NameCensus.

UK surname

Lanfear

A surname derived from the Old French words "l'enfert" meaning the iron maker.

In the 1881 census there were 203 people recorded with the Lanfear surname, ranking it #12,717 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 331, ranked #13,735, down from #12,717 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Eton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, Wiltshire and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lanfear is 376 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.1%.

1881 census count

203

Ranked #12,717

Modern count

331

2016, ranked #13,735

Peak year

1997

376 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lanfear had 203 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,717 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 331 in 2016, ranked #13,735.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 280 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lanfear surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lanfear surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lanfear 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 110 #16,093
1861 historical 109 #19,693
1881 historical 203 #12,717
1891 historical 242 #13,048
1901 historical 280 #12,193
1911 historical 277 #12,067
1997 modern 376 #11,533
1998 modern 373 #11,991
1999 modern 368 #12,182
2000 modern 348 #12,614
2001 modern 350 #12,375
2002 modern 371 #12,096
2003 modern 367 #11,988
2004 modern 370 #11,936
2005 modern 360 #12,112
2006 modern 342 #12,652
2007 modern 328 #13,196
2008 modern 332 #13,207
2009 modern 344 #13,138
2010 modern 351 #13,220
2011 modern 341 #13,341
2012 modern 332 #13,501
2013 modern 332 #13,713
2014 modern 334 #13,749
2015 modern 326 #13,898
2016 modern 331 #13,735

Geography

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Where Lanfears are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Eton, Ogbourn St Andrew and Thornbury, Rockhampton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, Wiltshire, Forest of Dean and Cotswold. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Eton Buckinghamshire
4 Ogbourn St Andrew Wiltshire
5 Thornbury, Rockhampton Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 007 Mendip
2 Wiltshire 040 Wiltshire
3 Mendip 004 Mendip
4 Forest of Dean 007 Forest of Dean
5 Cotswold 004 Cotswold

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lanfear

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lanfear

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Lanfear is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lanfear is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lanfear falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lanfear is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lanfear

The surname LANFEAR originated in England during the late medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "lan" meaning "lane" and "fær" meaning "to travel." It was likely an occupational surname given to those who worked as travelers or messengers along the lanes and roads of the countryside.

The earliest recorded mention of the LANFEAR name dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273 as "Richard le Lanfar." Similar spellings found in historical records include Lanfar, Lanfere, and Lanfair.

During the 14th century, the LANFEAR surname is documented in various tax rolls and legal documents across England, particularly in the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire. One notable entry is from the Subsidy Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1334, listing a John Lanfar as a taxpayer.

In the 16th century, the LANFEAR name is recorded in the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. The registers include the baptism of William Lanfear in 1585 and the marriage of Thomas Lanfear and Agnes Willson in 1592.

Among the notable individuals with the LANFEAR surname is Sir John Lanfear (c. 1510-1578), a wealthy merchant and alderman of the City of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1564 and was knighted the following year.

Another prominent figure was Richard Lanfear (1695-1768), a renowned English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Great Hall at Christ's Hospital and the parish church of St. George's, Bloomsbury.

In the 18th century, the LANFEAR name appears in connection with the village of Lanfear, located in the parish of Northill, Bedfordshire. It is believed that the village may have taken its name from an early settler with the LANFEAR surname.

Other notable individuals with the LANFEAR surname include Sir William Lanfear (1802-1875), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a rear admiral, and Elizabeth Lanfear (1790-1865), an English author and poet known for her works on religious and moral themes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lanfear families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lanfear 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. Wiltshire leads with 77 Lanfears recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.97x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 77 43.97x
Monmouthshire 28 19.56x
Berkshire 22 14.80x
Gloucestershire 18 4.63x
Kent 13 1.92x
Surrey 12 1.24x
Essex 11 2.81x
Buckinghamshire 9 7.52x
Hampshire 7 1.72x
Middlesex 2 0.10x
Brecknockshire 1 2.53x
Cardiganshire 1 2.07x
Devon 1 0.24x
Sussex 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westbury in Wiltshire leads with 24 Lanfears recorded in 1881 and an index of 586.80x.

Place Total Index
Westbury 24 586.80x
Ogbourne St Andrew 19 6333.33x
Newport 14 204.98x
Thornbury 12 452.83x
Walthamstow 11 78.18x
Eton 9 332.10x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 9 731.71x
Castle Eaton 8 3636.36x
St Woollos 8 50.06x
Wonston 7 1489.36x
Avington 6 8571.43x
Brinkworth 6 759.49x
Camberwell 6 4.74x
Croydon 6 11.20x
Hayes 6 1276.60x
Kintbury 6 521.74x
Preshute 6 555.56x
Ramsgate 6 54.40x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 38.61x
Redwick 5 2777.78x
Ashampstead 3 1304.35x
Reading St Mary 3 25.21x
Speen 2 82.30x
Trowbridge 2 25.84x
Ashbury 1 217.39x
Brokenborough 1 400.00x
Caerleon 1 133.33x
Calne 1 27.70x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.92x
Devonport 1 21.10x
Eastbourne 1 6.51x
Hackney London 1 0.90x
Letcombe Regis 1 344.83x
Llandisilio Gogo 1 123.46x
Llangattock 1 31.06x
Marlborough St Peter St 1 111.11x
Minchinhampton 1 32.36x
Paddington London 1 1.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 6
Ann 4
Edith 4
Eliza 4
Fanny 4
Martha 4
Ellen 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Laura 2
Ruth 2
Ada 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Eva 1
Fanni 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriatt 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Julia 1
Let. 1
Lettia 1
Lucilla 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Rebecca 1
Rowena 1
Salina 1
Susan 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
Henry 8
George 7
Thomas 7
John 6
Joseph 6
Charles 5
Arthur 4
James 4
Alfred 3
Frederick 3
Benjamin 2
Herbert 2
Reuben 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alf.E. 1
Alf.H. 1
Auther 1
Chas.E. 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Gerald 1
Henery 1
Hy 1
Jno.E. 1
Mary 1
Meshack 1
Niklus 1
Tom 1
Wilton 1
Wm.A. 1
Zacchaeus 1

FAQ

Lanfear surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lanfear surname in 1881?

In 1881, 203 people were recorded with the Lanfear surname. That placed it at #12,717 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lanfear surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 331 in 2016. That gives Lanfear a modern rank of #13,735.

What does the Lanfear surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French words "l'enfert" meaning the iron maker.

What does the Lanfear map show?

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