NameCensus.

UK surname

Lancashire

A locational surname derived from the historic county of Lancashire in northwest England.

In the 1881 census there were 715 people recorded with the Lancashire surname, ranking it #5,089 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 963, ranked #5,971, down from #5,089 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Denby,Horsley (Kilbourne). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Amber Valley and Tandridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lancashire is 1,058 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.7%.

1881 census count

715

Ranked #5,089

Modern count

963

2016, ranked #5,971

Peak year

1999

1,058 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lancashire had 715 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,089 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 963 in 2016, ranked #5,971.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,015 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Lancashire surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lancashire surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lancashire 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 557 #4,549
1861 historical 596 #4,445
1881 historical 715 #5,089
1891 historical 840 #4,853
1901 historical 909 #5,107
1911 historical 1,015 #4,487
1997 modern 1,028 #5,363
1998 modern 1,030 #5,542
1999 modern 1,058 #5,452
2000 modern 1,048 #5,479
2001 modern 1,041 #5,405
2002 modern 1,030 #5,565
2003 modern 1,009 #5,550
2004 modern 996 #5,619
2005 modern 966 #5,698
2006 modern 962 #5,733
2007 modern 957 #5,814
2008 modern 965 #5,808
2009 modern 1,010 #5,716
2010 modern 1,026 #5,758
2011 modern 1,009 #5,776
2012 modern 990 #5,784
2013 modern 1,002 #5,812
2014 modern 994 #5,889
2015 modern 970 #5,957
2016 modern 963 #5,971

Geography

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Where Lancashires are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Denby,Horsley (Kilbourne), Middleton and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Amber Valley, Tandridge, Ashfield and Rotherham. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Denby,Horsley (Kilbourne) Derbyshire
4 Middleton Lancashire
5 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 078 Leeds
2 Amber Valley 006 Amber Valley
3 Tandridge 010 Tandridge
4 Ashfield 008 Ashfield
5 Rotherham 021 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lancashire

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lancashire

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Lancashire surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lancashire household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lancashire 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

Lancashire is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lancashire falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lancashire is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lancashire

The surname Lancashire originated in the county of Lancashire in northwest England. It is a locational surname, derived from the name of the region. The name Lancashire itself comes from the Old English "Lonecastrescir," which means "the territory or former Roman province of the city by the lon (or stream)."

The earliest known record of the surname Lancashire dates back to the late 12th century. An entry in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from 1197 mentions a Richard de Loncaster. Other early spellings of the name include Lancastre, Loncastre, and Loncastyr.

In the 13th century, the Lancashire surname appeared in various records, such as the Curia Regis Rolls of 1201, which listed a Robert de Loncaster. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a William de Loncaster.

One of the most notable historical figures with the surname Lancashire was Henry of Lancaster, also known as Henry IV of England (1367-1413). He was the son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and succeeded his cousin, Richard II, to the English throne in 1399.

Another prominent individual was Sir James Lancashire (c. 1594-1671), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1643 and 1644. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and a staunch supporter of the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, John Lancashire (1638-1695) was an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, from 1677 until his death.

The surname Lancashire also has connections to the town of Lancaster in Lancashire county. A notable person from this town was Roger of Lancaster (c. 1245-1320), an English nobleman and military commander who served as a regent during the reign of Edward II.

Another individual worth mentioning is Sir Edward Lancashire (1670-1742), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan in 1722 and 1727.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lancashire families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lancashire 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. Lancashire leads with 401 Lancashires recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.84x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 401 4.84x
Yorkshire 77 1.11x
Derbyshire 61 5.58x
Cheshire 32 2.08x
Nottinghamshire 26 2.76x
Middlesex 22 0.32x
Surrey 19 0.56x
Somerset 12 1.07x
Warwickshire 11 0.62x
Devon 9 0.62x
Leicestershire 9 1.16x
Worcestershire 9 0.99x
Staffordshire 8 0.34x
Bedfordshire 6 1.66x
Channel Islands 4 1.93x
Essex 4 0.29x
Hampshire 2 0.14x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Kent 1 0.04x
Lincolnshire 1 0.09x
Sussex 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tonge in Lancashire leads with 37 Lancashires recorded in 1881 and an index of 212.77x.

