NameCensus.

UK surname

Lakey

Derived from the Middle English word "lake," referring to someone who lived near or worked by a lake.

In the 1881 census there were 302 people recorded with the Lakey surname, ranking it #9,673 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 828, ranked #6,712, up from #9,673 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints and Sharrington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, Fenland and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lakey is 857 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 174.2%.

1881 census count

302

Ranked #9,673

Modern count

828

2016, ranked #6,712

Peak year

2013

857 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lakey had 302 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,673 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 828 in 2016, ranked #6,712.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 532 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lakey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lakey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lakey 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 217 #9,784
1861 historical 231 #10,572
1881 historical 302 #9,673
1891 historical 388 #9,104
1901 historical 466 #8,485
1911 historical 532 #7,480
1997 modern 802 #6,526
1998 modern 821 #6,624
1999 modern 819 #6,671
2000 modern 828 #6,591
2001 modern 800 #6,650
2002 modern 811 #6,695
2003 modern 805 #6,615
2004 modern 792 #6,733
2005 modern 772 #6,800
2006 modern 788 #6,710
2007 modern 770 #6,911
2008 modern 780 #6,893
2009 modern 799 #6,900
2010 modern 838 #6,767
2011 modern 842 #6,664
2012 modern 854 #6,508
2013 modern 857 #6,588
2014 modern 856 #6,625
2015 modern 839 #6,675
2016 modern 828 #6,712

Geography

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Where Lakeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints, Sharrington, Melcombe Regis and St Martin, St Mary, Trescoe, Bryher, Sampson, St Agnes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, Fenland, North Norfolk and Isle of Wight. 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 Gateshead Durham
2 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
3 Sharrington Norfolk
4 Melcombe Regis Dorset
5 St Martin, St Mary, Trescoe, Bryher, Sampson, St Agnes Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 002 South Holland
2 Fenland 004 Fenland
3 North Norfolk 011 North Norfolk
4 Isle of Wight 017 Isle of Wight
5 North Norfolk 008 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lakey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lakey

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lakey 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

Lakey is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lakey falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lakey

The surname Lakey originated in England, with roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "læcc" and "ey," meaning a small stream or brook and an island or dry ground within a marsh or fen, respectively. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a small stream or brook on an island or dry ground within a marshy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lakey can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where it was spelled as "de Lackey." This indicates that the name was initially a locational surname, referring to a specific place or area where the family originated.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records with slight variations in spelling, such as "Lakye," "Lakie," and "Laky." These variations were common during that time due to the inconsistent spelling conventions of the era.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Lakey was John Lakey, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol during the 16th century. He was born around 1520 and played a significant role in the city's trade and governance.

Another individual of note was Sir Walter Lakey, a military officer who served in the English Civil War during the 17th century. He was born in 1610 and fought for the Parliamentarian forces, earning recognition for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

In the 18th century, the name Lakey appeared in various parish records throughout England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Lakey, a renowned clockmaker born in 1720 in Yorkshire. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after and are now considered important pieces of horological history.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Lakey gained further prominence with the birth of William Lakey in 1837. He was a prominent industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the textile industry in the north of England.

Another notable figure was Emily Lakey, born in 1865, who was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She played a crucial role in establishing educational opportunities for women and promoting gender equality in Britain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lakey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lakey 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. Devon leads with 47 Lakeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.59x.

County Total Index
Devon 47 7.59x
Middlesex 40 1.34x
Northumberland 37 8.36x
Norfolk 35 7.65x
Durham 29 3.28x
Surrey 24 1.66x
Cambridgeshire 15 7.96x
Dorset 13 6.66x
Cornwall 12 3.56x
Yorkshire 12 0.41x
Huntingdonshire 8 13.54x
Hampshire 4 0.66x
Kent 4 0.39x
Sussex 4 0.80x
Derbyshire 3 0.64x
Leicestershire 3 0.91x
Gloucestershire 2 0.34x
Lancashire 2 0.06x
Royal Navy 2 5.64x
Worcestershire 2 0.51x
Ayrshire 1 0.45x
Channel Islands 1 1.13x
Cheshire 1 0.15x
Cumberland 1 0.39x
Essex 1 0.17x
Lincolnshire 1 0.21x
Midlothian 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Byker in Northumberland leads with 13 Lakeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.42x.

