NameCensus.

UK surname

Laidlow

A Scottish habitational surname referring to someone from a low-lying area.

In the 1881 census there were 187 people recorded with the Laidlow surname, ranking it #13,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 237, ranked #17,418, down from #13,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Stanwix, Crosby-on-Eden and Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Eden and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Laidlow is 454 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.7%.

1881 census count

187

Ranked #13,407

Modern count

237

2016, ranked #17,418

Peak year

1911

454 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Laidlow had 187 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016, ranked #17,418.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 454 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Laidlow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Laidlow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Laidlow 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 174 #11,590
1861 historical 229 #10,660
1881 historical 187 #13,407
1891 historical 272 #11,957
1901 historical 370 #10,017
1911 historical 454 #8,445
1997 modern 249 #15,319
1998 modern 262 #15,203
1999 modern 281 #14,578
2000 modern 256 #15,510
2001 modern 245 #15,721
2002 modern 243 #16,147
2003 modern 232 #16,447
2004 modern 231 #16,591
2005 modern 226 #16,782
2006 modern 210 #17,718
2007 modern 215 #17,633
2008 modern 217 #17,693
2009 modern 229 #17,431
2010 modern 246 #16,975
2011 modern 249 #16,684
2012 modern 250 #16,523
2013 modern 248 #16,877
2014 modern 241 #17,338
2015 modern 244 #17,090
2016 modern 237 #17,418

Geography

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Where Laidlows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Stanwix, Crosby-on-Eden, Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost, London parishes and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Eden, Allerdale and Carlisle. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Stanwix, Crosby-on-Eden Cumberland
3 Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost Cumberland
4 London parishes London 3
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 035 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 037 Northumberland
3 Eden 006 Eden
4 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
5 Carlisle 003 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Laidlow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Laidlow

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Laidlow is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Laidlow is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Laidlow 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 Laidlow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Laidlow

The surname Laidlow has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place called Laidlaw, located in the Scottish Borders region. The placename itself is thought to be derived from the Old English words "læde," meaning a course or stream, and "hlaw," meaning a hill or mound.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Laidlow can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document containing the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "de Ledelawe," which is likely an early spelling variation.

In the 14th century, the name Laidlow appeared in various Scottish records and charters. For instance, John de Laidlaw was mentioned in a charter granted by Robert the Bruce in 1329. This suggests that the Laidlow family held lands and had a presence in Scotland during this period.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Laidlow has been associated with several notable individuals. One such person was William Laidlow (c. 1590-1659), a Scottish minister and religious writer who served as the minister of Dunning Parish in Perthshire.

Another prominent figure was Robert Laidlow (1722-1784), a Scottish architect and surveyor who designed several buildings in Edinburgh, including the Old College of the University of Edinburgh.

In the 19th century, James Laidlow (1815-1896) was a Scottish historian and author who wrote extensively about the history and antiquities of Berwickshire, a county in the Scottish Borders.

The Laidlow surname also has connections to the United States. One example is John Laidlow (1766-1847), a Scottish-born merchant and landowner who immigrated to Virginia in the late 18th century and became a prominent figure in the area.

Lastly, Robert Laidlow (1870-1949) was a Scottish-American engineer and businessman who co-founded the Laidlaw Corporation, a transportation company that operated school buses and other vehicles.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Laidlow who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout history, reflecting the rich heritage and legacy associated with this Scottish surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Laidlow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Laidlow 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. Cumberland leads with 88 Laidlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.74x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 88 55.74x
Lancashire 20 0.92x
Middlesex 17 0.93x
Durham 10 1.83x
Westmorland 9 22.33x
Northumberland 8 2.93x
Yorkshire 7 0.39x
Cheshire 5 1.24x
Hampshire 5 1.33x
Lincolnshire 5 1.71x
Kent 3 0.48x
Lanarkshire 3 0.51x
Surrey 3 0.34x
Hertfordshire 2 1.58x
Derbyshire 1 0.35x
Isle of Man 1 2.94x
Midlothian 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Egremont in Cumberland leads with 14 Laidlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 372.34x.

Place Total Index
Egremont 14 372.34x
Aspatria 8 526.32x
Brampton 8 370.37x
Orton 8 666.67x
Stanwix 8 625.00x
Crosscanonby 7 134.10x
Penrith 7 120.07x
Rickergate 6 179.64x
St Pancras London 6 4.07x
Disley Stanley 5 240.38x
Hutton In Forest 5 3333.33x
Oughterside Allerby 5 1562.50x
Barrow In Furness 4 13.52x
Burtholme 4 2000.00x
Castle Carrock 4 2105.26x
East Thickley 4 360.36x
Fillingham 4 2105.26x
Hartleyburn 4 1212.12x
Kirkdale 4 10.93x
Clerkenwell London 3 6.93x
Hackney London 3 2.92x
Linthorpe 3 27.68x
Newington 3 4.43x
Wetheral 3 143.54x
Whitehaven 3 35.67x
Bishopwearmouth 2 4.27x
Conside Knitsley 2 47.17x
Deptford St Paul 2 4.14x
Elswick 2 9.18x
Gilston 2 1176.47x
Glasgow 2 1.90x
Hornsey 2 8.62x
Lancaster 2 15.44x
Manchester 2 2.04x
Mile End Old Town London 2 5.12x
Portsea 2 2.72x
Preston Quarter 2 45.25x
Salford 2 3.13x
Whippingham 2 70.18x
Alston 1 34.36x
Barwick In Elmet 1 71.94x
Blenkinsopp 1 217.39x
Corstorphine 1 73.53x
Dacre 1 163.93x
Darlington 1 4.75x
Fairfield 1 52.08x
Great Ponton 1 333.33x
Greenwich 1 3.43x
Hampstead London 1 3.50x
Hornby 1 454.55x
Leeds 1 0.97x
Liverpool 1 0.76x
Low Holme 1 112.36x
Maryhill 1 8.61x
Millbrook 1 10.56x
Ogle 1 1428.57x
Pennington In Ulverston 1 92.59x
Rushen 1 43.48x
Salter Eskat 1 833.33x
Sheffield 1 1.73x
Shotton 1 74.07x
Soulby 1 588.24x
Wakefield 1 7.17x
Wennington 1 1250.00x
West Derby 1 1.57x
Wigan 1 3.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Sarah 10
Jane 8
Margaret 8
Elizabeth 6
Ann 5
Hannah 3
Maria 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Eliz 2
Helen 2
Rebecca 2
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Dora 1
Eliza 1
Elizath. 1
Elizbh 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Lois 1
Louisa 1
Margt. 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Nancy 1
Philis 1
Rachel 1
Ruth 1
Susanah 1
Thomasine 1
U.Or 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
Thomas 12
William 10
James 8
Robert 7
George 6
Joseph 4
Charles 2
David 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Adam 1
Archabald 1
Archibald 1
Frank 1
Fredric 1
Isaac 1
Jackson 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Will 1

FAQ

Laidlow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Laidlow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 187 people were recorded with the Laidlow surname. That placed it at #13,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Laidlow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016. That gives Laidlow a modern rank of #17,418.

What does the Laidlow surname mean?

A Scottish habitational surname referring to someone from a low-lying area.

What does the Laidlow map show?

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