UK surname
A surname derived from the French word "lame" meaning blade, possibly referring to an occupation involving blades or swords.
In the 1881 census there were 37 people recorded with the Lame surname, ranking it #28,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 49, ranked #34,957, down from #28,418 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Burnham, Dorney, Darlington and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lame is 180 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.4%.
1881 census count
37
Ranked #28,418
Modern count
49
2016, ranked #34,957
Peak year
1891
180 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lame surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lame surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 71 | #20,875 |
| 1861 | historical | 179 | #13,127 |
| 1881 | historical | 37 | #28,418 |
| 1891 | historical | 180 | #16,143 |
| 1901 | historical | 82 | #25,019 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 23 | #35,484 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 12 | #36,749 |
| 2001 | modern | 11 | #36,727 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 18 | #36,115 |
| 2004 | modern | 16 | #36,439 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 20 | #36,254 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 18 | #36,682 |
| 2010 | modern | 22 | #36,462 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2014 | modern | 37 | #35,616 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 49 | #34,957 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Burnham, Dorney, Darlington, Wigan, Ilkeston and Darsham near Yoxford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burnham, Dorney | Buckinghamshire |
| 2 | Darlington | Durham |
| 3 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 4 | Ilkeston | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Darsham near Yoxford | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lame surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lame, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Lame surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lame household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Lame is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lame is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lame, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Lame has its origins in France, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "lame," meaning "blade" or "plate," and was likely an occupational name for a maker or seller of blades, swords, or armor.
The name is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a person named Radulf Lame, indicating the presence of the name in Norman-occupied England during that period.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Lame was Guillaume Lame, a French knight who participated in the Third Crusade (1189-1192) under King Richard I of England. Another notable bearer of the name was Jean Lame, a 14th-century French poet and author of the allegorical work "Le Roman de la Rose."
In England, the name was sometimes associated with places like Lamedon (now Lambton) in County Durham, and Lamesley, a township in the parish of Chester-le-Street, suggesting a possible connection to these locations or their variants.
Notable individuals with the surname Lame include:
1. Pierre Lame (1610-1672), a French mathematician and philosopher, known for his contributions to the development of calculus. 2. François Lame (1795-1870), a French engineer and mathematician, best known for his work on the theory of elasticity and the Lamé equations. 3. Gabriel Lamé (1826-1900), a French architect and urban planner, responsible for the design of several notable buildings in Paris. 4. Édouard Lame (1837-1908), a French painter and engraver, known for his landscapes and portraiture. 5. Léon Lame (1857-1922), a French lawyer and politician, who served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies.
The surname Lame has also been found in various spellings throughout history, such as Lamé, Lamme, and Lammé, reflecting regional variations and linguistic evolutions over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lame surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 14 Lames recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.99x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 14 | 3.99x |
| Suffolk | 11 | 25.72x |
| Sussex | 4 | 6.76x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.75x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 4.71x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.96x |
| Fife | 1 | 4.81x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 2.18x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Darsham in Suffolk leads with 11 Lames recorded in 1881 and an index of 22000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Darsham | 11 | 22000.00x |
| Staines | 7 | 1250.00x |
| Edmonton | 3 | 106.01x |
| Hove | 3 | 115.38x |
| Chalfont St Peter | 1 | 555.56x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 12.06x |
| Coulsdon | 1 | 322.58x |
| Croydon | 1 | 10.53x |
| Finchley | 1 | 74.07x |
| Frant | 1 | 238.10x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 18.28x |
| Inverkeithing | 1 | 322.58x |
| Kings Norton | 1 | 24.33x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 3.27x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 7.75x |
| Wolsingham | 1 | 105.26x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lame surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lame surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 37 people were recorded with the Lame surname. That placed it at #28,418 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 49 in 2016. That gives Lame a modern rank of #34,957.
A surname derived from the French word "lame" meaning blade, possibly referring to an occupation involving blades or swords.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lame bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.