NameCensus.

UK surname

Langford

An English locational surname derived from places meaning "long ford" or "land near a ford."

In the 1881 census there were 4,686 people recorded with the Langford surname, ranking it #951 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,017, ranked #958, down from #951 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tipton otherwise Tibington, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Langford is 7,390 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.7%.

1881 census count

4,686

Ranked #951

Modern count

7,017

2016, ranked #958

Peak year

1998

7,390 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Langford had 4,686 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #951 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,017 in 2016, ranked #958.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,774 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Langford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Langford surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Langford 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 3,103 #933
1861 historical 2,697 #1,092
1881 historical 4,686 #951
1891 historical 5,146 #913
1901 historical 6,141 #905
1911 historical 6,774 #767
1997 modern 7,052 #923
1998 modern 7,390 #918
1999 modern 7,370 #923
2000 modern 7,382 #917
2001 modern 7,189 #919
2002 modern 7,327 #920
2003 modern 7,128 #921
2004 modern 7,078 #928
2005 modern 6,959 #932
2006 modern 6,895 #947
2007 modern 6,940 #949
2008 modern 7,005 #942
2009 modern 7,136 #945
2010 modern 7,234 #954
2011 modern 7,175 #943
2012 modern 7,024 #945
2013 modern 7,151 #946
2014 modern 7,170 #951
2015 modern 7,086 #948
2016 modern 7,017 #958

Geography

Back to top

Where Langfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tipton otherwise Tibington, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sandwell and Shropshire. 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 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sandwell 014 Sandwell
2 Sandwell 009 Sandwell
3 Sandwell 015 Sandwell
4 Shropshire 029 Shropshire
5 Sandwell 007 Sandwell

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Langford

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Langford

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

Langford is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Langford falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Langford 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Langford

The surname Langford has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "lang" meaning long and "ford" meaning a shallow place where a river can be crossed. This suggests that the name likely originated from a settlement near a long ford or crossing point over a river.

Langford is found in various counties across England, including Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, and Somerset, indicating that the name arose independently in different locations. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Langeford" in reference to a place in Wiltshire.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the name was Walter de Langford, who served as Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield from 1292 to 1321. Another early record is that of Ralph de Langford, who held lands in Somerset in the late 13th century.

During the 14th century, the name appears in various forms such as Langeford, Langforde, and Longford. A prominent figure from this time was Sir John Langford (c. 1330-1404), a knight and supporter of Richard II who fought in the Hundred Years' War.

In the 15th century, a notable bearer was Sir Ralph Langford (c. 1430-1495), who served as a Member of Parliament and played a role in the Wars of the Roses. He was granted lands in Wiltshire by Edward IV.

The 16th century saw the emergence of John Langford (c. 1510-1578), an English Protestant reformer and Church of England clergyman who served as Bishop of Norwich and later as Bishop of Ely.

As the name spread across England, various place names associated with Langford emerged, such as Langford in Bedfordshire, Langford Budville in Somerset, and Langford Hill in Somerset. These place names further solidified the connection between the surname and its geographic origins.

