 York
4 Wolverhampton 027 Wolverhampton
5 Wakefield 004 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lacy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lacy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lacy, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Lacy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lacy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Lacy 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

Lacy is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lacy falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lacy

The surname Lacy has its roots in the Old French word "lascier" or "lacier", which means to lace or tie. It originated in Normandy, France, and was likely an occupational surname given to those who made or sold laces or ribbons.

The name first appeared in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Laci" and "Lacea". The earliest recorded instances were in Lincolnshire and Oxfordshire, where some of the first bearers of the name were landed gentry and noblemen.

One of the earliest and most prominent bearers of the Lacy surname was Ilbert de Lacy, a Norman nobleman who arrived in England with William the Conqueror. He was granted extensive lands in Yorkshire and became the Lord of Pontefract Castle.

Another notable figure was Walter de Lacy, who lived in the late 12th century and was the Lord of Meath in Ireland. He was granted lands in County Westmeath and established the town of Trim.

In the 13th century, Edmund de Lacy was a wealthy English nobleman and a member of the powerful Lacy family. He served as the High Sheriff of Yorkshire and held several other important positions.

During the 14th century, Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, was a prominent figure in English history. He was a close advisor to King Edward II and played a significant role in the events leading up to the King's deposition.

In the 15th century, John Lacy was a renowned English composer and musician who served at the court of King Henry VII. He is credited with writing some of the earliest known keyboard music in England.

