NameCensus.

UK surname

Lambeth

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a landing place for lambs or sheep.

In the 1881 census there were 539 people recorded with the Lambeth surname, ranking it #6,395 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 659, ranked #8,088, down from #6,395 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Tipton otherwise Tibington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Sandwell and Thanet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lambeth is 899 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.3%.

1881 census count

539

Ranked #6,395

Modern count

659

2016, ranked #8,088

Peak year

1911

899 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lambeth had 539 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,395 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 659 in 2016, ranked #8,088.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 899 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lambeth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lambeth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lambeth 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 429 #5,706
1861 historical 562 #4,687
1881 historical 539 #6,395
1891 historical 826 #4,913
1901 historical 586 #7,201
1911 historical 899 #4,956
1997 modern 604 #8,102
1998 modern 626 #8,144
1999 modern 632 #8,139
2000 modern 646 #7,974
2001 modern 645 #7,844
2002 modern 639 #8,064
2003 modern 624 #8,076
2004 modern 620 #8,141
2005 modern 628 #7,984
2006 modern 630 #7,995
2007 modern 660 #7,778
2008 modern 656 #7,860
2009 modern 671 #7,891
2010 modern 696 #7,815
2011 modern 687 #7,803
2012 modern 653 #8,049
2013 modern 660 #8,117
2014 modern 661 #8,143
2015 modern 662 #8,077
2016 modern 659 #8,088

Geography

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Where Lambeths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Tipton otherwise Tibington, London parishes, St Pancras and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Sandwell, Thanet, Coventry and Walsall. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 009 Caerphilly
2 Sandwell 018 Sandwell
3 Thanet 011 Thanet
4 Coventry 035 Coventry
5 Walsall 019 Walsall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lambeth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lambeth

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Lambeth is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lambeth 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

Lambeth falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lambeth

The surname Lambeth is of English origin, deriving from the area now known as the London borough of Lambeth. It is believed to have originated during the Anglo-Saxon period, around the 7th or 8th century AD. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "lam" meaning "loam" or "muddy land" and "hythe" meaning "landing place" or "haven."

Lambeth was first recorded as a place name in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry in the Domesday Book refers to the area as "Lambehitha," indicating that the name was already established by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lambeth dates back to 1273, when a John de Lambeth was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire. The use of the preposition "de" suggests that he hailed from the area of Lambeth.

In the 14th century, a certain William de Lambeth was a prominent clergyman who served as the Bishop of St David's in Wales from 1347 to 1358. This historical figure further cements the connection between the surname and the place name.

During the 15th century, a notable individual with the surname Lambeth was John Lambeth, a merchant and member of the Drapers' Company in London, who was born around 1430 and died in 1492.

Moving into the 16th century, we find Thomas Lambeth, a playwright and poet who lived from 1545 to 1599. He is known for his work "The Virtuous Wife," which was published in 1583.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure with the surname Lambeth was Sir William Lambeth, a politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire from 1640 to 1653. He was born in 1592 and died in 1667.