Throughout its history, the surname Langford has been borne by notable individuals in various fields, including politics, religion, and military service. While the spelling has evolved over time, the name's roots remain firmly grounded in the English landscape, reflecting the importance of geographic features in the development of surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Langford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Langford 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 533 Langfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.16x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 533 1.16x
Staffordshire 362 2.34x
Shropshire 337 8.49x
Hampshire 282 3.00x
Surrey 278 1.24x
Lancashire 273 0.50x
Kent 238 1.52x
Somerset 213 2.88x
Warwickshire 188 1.62x
Worcestershire 175 2.92x
Cambridgeshire 146 5.02x
Berkshire 130 3.77x
Herefordshire 123 6.53x
Oxfordshire 111 3.91x
Yorkshire 107 0.24x
Dorset 97 3.22x
Gloucestershire 90 1.00x
Devon 89 0.93x
Cornwall 78 1.50x
Norfolk 74 1.05x
Cheshire 68 0.67x
Sussex 58 0.75x
Flintshire 53 4.29x
Northamptonshire 50 1.16x
Glamorgan 49 0.61x
Monmouthshire 44 1.33x
Lincolnshire 40 0.54x
Nottinghamshire 40 0.65x
Essex 39 0.43x
Derbyshire 35 0.49x
Montgomeryshire 34 3.23x
Buckinghamshire 29 1.04x
Denbighshire 29 1.67x
Huntingdonshire 28 3.07x
Durham 25 0.18x
Wiltshire 24 0.59x
Channel Islands 22 1.62x
Lanarkshire 18 0.12x
Radnorshire 18 4.86x
Leicestershire 17 0.33x
Hertfordshire 13 0.41x
Pembrokeshire 9 0.62x
Cumberland 8 0.20x
Suffolk 7 0.13x
Bedfordshire 6 0.25x
Royal Navy 5 0.91x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.07x
Midlothian 3 0.05x
Northumberland 2 0.03x
Angus 1 0.02x
Ayrshire 1 0.03x
Brecknockshire 1 0.11x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 110 Langfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.96x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 110 5.96x
Birmingham 80 2.07x
St Pancras London 71 1.92x
Tipton 69 14.54x
Lambeth 64 1.60x
West Bromwich 55 6.20x
Aston 54 1.69x
Camberwell 54 1.84x
Islington London 54 1.21x
Stretham 50 240.27x
Madeley 49 33.68x
St Andrewthe Less 39 11.74x
Wolverhampton 38 3.19x
Clerkenwell London 36 3.32x
Ringstead 35 484.76x
Sedgley 33 5.73x
St Marylebone London 33 1.35x
Hackney London 31 1.20x
Withington 31 17.66x
Kensington London 29 1.14x
Mold Nerquis 28 276.68x
Nottingham St Mary 26 1.62x
Llanover 25 22.05x
North Leigh 25 242.48x
Harborne 24 4.83x
Kingswinford 24 4.26x
Berriew 23 79.26x
Limehouse London 22 4.36x
Liverpool 22 0.66x
Tottenham 22 3.01x
Wellington 22 9.87x
Alverstoke 21 6.16x
Paddington London 21 1.24x
Shoreditch London 21 1.05x
Colyton 20 54.48x
Deptford St Paul 20 1.65x
Edgbaston 20 5.57x
Kington 20 42.89x
Southwark St George Martyr 20 2.16x
Wool 20 250.00x
Broseley 19 26.95x
Clitheroe 19 11.85x
Hammersmith London 19 1.68x
Newington 19 1.12x
Fulham London 18 2.70x
Greenwich 18 2.46x
Leamington Priors 18 6.32x
Smeeth 18 184.43x
Southwick 18 436.89x
Streatley 18 176.64x
Taunton St James 18 16.70x
West Ham 18 0.90x
Droitwich St Andrew 17 112.43x
Exbury 17 312.50x
Lyme Regis 17 47.10x
St Mewan 17 106.12x
Yaxley 17 79.70x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 16 44.27x
Shifnal 16 14.85x
Wellington 16 166.32x
Everton 15 0.86x
Kings Norton 15 2.79x
Linton 15 79.32x
Reading St Giles 15 4.44x
Taunton St Mary 15 11.05x
Tryddyn 15 55.97x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 14 31.12x
Chorlton On Medlock 14 1.62x
Turville 14 213.41x
Whitchurch 14 18.18x
Donyatt 13 216.31x
Hailey 13 65.26x
Lewisham 13 1.56x
Meopham 13 67.08x
Southampton All Sts 13 8.05x
Southampton St Mary 13 2.20x
St Helier 13 2.93x
St Ives 13 12.78x
Worcester St Peter 13 11.45x
Trowbridge 12 6.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 298
Elizabeth 179
Sarah 172
Jane 97
Eliza 93
Ann 81
Emma 77
Emily 70
Alice 69
Annie 65
Ellen 56
Martha 45
Maria 42
Charlotte 41
Hannah 41
Harriet 38
Louisa 36
Florence 33
Fanny 30
Edith 27
Clara 25
Frances 24
Kate 24
Caroline 22
Margaret 22
Ada 20
Agnes 19
Catherine 19
Anne 17
Amelia 16
Susan 16
Harriett 14
Rose 14
Amy 13
Esther 13
Julia 13
Ethel 12
Susannah 12
Beatrice 11
Eleanor 11
Lucy 11
Rosa 11
Gertrude 10
Laura 10
Rebecca 10
Jessie 9
Lydia 9
Matilda 9
Phoebe 9
Sophia 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 300
John 270
Thomas 162
George 161
Henry 122
James 109
Charles 98
Joseph 69
Edward 66
Alfred 61
Richard 59
Robert 57
Albert 48
Arthur 45
Frederick 45
Samuel 37
Walter 33
Harry 31
Ernest 24
Francis 23
Edwin 20
Frank 16
Herbert 13
Stephen 13
Wm. 13
Fred 11
Thos. 11
Benjamin 10
Tom 9
Andrew 8
David 8
Isaac 8
Edwd. 7
Fredk. 7
Peter 7
Chas. 6
Edgar 6
Edmund 6
Fredrick 6
Lewis 6
Abraham 5
Caleb 5
Daniel 5
Enoch 5
Jesse 5
Fred. 4
Jno. 4
Job 4
Percy 4
Reuben 4

FAQ

Langford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Langford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,686 people were recorded with the Langford surname. That placed it at #951 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Langford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,017 in 2016. That gives Langford a modern rank of #958.

What does the Langford surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from places meaning "long ford" or "land near a ford."

What does the Langford map show?

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