UK surname
A surname derived from the Old Norse personal name Lambi, combined with the patronymic suffix -son, meaning "son of Lambi."
In the 1881 census there were 30 people recorded with the Lamson surname, ranking it #29,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #29,363 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Stanwix, Crosby-on-Eden and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lamson is 112 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.3%.
1881 census count
30
Ranked #29,363
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1861
112 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lamson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lamson surname density by area, 1861 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 | 45 | #25,168 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 30 | #29,363 |
| 1891 | historical | 98 | #24,313 |
| 1901 | historical | 41 | #29,602 |
| 1911 | historical | 48 | #28,006 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 10 | #37,335 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 11 | #37,411 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 9 | #37,614 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 11 | #37,462 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Stanwix, Crosby-on-Eden, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Liverpool and Cambuslang. 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 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Stanwix, Crosby-on-Eden | Cumberland |
| 3 | Dover St James, Dover St Mary | Kent |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | Cambuslang | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lamson 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 Lamson, 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 Lamson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lamson 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, Lamson 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 Lamson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lamson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Lamson has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "lamb" and "sunu," meaning "son of the lamb keeper" or "son of the lamb farmer." It is believed that the name originally referred to individuals whose occupation involved tending to lambs or sheep.
In ancient times, surnames were often derived from occupations, physical characteristics, or locations. The Lamson surname likely originated as a descriptive name for someone who worked with lambs or sheep, possibly as a shepherd or farmer. Over time, it became a hereditary surname passed down through generations.
One of the earliest known records of the Lamson surname is found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1273, which mentions a "William Lambessone." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name from its Old English roots to its modern form.
The Lamson name can also be traced to various locations in England, particularly in the counties of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire. Some early records include John Lamson, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301, and Richard Lamson, recorded in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1327.
Notable individuals with the Lamson surname include:
1. John Lamson (c. 1588-1659), an early settler in Massachusetts Bay Colony and one of the founders of Ipswich, Massachusetts. 2. David Lamson (1792-1847), an American minister and educator who served as the second president of Western Reserve College (now Case Western Reserve University) from 1828 to 1835. 3. Nathaniel Lamson (1805-1869), an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts from 1855 to 1857. 4. Roswell Lamson (1864-1940), an American author and journalist known for his works on Native American history and culture. 5. Peggy Lamson (1919-2005), an American actress known for her roles in television shows such as "The Millionaire" and "Dragnet."
While the Lamson surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and settlement in the Americas and other English-speaking regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lamson 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 9 Lamsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.55x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mitcham in Surrey leads with 5 Lamsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 641.03x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mitcham | 5 | 641.03x |
| Sandy | 4 | 1739.13x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 19.60x |
| Islington London | 3 | 12.21x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 9.05x |
| Bovey Tracey | 1 | 555.56x |
| Cobham | 1 | 500.00x |
| Exeter St Sidwell | 1 | 82.64x |
| Hetton Le Hole | 1 | 104.17x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 73.53x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 10.73x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 22.37x |
| Stokenham | 1 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lamson 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 Lamson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 30 people were recorded with the Lamson surname. That placed it at #29,363 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Lamson a modern rank of #37,178.
A surname derived from the Old Norse personal name Lambi, combined with the patronymic suffix -son, meaning "son of Lambi."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lamson 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.