NameCensus.

UK surname

Lamprey

A surname derived from the name of the eel-like parasitic fish.

In the 1881 census there were 115 people recorded with the Lamprey surname, ranking it #18,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 147, ranked #24,071, down from #18,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, London parishes and Banbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon, Wakefield and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lamprey is 193 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.8%.

1881 census count

115

Ranked #18,230

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

1911

193 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lamprey had 115 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 193 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Lamprey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lamprey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Lamprey 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 105 #20,298
1881 historical 115 #18,230
1891 historical 146 #18,664
1901 historical 152 #17,916
1911 historical 193 #15,294
1997 modern 172 #19,371
1998 modern 177 #19,523
1999 modern 189 #18,862
2000 modern 188 #18,916
2001 modern 179 #19,215
2002 modern 174 #19,971
2003 modern 171 #19,953
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 167 #20,296
2006 modern 166 #20,534
2007 modern 165 #20,893
2008 modern 166 #20,966
2009 modern 159 #22,072
2010 modern 160 #22,487
2011 modern 152 #23,101
2012 modern 157 #22,551
2013 modern 153 #23,314
2014 modern 157 #23,101
2015 modern 150 #23,718
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

Back to top

Where Lampreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, London parishes, Banbury, Braunton and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon, Wakefield and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Banbury Oxfordshire
4 Braunton Devon
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 005 North Devon
2 Wakefield 034 Wakefield
3 Wakefield 023 Wakefield
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 017 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 North Devon 004 North Devon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Lamprey

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Lamprey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lamprey, 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 Lamprey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lamprey 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lamprey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lamprey is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lamprey falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lamprey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lamprey

The surname Lamprey has its origins in England, where it emerged during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English word "laempræde," which referred to a type of eel-like fish found in rivers and streams. This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname given to someone who caught or traded in lampreys.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lamprey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Lampreda." This entry suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records as "Lampraye" and "Lamprey." During this time, it was associated with several place names, such as Lamprey in Gloucestershire and Lamprey's Green in Essex.

One notable bearer of the Lamprey surname was Sir Robert Lamprey, a knight who lived during the reign of King Edward III (1312-1377). He was granted lands in Somerset and played a role in the military campaigns of the Hundred Years' War.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Lamprey, a wealthy merchant who lived in London during the 15th century. He was a member of the prestigious Worshipful Company of Mercers and served as an alderman in the City of London.

In the 16th century, the name was sometimes spelled as "Lampraye" or "Lamprey." During this period, a family bearing the Lamprey surname held lands in Devonshire, and their coat of arms featured three silver lampreys on a green field.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in America dates back to the 17th century, when Robert Lamprey settled in Massachusetts in 1635. He was among the early Puritan colonists in New England.

Another notable bearer of the Lamprey surname was Sir Curtis Lamprey (1683-1756), an English naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the War of the Spanish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession.

Throughout history, the Lamprey surname has been associated with various occupations, including fishing, trade, and military service. While not a particularly common name, it has maintained a presence in England, America, and other parts of the English-speaking world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Lamprey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lamprey 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 42 Lampreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.99x.

County Total Index
Devon 42 17.99x
Surrey 12 2.20x
Somerset 11 6.09x
Oxfordshire 10 14.43x
Yorkshire 8 0.72x
Glamorgan 6 3.07x
Lancashire 5 0.38x
Leicestershire 5 4.02x
Cheshire 4 1.62x
Herefordshire 3 6.52x
Dorset 2 2.72x
Gloucestershire 2 0.91x
Middlesex 2 0.18x
Warwickshire 2 0.71x
Hampshire 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Braunton in Devon leads with 25 Lampreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3164.56x.

Place Total Index
Braunton 25 3164.56x
Neithrop 10 429.18x
Wandsworth 8 74.07x
Ashbrittle 7 4666.67x
Ackworth 6 705.88x
Morthoe 6 3529.41x
Stoke Damerel 6 36.72x
Heaton Norris 5 65.96x
Leicester St Margaret 5 16.49x
Barnstaple 4 108.99x
Camberwell 4 5.58x
Muchelney 4 4000.00x
Stockport 4 31.40x
Leominster 3 157.89x
Swansea Town 3 18.74x
Bristol St George 2 19.65x
Dorchester St Peter 2 377.36x
Cogan 1 344.83x
Doncaster 1 12.32x
Hampstead London 1 5.72x
Ilfracombe 1 41.67x
Leeds 1 1.59x
Oystermouth 1 66.23x
Paddington London 1 2.42x
Southampton St Mary 1 6.92x
Swansea St Thomas 1 51.02x
Warwick St Mary 1 40.65x
Warwick St Nicholas 1 48.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Annie 5
Bessie 3
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Emily 2
Harriett 2
Lily 2
Minnie 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Fannie 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Isabelle 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Olive 1
Rebecca 1
Sidney 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 9
Charles 8
William 7
James 5
John 3
Philip 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Frank 1
Fredk.M.T. 1
Jones 1
Joseph 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Lamprey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lamprey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 115 people were recorded with the Lamprey surname. That placed it at #18,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lamprey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Lamprey a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Lamprey surname mean?

A surname derived from the name of the eel-like parasitic fish.

What does the Lamprey map show?

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