NameCensus.

UK surname

Laird

A surname of Scottish origin referring to a landowner or person of high social standing.

In the 1881 census there were 3,358 people recorded with the Laird surname, ranking it #1,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,701, ranked #1,176, up from #1,357 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Govan Combination and Kilmalcolm. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cumnock Rural, Fallin and Forfar Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Laird is 5,725 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.8%.

1881 census count

3,358

Ranked #1,357

Modern count

5,701

2016, ranked #1,176

Peak year

2010

5,725 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Laird had 3,358 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,357 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,701 in 2016, ranked #1,176.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,195 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Laird surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Laird surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Laird 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 2,147 #1,359
1861 historical 2,414 #1,211
1881 historical 3,358 #1,357
1891 historical 3,587 #1,337
1901 historical 4,195 #1,342
1911 historical 886 #5,028
1997 modern 5,213 #1,253
1998 modern 5,401 #1,260
1999 modern 5,464 #1,253
2000 modern 5,498 #1,242
2001 modern 5,330 #1,247
2002 modern 5,493 #1,244
2003 modern 5,348 #1,242
2004 modern 5,437 #1,219
2005 modern 5,469 #1,180
2006 modern 5,516 #1,176
2007 modern 5,552 #1,174
2008 modern 5,580 #1,176
2009 modern 5,676 #1,190
2010 modern 5,725 #1,205
2011 modern 5,615 #1,213
2012 modern 5,497 #1,214
2013 modern 5,621 #1,208
2014 modern 5,704 #1,196
2015 modern 5,679 #1,192
2016 modern 5,701 #1,176

Geography

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Where Lairds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Govan Combination, Kilmalcolm, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cumnock Rural, Fallin, Forfar Central, East Lindsey and Wemyss. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Kilmalcolm Renfrew
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cumnock Rural East Ayrshire
2 Fallin Stirling
3 Forfar Central Angus
4 East Lindsey 018 East Lindsey
5 Wemyss Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Laird

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Laird

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Laird surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Laird household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Laird is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Laird is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Laird 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 Laird is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Laird

The surname Laird originated in Scotland, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hlaford," meaning "lord" or "master." The name was initially used to refer to the landholders or lords of a manor or estate.

In the early days, the Lairds were prominent landowners and members of the Scottish nobility. They held significant power and influence within their respective regions. The name is closely tied to the feudal system that prevailed in Scotland during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Laird can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where several individuals bearing the name swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. These rolls were a record of homages and oaths of fealty given by Scottish nobles and landowners.

The Laird family had a strong presence in various parts of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Aberdeenshire, Angus, and Fife. Some notable examples include Sir Robert Laird, who was born in 1492 and served as a member of the Scottish Parliament during the reign of King James IV.

In the 16th century, the surname Laird appeared in connection with several place names, such as Lairdsland in Fife and Lairdshiels in Roxburghshire. These place names likely derived from the Laird families who owned or resided in those areas.

Another prominent figure was Sir James Laird, born in 1628, who was a merchant and politician in Glasgow. He played a significant role in the city's economic and political affairs during the 17th century.

In the literary realm, the name Laird is associated with David Laird, a Scottish poet and playwright born in 1720. He wrote several plays and poems, contributing to the cultural landscape of his time.

The surname Laird also has connections to the academic world. One notable example is Alexander Laird, born in 1808, who was a renowned mathematician and philosopher. He served as a professor at the University of Edinburgh and made significant contributions to the field of logic.

