NameCensus.

UK surname

Laity

Of medieval English origin, referring to someone from the common or secular people as opposed to the clergy.

In the 1881 census there were 462 people recorded with the Laity surname, ranking it #7,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 647, ranked #8,204, down from #7,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redruth, Wendron and Perran Uthnoe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Laity is 674 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.0%.

1881 census count

462

Ranked #7,183

Modern count

647

2016, ranked #8,204

Peak year

2013

674 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Laity had 462 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 647 in 2016, ranked #8,204.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 629 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Laity surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Laity surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Laity 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 363 #6,525
1861 historical 259 #9,561
1881 historical 462 #7,183
1891 historical 451 #8,062
1901 historical 510 #7,945
1911 historical 629 #6,594
1997 modern 627 #7,894
1998 modern 654 #7,865
1999 modern 647 #7,979
2000 modern 663 #7,816
2001 modern 629 #7,985
2002 modern 635 #8,120
2003 modern 632 #7,994
2004 modern 637 #7,953
2005 modern 615 #8,113
2006 modern 626 #8,029
2007 modern 636 #8,009
2008 modern 651 #7,908
2009 modern 670 #7,900
2010 modern 664 #8,104
2011 modern 659 #8,073
2012 modern 645 #8,120
2013 modern 674 #7,979
2014 modern 671 #8,046
2015 modern 653 #8,165
2016 modern 647 #8,204

Geography

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Where Laitys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redruth, Wendron, Perran Uthnoe, St Hilary and Camborne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Redruth Cornwall
2 Wendron Cornwall
3 Perran Uthnoe Cornwall
4 St Hilary Cornwall
5 Camborne Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 072 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 056 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 052 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 061 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 045 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Laity

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Laity

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Laity 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

Laity is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Laity falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Laity

The surname Laity has its roots in medieval England, originating from the Old French word "laite" or "layte," which referred to a lay person or a member of the laity, as opposed to the clergy. This surname likely emerged in the 12th or 13th century, during a time when the distinction between the clergy and the common people was prominent.

The earliest recorded instances of the Laity surname can be traced back to various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from the late 12th century, where the name appears as "Laite." Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 mention a certain "William Layte."

One notable individual bearing this surname was John Laity, a prominent English merchant and politician who lived in the 15th century. Born around 1420 in Bristol, he served as the Sheriff of Bristol in 1460 and later represented the city in the Parliament of 1472-1475.

Another historical figure was Sir Thomas Laity, a renowned English judge who lived during the reign of King Henry VIII in the 16th century. He served as a Justice of the Common Pleas and is mentioned in several legal records from that era.

In the 17th century, the Laity surname appeared in the parish records of Dorset, where a certain Thomas Laity was recorded as being baptized in 1624. Similarly, the records of St. Dunstan's Church in Stepney, London, mention the burial of Margery Laity in 1668.

Moving into the 18th century, the Laity surname can be found in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, where a certain William Laity was born in 1712 in the village of Bubwith. Additionally, the records of Gloucestershire mention the marriage of John Laity and Mary Grove in 1748.

Throughout history, the Laity surname has maintained its connection to its medieval origins, reflecting the distinction between the clergy and the common people. While not as widespread as some other English surnames, it has left its mark in various historical records and can be traced back to its Old French roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Laity families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Laity 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. Cornwall leads with 412 Laitys recorded in 1881 and an index of 80.93x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 412 80.93x
Lancashire 21 0.39x
Devon 10 1.07x
Somerset 4 0.55x
Cumberland 3 0.77x
Hampshire 2 0.22x
Staffordshire 2 0.13x
Sussex 2 0.26x
Denbighshire 1 0.59x
Dorset 1 0.34x
Lanarkshire 1 0.07x
Middlesex 1 0.02x
Surrey 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sithney in Cornwall leads with 86 Laitys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1673.15x.

Place Total Index
Sithney 86 1673.15x
St Hilary 57 3851.35x
Perranuthnoe 48 3453.24x
Helston 33 623.82x
St Hilary Marazion 33 2391.30x
Redruth 28 194.44x
Germoe 18 2000.00x
Crowan 17 421.84x
Madron Penzance 16 86.44x
Barrow In Furness 14 19.29x
St Ives 14 140.56x
Camborne 7 33.37x
Dalton In Furness 7 33.98x
Ludgvan 7 172.41x
Mawnan 7 875.00x
St Cleer 5 113.38x
Stoke Damerel 5 7.63x
Gwennap 4 41.67x
Illogan 4 29.67x
Marazion 4 655.74x
Paul 4 43.24x
Sennen 4 353.98x
Taunton St Mary 4 30.10x
Wendron 4 56.58x
Compton Gifford 3 102.39x
Whitehaven 3 14.53x
Harborne 2 4.11x
Hove 2 6.01x
St Erth 2 64.94x
St Helens 2 29.85x
Bodmin 1 11.88x
Breage 1 21.51x
Calstock 1 10.02x
Camberwell 1 0.35x
Falmouth 1 5.55x
Govan 1 0.28x
Grade 1 222.22x
Hackney London 1 0.40x
Kenwyn 1 7.51x
Llanrwst 1 17.01x
Phillack 1 15.22x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.39x
Probus 1 47.85x
St Buryan 1 47.62x
St Issey 1 96.15x
Stokenham 1 37.88x
Weymouth 1 17.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Elizabeth 23
Sarah 11
Susan 11
Jane 10
Ann 8
Ellen 7
Eliza 6
Emily 6
Grace 6
Amelia 5
Caroline 5
Rebecca 4
Bessie 3
Catherine 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Minnie 3
Ada 2
Alberta 2
Alice 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Elisabeth 2
Elizebeth 2
Harriet 2
Joanna 2
Laura 2
Lilian 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elenor 1
Elis 1
Elizth.G. 1
Ellenor 1
Henrietta 1
Homer 1
Isabella 1
Janie 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Lamanda 1
Lavenia 1
Thomasine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 37
John 31
Thomas 29
Richard 20
George 17
James 14
Henry 13
Charles 7
Joseph 7
Samuel 6
Edward 5
Francis 4
Jacob 4
Alfred 3
Silas 3
Zaccheus 3
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Ralph 2
Albert 1
Ambrose 1
Frederick 1
Isaac 1
Josiah 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Nathaniel 1
Nicholas 1
Rd.Rubery 1
Richd.J. 1
Robert 1
Roland 1
Wm.G. 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Laity surname: questions and answers

How common was the Laity surname in 1881?

In 1881, 462 people were recorded with the Laity surname. That placed it at #7,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Laity surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 647 in 2016. That gives Laity a modern rank of #8,204.

What does the Laity surname mean?

Of medieval English origin, referring to someone from the common or secular people as opposed to the clergy.

What does the Laity map show?

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