Place Total Index
Tonge 37 212.77x
Middleton In Oldham 32 128.77x
Oldham 29 10.84x
Blackley 27 185.82x
Manchester 24 6.44x
Rawmarsh 24 98.16x
Salford 24 9.85x
Denton 17 92.54x
Newton 17 26.61x
Denby 15 449.10x
Hulme 15 8.67x
Nottingham St Mary 15 6.16x
Pentrich 14 227.64x
Wath On Dearne 14 101.38x
Pilkington 13 41.30x
Bradford 12 30.94x
Moston 12 144.40x
Belper 10 47.17x
Farnham 10 37.79x
Horsley 10 151.98x
Royton 10 39.45x
Beighton 9 181.82x
Little Heaton 9 454.55x
Preston 9 4.06x
Prestwich 9 43.52x
Shipston On Stour 9 216.87x
Burntwood Edial 8 53.12x
Cheadle 8 27.16x
Nottingham St Nicholas 8 62.40x
Rotherham 8 20.50x
St Marylebone London 8 2.15x
Stockport 8 10.08x
Wales 8 146.25x
Gorton 7 8.98x
Hackney London 7 1.79x
Heaton Norris 7 14.84x
North Cadbury 7 325.58x
Radcliffe 7 17.52x
Aston 6 1.24x
Castleton 6 7.25x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 4.26x
Exeter St Sidwell 6 18.02x
North Meols 6 7.40x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 4.27x
Toxteth Park 6 2.14x
Bedford St Cuthbert 5 155.76x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 3.80x
Godley 5 150.15x
Greasbrough 5 54.70x
Hyde 5 10.99x
Leicester St Mary 5 7.99x
Widnes 5 8.36x
Wilnecote 5 99.01x
Belgrave 4 22.88x
Crompton 4 16.95x
Everton 4 1.51x
Heap 4 9.10x
Holy Trinity 4 2.40x
Openshaw 4 10.31x
Peover Superior 4 273.97x
Pilsworth 4 219.78x
West Ham 4 1.31x
Acton 3 7.33x
Alkrington 3 329.67x
Bedford 3 17.30x
Bury 3 3.17x
Eckington 3 11.30x
Harpurhey 3 26.09x
Haughton 3 24.81x
Pendleton In Salford 3 3.04x
St Helier 3 4.45x
Stretford 3 6.58x
Swinton In Rotherham 3 16.39x
Almsford 2 281.69x
Basford 2 4.61x
Bromley London 2 1.30x
Layton With Warbreck 2 6.58x
Little Hulton 2 14.58x
Longparish 2 123.46x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 1.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 59
Sarah 30
Elizabeth 23
Alice 22
Eliza 19
Hannah 19
Ann 16
Martha 11
Annie 10
Jane 8
Charlotte 6
Ellen 6
Esther 6
Harriet 6
Maria 6
Edith 5
Emily 5
Emma 5
Margaret 5
Ada 4
Frances 4
Matilda 4
Rose 4
Agnes 3
Bertha 3
Betty 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Elizth. 3
Florence 3
Lilly 3
Louisa 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Eleanor 2
Fanny 2
Helen 2
Laura 2
Lillian 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Marth 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Elizbth. 1
Hetty 1
Isabella 1
Violetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 46
William 34
Joseph 26
James 24
Thomas 21
George 12
Robert 12
Charles 11
Frederick 8
Walter 8
Henry 7
Philip 7
Samuel 7
Josiah 6
Alfred 5
Francis 5
Herbert 5
Simon 5
Frank 4
Fred 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Simeon 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Elijah 2
Fredrick 2
Geoffrey 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Jeffrey 2
Saml. 2
Basil 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Hayward 1
Horace 1
Horatio 1
Hubbert 1
Hubert 1
Nathan 1
Phillip 1
Ralph 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Lancashire surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lancashire surname in 1881?

In 1881, 715 people were recorded with the Lancashire surname. That placed it at #5,089 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lancashire surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 963 in 2016. That gives Lancashire a modern rank of #5,971.

What does the Lancashire surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the historic county of Lancashire in northwest England.

What does the Lancashire map show?

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