NameCensus.

UK surname

Lampshire

An English regional surname derived from a habitational name referring to someone from a place called Lamshire.

In the 1881 census there were 128 people recorded with the Lampshire surname, ranking it #17,079 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 137, ranked #25,254, down from #17,079 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Agnes, Illogan and Kenwyn, Tregavethan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Merton and Torbay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lampshire is 182 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.0%.

1881 census count

128

Ranked #17,079

Modern count

137

2016, ranked #25,254

Peak year

2002

182 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lampshire had 128 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,079 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016, ranked #25,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 136 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lampshire surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lampshire surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lampshire 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 114 #15,716
1861 historical 132 #16,957
1881 historical 128 #17,079
1891 historical 124 #20,818
1901 historical 134 #19,288
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 167 #19,722
1998 modern 169 #20,104
1999 modern 175 #19,798
2000 modern 180 #19,425
2001 modern 178 #19,288
2002 modern 182 #19,411
2003 modern 177 #19,549
2004 modern 170 #20,146
2005 modern 155 #21,318
2006 modern 144 #22,520
2007 modern 148 #22,406
2008 modern 154 #22,034
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 157 #22,800
2011 modern 155 #22,790
2012 modern 153 #22,963
2013 modern 150 #23,653
2014 modern 144 #24,504
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 137 #25,254

Geography

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Where Lampshires are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Agnes, Illogan, Kenwyn, Tregavethan, Kea and Gerrans. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Merton and Torbay. 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 St Agnes Cornwall
2 Illogan Cornwall
3 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall
4 Kea Cornwall
5 Gerrans Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 066 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 012 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 055 Cornwall
4 Merton 012 Merton
5 Torbay 003 Torbay

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lampshire

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lampshire

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Lampshire is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Lampshire is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lampshire 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 Lampshire 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 Lampshire, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lampshire

The surname Lampshire is thought to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely in the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from a place name that has since been lost or obscured over time.

One theory suggests that the name may have originated from a combination of the Old English words "lamp" and "scir," meaning "lamp" and "shire" or "county," respectively. This could indicate that the name was initially associated with an area known for its lamp-making or a location where lamps were particularly important or abundant.

Another possibility is that the name is derived from a now-extinct place name that incorporated elements related to lamps or lighting, such as "Lampe" or "Lampered." These place names may have referred to areas where lamps were manufactured, or where there was a significant lamplight or beacon.

While there are no definitive records of the earliest known instances of the Lampshire surname, some historical references may provide clues to its origins and spread. For instance, the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, may contain entries related to individuals or locations that could shed light on the name's origins.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Lampshire was John Lampshire, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, in the late 15th century (around 1480). Another notable figure was William Lampshire, a merchant and landowner from Somerset, England, who lived in the early 16th century (circa 1520).

In the 17th century, Thomas Lampshire (1642-1712) was a prominent clergyman and author from Warwickshire, England, known for his religious writings and sermons. Around the same time, Elizabeth Lampshire (1655-1730) was a landowner and philanthropist from Oxfordshire, who made significant contributions to local charities and education.

During the 18th century, the Lampshire surname was also found in other parts of England, including Yorkshire, where Robert Lampshire (1725-1792) was a respected farmer and local official.

As the centuries passed, the Lampshire name continued to spread across England and potentially beyond, with individuals bearing the surname making their mark in various fields and professions. However, it is important to note that this report focuses solely on the historical origins and early occurrences of the Lampshire surname, without delving into more recent or contemporary data.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lampshire families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lampshire 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 113 Lampshires recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.94x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 113 79.94x
Devon 9 3.46x
Cardiganshire 2 6.57x
Lancashire 2 0.14x
Carmarthenshire 1 1.90x
Surrey 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Allen in Cornwall leads with 19 Lampshires recorded in 1881 and an index of 7600.00x.

Place Total Index
St Allen 19 7600.00x
Gerrans 18 4736.84x
Kea 18 1714.29x
Perranzabuloe 15 1229.51x
St Agnes 12 606.06x
Creed Grampound 5 2941.18x
East Stonehouse 5 97.66x
St Cleer 5 406.50x
St Gluvias Penryn 5 442.48x
Illogan 4 106.95x
Stoke Damerel 4 21.99x
Kenwyn 3 81.08x
St Columb Major 3 256.41x
Laneast 2 1818.18x
Llanddewi Aberarth 2 327.87x
Abergwilly 1 116.28x
Crantock 1 666.67x
Great Little Marsden 1 14.73x
Madron Penzance 1 19.46x
Richmond 1 11.72x
St Erme 1 454.55x
Toxteth Park 1 1.99x
Truro St Mary 1 84.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 9
Annie 4
Emily 4
Ann 3
Catherine 3
Ellen 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Caroline 2
Dee 2
Alice 1
Amanda 1
Bessie 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Molinda 1
Nanney 1
Peggie 1
Polly 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Virgenia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
James 9
John 9
Henry 3
Abram 2
Alfred 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Edward 1
George 1
Harry 1
Joel 1
Joseph 1
Thomas 1
Willm.Nichs. 1

FAQ

Lampshire surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lampshire surname in 1881?

In 1881, 128 people were recorded with the Lampshire surname. That placed it at #17,079 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lampshire surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016. That gives Lampshire a modern rank of #25,254.

What does the Lampshire surname mean?

An English regional surname derived from a habitational name referring to someone from a place called Lamshire.

What does the Lampshire map show?

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