Place Total Index
Byker 13 59.42x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 13 49.17x
Plymouth St Andrew 13 27.25x
Tydd St Giles 12 1333.33x
Melcombe Regis 10 123.61x
Stockton On Tees 10 23.44x
Harberton 9 638.30x
Sharrington 9 4090.91x
Bythorn 8 3076.92x
Heworth 8 45.87x
Whissonsett 8 1290.32x
Bermondsey 7 7.90x
Northowram 7 33.87x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 11.69x
St Anne Soho London 7 41.20x
Oxted 6 342.86x
Plymouth Charles The 6 21.99x
Poplar London 6 10.69x
Scilly Islands 6 1000.00x
St Pancras London 6 2.51x
Stoke Damerel 6 13.84x
Tanfield 6 56.98x
Camborne 5 36.02x
Dodbrooke 5 406.50x
Wells Next Sea 5 187.27x
Brighton 4 3.95x
Cawston 4 357.14x
Longbenton 4 21.33x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 4 68.73x
St Marylebone London 4 2.52x
Boldre 3 137.61x
Bow London 3 7.92x
Clerkenwell London 3 4.27x
Gillingham 3 14.33x
Hilgay 3 174.42x
Islington London 3 1.04x
Kensington London 3 1.81x
Litchurch 3 16.01x
Melton Mowbray 3 50.59x
Wandsworth 3 10.47x
Westoe 3 5.98x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 10.28x
Devonport 2 28.09x
Edingthorpe 2 1052.63x
Harmondsworth 2 108.11x
Norton By Kempsey 2 235.29x
Radipole 2 148.15x
Royal Navy 2 6.60x
Tormoham 2 7.63x
Twickenham 2 15.67x
Welney 2 190.48x
Bardney 1 70.42x
Bradford 1 1.40x
Brompton In Scarborough 1 142.86x
Crossgate 1 25.84x
Dartmouth Townstall 1 39.68x
Dover St James 1 22.47x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.62x
Exeter St Thomas The 1 15.85x
Fakenham Alethorpe 1 178.57x
Fulham London 1 2.32x
Harwich St Nicholas 1 22.03x
Holdenhurst 1 6.25x
Horton In Bradford 1 2.17x
Instow 1 149.25x
Kilwinning 1 13.91x
Liverpool 1 0.47x
Lyme Regis 1 42.74x
Monkseaton 1 200.00x
Newington 1 0.91x
North Shields 1 11.33x
Scilly Islands St Mary 1 76.34x
Shipley 1 6.54x
St Helier 1 3.48x
Testerton 1 10000.00x
Thorney 1 47.85x
Tranmere 1 4.14x
Wingate 1 16.47x
Wisbech St Peter 1 10.58x
Workington 1 6.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 12
Emily 7
Ann 6
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Margaret 5
Ellen 4
Harriet 4
Jane 4
Catherine 3
Lucy 3
Emma 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Susan 2
Arthur 1
Azenath 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Ducibella 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Honor 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Maggie 1
Margret 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Roseanna 1
Rosina 1
Sara 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
William 25
George 14
Thomas 13
James 6
Robert 6
Harry 5
Henry 5
Richard 5
Ernest 4
Adam 3
Alfred 3
Peter 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
David 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Lavender 2
Nicholas 2
Thos. 2
Berty 1
Charles 1
Chas.B. 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Frank 1
Harriet 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Mace 1
Samuel 1
Silas 1
Timothy 1
Walter 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Lakey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lakey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 302 people were recorded with the Lakey surname. That placed it at #9,673 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lakey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 828 in 2016. That gives Lakey a modern rank of #6,712.

What does the Lakey surname mean?

Derived from the Middle English word "lake," referring to someone who lived near or worked by a lake.

What does the Lakey map show?

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