NameCensus.

UK surname

Lamy

A French surname derived from the French word "l'ami" meaning "the friend".

In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Lamy surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 160, ranked #22,694, up from #29,218 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Rushcliffe and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lamy is 163 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 416.1%.

1881 census count

31

Ranked #29,218

Modern count

160

2016, ranked #22,694

Peak year

2015

163 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • • Lamy had 31 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,218 surname in that year.
  • • The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016, ranked #22,694.
  • • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 72 in 1911.
  • • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Lamy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lamy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lamy 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 32 #27,570
1861 historical 65 #25,618
1881 historical 31 #29,218
1891 historical 54 #29,849
1901 historical 46 #29,047
1911 historical 72 #25,642
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 120 #24,793
1999 modern 124 #24,508
2000 modern 123 #24,585
2001 modern 123 #24,242
2002 modern 118 #25,358
2003 modern 113 #25,797
2004 modern 122 #24,812
2005 modern 119 #25,193
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 118 #25,913
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 142 #24,352
2011 modern 137 #24,716
2012 modern 144 #23,902
2013 modern 148 #23,884
2014 modern 155 #23,333
2015 modern 163 #22,407
2016 modern 160 #22,694

Geography

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Where Lamys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Rushcliffe, Bromley, Castle Point and Rushmoor. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 028 Cornwall
2 Rushcliffe 012 Rushcliffe
3 Bromley 027 Bromley
4 Castle Point 011 Castle Point
5 Rushmoor 012 Rushmoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lamy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lamy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lamy, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Lamy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Lamy 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lamy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lamy is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lamy falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lamy 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Lamy

The surname Lamy originated in France, specifically in the region of Normandy. The earliest records of the name date back to the 11th century, around the time of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The name is derived from the Old French word "l'ami," meaning "the friend" or "the beloved one."

One of the earliest known references to the Lamy surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Radulfus Lamy, who held estates in Oxfordshire.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the Lamy surname was Sir Geoffrey Lamy, a knight who fought in the Crusades alongside King Richard I of England. He was born around 1170 and died in 1245.

Another significant person with the Lamy name was Jean-Baptiste Lamy, a French-born Catholic priest and missionary who lived from 1814 to 1888. He was the first Archbishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and played a crucial role in establishing the Catholic Church in the American Southwest.

In the realm of literature, François Lamy, a French philosopher and author, made his mark in the 17th century. Born in 1636 and died in 1711, he is best known for his work "De la Connaissance de Soi-même" (On Self-Knowledge), which explored the nature of human consciousness and self-awareness.

The Lamy surname has also been associated with several place names in France, such as Lamy-sur-Meuse, a commune in the Meuse department, and Lamy-les-Huys, a village in the Pas-de-Calais department. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Lamy surname who owned or resided in those locations.

Throughout history, the Lamy surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Lamie, Lamey, and Lamaye, reflecting regional dialects and differences in record-keeping practices. Despite these variations, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained consistent, tracing back to its Norman roots in medieval France.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lamy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lamy 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 20 Lamys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.56x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 20 4.56x
Channel Islands 15 115.38x
Glamorgan 3 3.93x
Derbyshire 2 2.91x
Hampshire 1 1.11x
Somerset 1 1.42x
Staffordshire 1 0.68x
Surrey 1 0.47x
Yorkshire 1 0.23x

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 12 Lamys recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.96x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 12 62.96x
Mile End Old Town London 6 64.24x
St Brelade 6 1818.18x
Grouville 5 1388.89x
St Helier 3 70.92x
Derby St Peter 2 91.32x
Mile End New Town London 2 229.89x
Swansea St Thomas 2 259.74x
Bishops Hull 1 434.78x
Coulsdon 1 256.41x
Newton Nottage 1 476.19x
Pocklington 1 243.90x
Rugeley 1 94.34x
Southampton St Mary 1 17.67x
St Peter 1 263.16x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 3
Abraham 2
Alfred 2
James 2
John 2
Adolphe 1
Alic 1
Arthur 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Frs. 1
George 1
Walter 1
William 1

FAQ

Lamy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lamy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Lamy surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lamy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016. That gives Lamy a modern rank of #22,694.

What does the Lamy surname mean?

A French surname derived from the French word "l'ami" meaning "the friend".

What does the Lamy map show?

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