UK surname
Of French origin, derived from the town of Lancy in Switzerland.
In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Lancy surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #24,711 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hever, St James and St Paul and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lancy is 147 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 87.3%.
1881 census count
63
Ranked #24,711
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1861
147 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lancy surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lancy 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 | 72 | #20,720 |
| 1861 | historical | 147 | #15,539 |
| 1881 | historical | 63 | #24,711 |
| 1891 | historical | 75 | #27,414 |
| 1901 | historical | 40 | #29,678 |
| 1911 | historical | 26 | #30,547 |
| 1997 | modern | 17 | #36,181 |
| 1998 | modern | 12 | #36,790 |
| 1999 | modern | 12 | #36,806 |
| 2000 | modern | 12 | #36,749 |
| 2001 | modern | 11 | #36,727 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 11 | #36,842 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 10 | #37,371 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 10 | #37,567 |
| 2015 | modern | 8 | #37,797 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hever, St James and St Paul, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Linton. 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 | Hever | Kent |
| 2 | St James and St Paul | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | Linton | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lancy 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 Lancy, 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 Lancy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lancy 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, Lancy 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 Lancy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lancy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname LANCY is of French origin and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to have originated in the Normandy region of northern France, where it was initially spelled as "Lancie" or "Lanci". The name is derived from the Old French word "lance", meaning "lance" or "spear", suggesting that the original bearer of the name may have been a skilled lancer or a person associated with weapons or warfare.
In the early medieval period, many French surnames were derived from occupations, locations, or personal characteristics. The surname LANCY likely originated as a descriptive nickname or an occupational name for someone who was skilled in wielding a lance or involved in the production or maintenance of lances.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname LANCY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and property values in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals bearing the name LANCY may have been among the Norman settlers who accompanied William during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
As the name spread across different regions, it underwent various spelling variations, including Lancy, Lancey, Lancie, and Lanci. Some notable individuals with the surname LANCY throughout history include:
1. Robert de Lancy (circa 1150-1220), a Norman knight and landowner in England during the reign of King John. 2. Jean de Lancy (1320-1385), a French nobleman and military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War. 3. Sir Thomas Lancy (1480-1544), an English courtier and diplomat during the reign of Henry VIII. 4. Marguerite de Lancy (1550-1615), a French noblewoman and patron of the arts, known for her literary salon in Paris. 5. William Lancy (1760-1828), an American soldier and politician who served as a representative from North Carolina in the United States Congress.
The surname LANCY has also been associated with various place names, such as Lancy, a municipality in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland, and Lancy, a former commune in the department of Isère, France. These place names may have influenced the surname or been influenced by individuals bearing the name who settled in those areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lancy 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. Gloucestershire leads with 13 Lancys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.14x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | 13 | 11.14x |
| Glamorgan | 8 | 7.72x |
| Surrey | 7 | 2.42x |
| Bedfordshire | 6 | 19.48x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.85x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 3.28x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.67x |
| Sussex | 3 | 2.99x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.99x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.28x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 2.49x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.85x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.52x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.13x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 5.29x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.04x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St James St Paul in Gloucestershire leads with 7 Lancys recorded in 1881 and an index of 179.95x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol St James St Paul | 7 | 179.95x |
| Battersea | 6 | 27.41x |
| Biggleswade | 6 | 594.06x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 6 | 54.64x |
| Swansea Town | 6 | 70.67x |
| Manningham | 4 | 55.10x |
| East Grinstead | 3 | 211.27x |
| Ellisfield | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Lewisham | 2 | 18.48x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 2 | 20.10x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 2 | 9.64x |
| Southampton St Mary | 2 | 26.08x |
| St George In East London | 2 | 35.78x |
| Barony | 1 | 2.05x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 10.42x |
| Bedminster | 1 | 11.11x |
| Clapham | 1 | 13.44x |
| Droylsden | 1 | 43.48x |
| Hoyland Nether | 1 | 68.97x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.73x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.02x |
| Leyton Low | 1 | 41.84x |
| North Shields | 1 | 56.50x |
| Pembroke St Mary | 1 | 41.15x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lancy 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 Lancy surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Lancy surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Lancy a modern rank of #37,829.
Of French origin, derived from the town of Lancy in Switzerland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lancy 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.