Throughout history, the Laird surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, merchants, politicians, writers, and scholars. While the name originated from the Scottish nobility, it has since spread to other parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns of Scottish families over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Laird families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Laird 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. Lanarkshire leads with 1,009 Lairds recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.51x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 1,009 9.51x
Renfrewshire 404 15.90x
Angus 307 10.10x
Stirlingshire 238 19.68x
Aberdeenshire 201 6.62x
Midlothian 145 3.30x
Lancashire 96 0.25x
Orkney 92 25.50x
Middlesex 83 0.25x
Ayrshire 81 3.30x
Caithness 67 14.92x
Perthshire 64 4.35x
Banffshire 48 7.06x
Essex 41 0.63x
Cheshire 40 0.55x
Durham 36 0.37x
West Lothian 31 6.28x
Fife 29 1.49x
Kent 27 0.24x
Dunbartonshire 25 2.84x
Surrey 25 0.16x
Northumberland 22 0.45x
Kincardineshire 21 5.26x
Hampshire 19 0.28x
Berkshire 18 0.73x
Kirkcudbrightshire 17 3.58x
Yorkshire 17 0.05x
Cumberland 16 0.57x
Argyllshire 14 1.53x
Devon 12 0.18x
Dorset 12 0.56x
Wigtownshire 12 2.76x
Glamorgan 10 0.18x
Norfolk 9 0.18x
Hertfordshire 8 0.35x
Monmouthshire 8 0.34x
Buteshire 7 3.52x
East Lothian 7 1.61x
Northamptonshire 6 0.19x
Royal Navy 5 1.28x
Worcestershire 5 0.12x
Sussex 4 0.07x
Isle of Man 3 0.49x
Kinross-shire 3 3.62x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.07x
Warwickshire 3 0.04x
Inverness-shire 2 0.20x
Nairnshire 2 2.00x
Bedfordshire 1 0.06x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.05x
Channel Islands 1 0.10x
Denbighshire 1 0.08x
Gloucestershire 1 0.02x
Lincolnshire 1 0.02x
Oxfordshire 1 0.05x
Ross-shire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 182 Lairds recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.66x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 182 9.66x
Barony 173 6.44x
Govan 148 5.64x
Dundee 92 8.11x
Abbey 84 21.66x
New Monkland 84 26.79x
Old Monkland 72 17.11x
South Ronaldshay 69 184.79x
Forfar 68 41.33x
West Greenock 66 14.47x
Bothwell 56 19.47x
Canisbay 52 176.39x
Bothkennar 51 141.27x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 51 2.89x
Larbert 50 69.15x
Kilmalcolm 48 157.58x
Falkirk 44 15.54x
Maryhill 44 21.19x
Aberdeen Old Machar 41 6.47x
Liff Benvie 39 8.46x
Denny 38 59.06x
Gamrie 35 46.08x
Cambuslang 34 31.80x
Dalserf 34 32.12x
Rutherglen 33 21.21x
Shotts 29 22.85x
East Greenock 28 11.67x
Cambusnethan 27 11.46x
Port Glasgow 26 21.16x
Aberdour 24 100.29x
Liverpool 24 1.02x
Blantyre 23 20.83x
South Leith 23 4.65x
Lochwinnoch 22 58.08x
Houston Killallan 20 81.30x
Monifieth 20 18.64x
Cathcart 19 13.82x
Neilston 19 14.89x
St Ninians 19 15.85x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 16 2.82x
Birkenhead 16 2.77x
North Leith 16 7.87x
Peterhead 16 9.96x
Slamannan 16 24.16x
St Vigeans 16 9.76x
Stewarton 15 30.89x
Wick 15 10.34x
Dalziel 14 12.27x
Gateshead 14 1.92x
Hamilton 14 4.73x
Mains 14 54.22x
Chelsea London 13 1.32x
Enfield 13 6.04x
Kirkwall St Ola 13 24.06x
New Deer 13 23.64x
Deptford St Paul 12 1.39x
Fraserburgh 12 14.04x
Islington London 12 0.38x
Kilbarchan 12 15.54x
Muiravonside 12 39.05x
Paisley Middle Church 12 8.11x
West Ham 12 0.84x
Duddingston 11 12.47x
Fordington 11 23.73x
Boness 10 14.69x
Broughton In Salford 10 2.81x
Carluke 10 10.38x
Carnwath 10 15.25x
Claughton With Grange 10 30.33x
Clewer 10 9.92x
Colinton 10 20.41x
Crathie Braemar 10 55.07x
Eastwood 10 6.39x
Banchory Ternan 9 26.06x
Blairgowrie 9 15.46x
Kilmarnock 9 3.08x
Monquhitter 9 28.63x
Paisley High Church 9 4.45x
Portsea 9 0.68x
Preston 9 0.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Elizabeth 22
Margaret 18
Jane 17
Sarah 14
Agnes 10
Annie 10
Alice 9
Catherine 9
Emily 8
Ellen 7
Ann 6
Helen 6
Jessie 5
Eleanor 4
Emma 4
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Isabella 4
Louisa 4
Anne 3
Fanny 3
Lizzie 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Rebecca 3
Ada 2
Beatrice 2
Edith 2
Frances 2
Lucy 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Anna 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Cecilia 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Eloya 1
Emilie 1
Esther 1
Hetty 1
Isabel 1
Jeannie 1
Jesse 1
Jessica 1
Josephine 1
Vilot 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 33
James 29
John 24
Robert 18
Thomas 11
Alexander 10
George 10
Henry 9
Charles 8
Joseph 8
David 6
Andrew 5
Albert 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Hugh 3
Walter 3
Willm. 3
Chas.Alex 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Peter 2
Bernard 1
Boyd 1
Cecil 1
Cornelius 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Egerton 1
F. 1
Forbes 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Gordon 1
Kenneth 1
Lionel 1
Macgregor 1
Marshall 1
Mathew 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
R. 1
Robt. 1
Ronald 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Laird surname: questions and answers

How common was the Laird surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,358 people were recorded with the Laird surname. That placed it at #1,357 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Laird surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,701 in 2016. That gives Laird a modern rank of #1,176.

What does the Laird surname mean?

A surname of Scottish origin referring to a landowner or person of high social standing.

What does the Laird map show?

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