The surname Lacy has also been associated with several place names, such as Lacy's Court in Buckinghamshire and Lacy Green in Cheshire, reflecting the influence and landholdings of various Lacy families throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lacy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lacy 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. Yorkshire leads with 315 Lacys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.67x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 315 1.67x
Lancashire 257 1.14x
Middlesex 252 1.32x
Surrey 136 1.47x
Kent 100 1.54x
Hampshire 93 2.38x
Staffordshire 69 1.07x
Nottinghamshire 68 2.65x
Warwickshire 64 1.33x
Norfolk 55 1.88x
Lincolnshire 47 1.54x
Derbyshire 44 1.48x
Somerset 43 1.40x
Worcestershire 38 1.53x
Cheshire 35 0.83x
Devon 31 0.78x
Gloucestershire 31 0.83x
Lanarkshire 31 0.50x
Cumberland 23 1.40x
Dorset 21 1.68x
Dunbartonshire 21 4.10x
Essex 20 0.53x
Leicestershire 19 0.90x
Sussex 18 0.56x
Hertfordshire 13 0.99x
Berkshire 11 0.77x
Durham 11 0.19x
Glamorgan 11 0.33x
Buckinghamshire 8 0.69x
Cornwall 8 0.37x
Monmouthshire 8 0.58x
Wiltshire 6 0.36x
Oxfordshire 5 0.43x
Royal Navy 5 2.20x
Northumberland 4 0.14x
Shropshire 4 0.24x
West Lothian 4 1.39x
Suffolk 3 0.13x
Argyllshire 2 0.38x
Bedfordshire 2 0.20x
Brecknockshire 2 0.53x
Channel Islands 2 0.35x
Flintshire 2 0.39x
Herefordshire 2 0.26x
Midlothian 2 0.08x
Stirlingshire 2 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.06x
Ayrshire 1 0.07x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.13x
Northamptonshire 1 0.06x
Westmorland 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 40 Lacys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.91x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 40 2.91x
St Pancras London 39 2.54x
Livesey 33 83.17x
Birmingham 31 1.94x
Newark Upon Trent 28 30.34x
Southwark St George Martyr 27 7.04x
Camberwell 24 1.97x
Kirkdale 23 6.05x
Burnley 22 11.56x
Everton 22 3.05x
Aston 21 1.59x
Terrington With 20 546.45x
St Marylebone London 19 1.87x
Barony 18 1.15x
Cardross 17 27.66x
Brumstead 16 1860.47x
Chapel Allerton 16 56.64x
Lambeth 16 0.96x
Holy Trinity 15 3.30x
Bradford 14 3.06x
Grimstn Krby Wharf N 14 848.48x
Islington London 14 0.76x
Battersea 13 1.85x
Bilston 13 10.43x
Bromley London 13 3.10x
Eckington 13 17.94x
Hampstead London 13 4.38x
Ilkeston 13 15.55x
Kensington London 13 1.23x
Nether Hallam 13 5.09x
Newington 13 1.85x
Congleton 12 16.52x
Leeds 12 1.13x
Paddington London 12 1.71x
Stoke Damerel 12 4.32x
Toxteth Park 12 1.57x
West Chinnock 12 439.56x
Wickham 12 167.13x
Bobbing 11 358.31x
Droxford 11 73.83x
Govan 11 0.72x
Portsea 11 1.44x
Walcot 11 6.73x
York St Saviour 11 61.04x
Glaisdale 10 138.89x
Habergham Eaves 10 4.84x
Hackney London 10 0.94x
Rotherhithe 10 4.25x
Sheffield 10 1.66x
St Cuthbert W O 10 12.51x
Ulleskelf 10 334.45x
West Derby 10 1.51x
Belbroughton 9 69.71x
Bitton Oldland 9 23.56x
Bootle Cum Linacre 9 5.01x
Chelsea London 9 1.57x
Ightham 9 110.16x
Manchester 9 0.89x
Northwood 9 16.18x
Sileby 9 67.57x
Southampton All Sts 9 13.43x
St Giles In Fields London 9 9.63x
Stockbury 9 222.22x
Wolstanton 9 4.61x
Wolverhampton 9 1.82x
Woolwich 9 3.75x
Bromley 8 8.08x
Cheltenham 8 2.78x
Clothall 8 293.04x
Hulme 8 1.70x
Llantrisant 8 9.57x
St George Bloomsbury 8 7.32x
Swinderby 8 243.16x
Higham 7 79.73x
Layton With Warbreck 7 8.44x
Poplar London 7 1.95x
Rawdon 7 31.49x
Scarborough 7 4.08x
Tipton 7 3.55x
Wetherby 7 56.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 141
Elizabeth 69
Sarah 51
Ann 45
Jane 41
Annie 35
Ellen 30
Margaret 28
Emily 26
Alice 24
Emma 23
Eliza 22
Martha 18
Maria 17
Hannah 16
Louisa 16
Catherine 15
Harriet 14
Florence 13
Charlotte 11
Frances 11
Edith 10
Ada 9
Amy 9
Julia 9
Caroline 8
Fanny 8
Harriett 8
Kate 8
Lucy 7
Sophia 7
Susannah 7
Helen 6
Susan 6
Anne 5
Clara 5
Esther 5
Gertrude 5
Matilda 5
Agnes 4
Bridget 4
Eliz. 4
Isabella 4
Rachel 4
Rebecca 4
Theresa 4
Elizth. 3
Jessie 3
Johanna 3
Marian 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 119
William 104
George 62
James 57
Thomas 48
Edward 39
Robert 39
Charles 37
Henry 37
Joseph 33
Richard 27
Arthur 22
Samuel 18
Walter 15
Frederick 14
Harry 12
Albert 11
Alfred 10
Benjamin 10
Daniel 9
Patrick 9
Ernest 7
Francis 7
David 6
Frank 6
Edwin 5
Geo. 4
Wm. 4
Fredrick 3
Gilbert 3
Herbert 3
Lawrence 3
Mark 3
Michael 3
Nicholas 3
Peter 3
Robt. 3
Alfd. 2
Amos 2
Fredk. 2
Hector 2
Jacob 2
Jno. 2
Martin 2
Rowland 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Chares 1
Elias 1
Elijah 1

FAQ

Lacy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lacy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,951 people were recorded with the Lacy surname. That placed it at #2,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lacy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,351 in 2016. That gives Lacy a modern rank of #4,463.

What does the Lacy surname mean?

Derived from the Old French word "lacier" meaning "to entwine or lace," likely referring to a lace-maker or seller.

What does the Lacy map show?

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