The surname Lambeth has continued to be used throughout the centuries, with various individuals bearing the name making their mark in different fields. However, it is important to note that the historical references and individuals mentioned above are from older records and sources, as the history and origin of the name are primarily rooted in the past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lambeth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lambeth 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. Middlesex leads with 138 Lambeths recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.61x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 138 2.61x
Surrey 65 2.53x
Staffordshire 52 2.92x
Kent 47 2.61x
Sussex 37 4.16x
Warwickshire 37 2.78x
Lancashire 25 0.40x
Oxfordshire 23 7.06x
Hampshire 22 2.03x
Yorkshire 15 0.29x
Hertfordshire 14 3.85x
Essex 12 1.15x
Angus 8 1.64x
Glamorgan 8 0.87x
Lanarkshire 8 0.47x
Durham 7 0.45x
Worcestershire 7 1.02x
Berkshire 5 1.26x
Cheshire 2 0.17x
Midlothian 2 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.20x
Cornwall 1 0.17x
Derbyshire 1 0.12x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.83x
Norfolk 1 0.12x
Suffolk 1 0.16x
Wiltshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 26 Lambeths recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.34x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 26 11.34x
Tipton 22 40.33x
Bermondsey 20 12.73x
Birmingham 16 3.61x
Paddington London 13 6.70x
Lambeth 12 2.61x
Standlake 12 937.50x
Wolverhampton 12 8.76x
Accrington 11 19.32x
Alverstoke 11 28.10x
Limehouse London 11 18.99x
Mile End Old Town London 11 9.79x
Littlehampton 10 140.85x
Plumstead 10 16.66x
Brickendon 9 532.54x
Barony 8 1.85x
Deptford St Paul 8 5.76x
Dundee 8 4.38x
Gillingham 8 21.55x
Islington London 8 1.56x
Selsey 8 487.80x
Snodland 8 156.86x
Tottenham 8 9.52x
Aston 7 1.91x
Finchley 7 34.60x
Hackney London 7 2.37x
Roath 7 16.77x
Rumbolds Wyke 7 429.45x
St Marylebone London 7 2.48x
West Bromwich 7 6.86x
Broadwater 6 29.40x
Darlaston 6 24.37x
Headington 6 118.58x
Kirkdale 6 5.70x
Rochester St Margaret 6 31.60x
Battersea 5 2.57x
Coventry St Michael 5 11.70x
Esher 5 138.89x
Harwich St Nicholas 5 62.11x
Poplar London 5 5.02x
Richmond 5 13.88x
St Pancras London 5 1.18x
Bishopwearmouth 4 2.97x
Bushey 4 46.19x
Dudley 4 4.77x
Hampstead London 4 4.87x
Liverpool 4 1.05x
New Windsor 4 30.03x
Newington 4 2.05x
Old Stratford 4 53.12x
Rotherham 4 13.57x
South Bersted 4 52.84x
St George Hanover Square 4 4.30x
West Ham 4 1.74x
Belbroughton 3 84.03x
Bradford 3 2.37x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.41x
Croydon 3 2.10x
Elvetham 3 352.94x
Shoreditch London 3 1.31x
Southampton St Mary 3 4.41x
Southwark St John 3 18.59x
St Michael Le Querne 3 2307.69x
Sunderland 3 10.82x
Broughton In Salford 2 3.49x
Clifton In York 2 18.28x
Crondall 2 34.42x
Dewsbury 2 3.73x
Edinburgh New North 2 32.52x
Edmonton 2 4.70x
Fillongley 2 105.26x
Fulham London 2 2.61x
Kensington London 2 0.68x
Leamington Priors 2 6.11x
Oxford St Clement 2 24.33x
Radcot 2 4000.00x
Shalford 2 70.18x
Wednesfield 2 7.63x
Wimbledon 2 6.93x
Woolwich 2 3.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Elizabeth 24
Sarah 17
Eliza 14
Ann 11
Jane 11
Emma 10
Caroline 9
Ellen 7
Annie 6
Fanny 6
Kate 6
Susan 6
Alice 5
Louisa 5
Margaret 5
Martha 5
Charlotte 4
Emily 4
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Jessie 3
Amy 2
Beatrice 2
Bessie 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Hannah 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Sophia 2
Anna 1
Ceclley 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Hanah 1
Katherine 1
Kathleen 1
Lazera 1
Leah 1
Lidia 1
Lily 1
Liz 1
Violetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 40
John 25
James 21
Thomas 21
George 18
Charles 13
Edward 12
Henry 11
Samuel 7
Arthur 6
Benjamin 5
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Daniel 4
Albert 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Joshua 2
Maurice 2
Richard 2
Sidney 2
Abraham 1
Allan 1
Allen 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Hy.Jas. 1
Isaac 1
Jeremiah 1
Jos.J. 1
Lawrence 1
Miles 1
Napoleon 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Robt. 1
Sandars 1
T.J. 1
Thos. 1
Victor 1
Whole 1

FAQ

Lambeth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lambeth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 539 people were recorded with the Lambeth surname. That placed it at #6,395 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lambeth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 659 in 2016. That gives Lambeth a modern rank of #8,088.

What does the Lambeth surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a landing place for lambs or sheep.

What does the Lambeth map show?

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