NameCensus.

UK surname

Lanning

Derived from the Old English word "hlæne," referring to a lean or slender person.

In the 1881 census there were 384 people recorded with the Lanning surname, ranking it #8,195 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 412, ranked #11,627, down from #8,195 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kington Magna, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Harborough and Poole.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lanning is 526 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.3%.

1881 census count

384

Ranked #8,195

Modern count

412

2016, ranked #11,627

Peak year

1911

526 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lanning had 384 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,195 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 412 in 2016, ranked #11,627.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 526 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Lanning surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lanning surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lanning 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 306 #7,524
1861 historical 300 #8,432
1881 historical 384 #8,195
1891 historical 441 #8,197
1901 historical 465 #8,499
1911 historical 526 #7,543
1997 modern 439 #10,264
1998 modern 446 #10,469
1999 modern 449 #10,464
2000 modern 446 #10,516
2001 modern 433 #10,561
2002 modern 418 #11,084
2003 modern 395 #11,364
2004 modern 404 #11,199
2005 modern 388 #11,437
2006 modern 387 #11,514
2007 modern 392 #11,550
2008 modern 394 #11,622
2009 modern 410 #11,503
2010 modern 420 #11,536
2011 modern 417 #11,462
2012 modern 412 #11,479
2013 modern 424 #11,402
2014 modern 426 #11,408
2015 modern 418 #11,516
2016 modern 412 #11,627

Geography

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Where Lannings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kington Magna, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, Lyncombe and Widcombe and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Harborough, Poole, Hillingdon and Lerwick North. 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 Kington Magna Somerset
2 London parishes London 3
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Lyncombe and Widcombe Somerset
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 009 South Hams
2 Harborough 005 Harborough
3 Poole 013 Poole
4 Hillingdon 008 Hillingdon
5 Lerwick North Shetland Islands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lanning

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lanning

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Lanning 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

Lanning is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lanning falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lanning 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 Lanning, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lanning

The surname Lanning is of English origin, derived from a place name or location. It is believed to have originated in the county of Lincolnshire, where the name was first recorded in the 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "lan" meaning "lane" or "path" and "ing" meaning "people of" or "belonging to," suggesting that the name referred to people living near or on a particular lane or path.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lanning can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1176, where a person named Willelmus de Laninge is mentioned. This document provides evidence of the name's existence during the medieval period in England.

The Lanning surname also appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name's origins can be traced back to the time of the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spellings, including Laninge, Lannynge, and Lanninge, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling practices during different time periods.

One notable individual with the surname Lanning was Sir John Lanning (1569-1638), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament who served as a judge during the reign of King Charles I. Another prominent figure was Captain Thomas Lanning (1683-1755), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the War of the Austrian Succession.

In the literary world, William Lanning (1808-1865) was an American author and educator who wrote several textbooks and educational works. He is best known for his book "The Virginia Reader," published in 1846.

Other historical figures with the surname Lanning include Reverend John Lanning (1665-1728), an English clergyman and author of religious works, and Colonel James Lanning (1789-1868), an American military officer who fought in the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War.

While the surname Lanning may have originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement patterns. However, its roots can be traced back to the early medieval period in the county of Lincolnshire, where it was first recorded as a place name or locational surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lanning families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lanning 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. Dorset leads with 87 Lannings recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.39x.

County Total Index
Dorset 87 35.39x
Somerset 67 11.11x
Hampshire 66 8.60x
Middlesex 54 1.44x
Surrey 25 1.37x
Wiltshire 21 6.34x
Sussex 11 1.74x
Cambridgeshire 8 3.37x
Kent 7 0.55x
Buckinghamshire 6 2.65x
Devon 6 0.77x
Monmouthshire 6 2.22x
Leicestershire 5 1.20x
Carmarthenshire 4 2.53x
Yorkshire 4 0.11x
Essex 2 0.27x
Gloucestershire 2 0.27x
Lanarkshire 1 0.08x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.84x

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 44 Lannings recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.24x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 44 29.24x
Kington Magna 23 3833.33x
Lyncombe Widcombe 18 114.00x
Wilton 13 555.56x
Bradford Abbas 11 1692.31x
Kensington London 11 5.28x
Henstridge 10 598.80x
Morden 10 961.54x
Bermondsey 9 8.07x
Abbas Combe 8 1818.18x
Buckland Newton 8 727.27x
St Pancras London 8 2.65x
Buckhorn Weston 7 1044.78x
Burwell 7 246.48x
Poplar London 7 9.90x
Spetisbury 7 1029.41x
Twickenham 7 43.59x
Alverstoke 6 21.59x
Axminster 6 163.93x
Hougham 6 78.95x
Melcombe Regis 6 58.88x
North Cadbury 6 521.74x
Pitcombe 6 1111.11x
St Marylebone London 6 3.00x
Taunton St James 6 68.26x
Asfordby 5 724.64x
Bethnal Green London 5 3.07x
Burnham 5 173.01x
Llanfoist 5 265.96x
Warminster 5 68.87x
Battersea 4 2.90x
Lambeth 4 1.22x
Laugharne 4 191.39x
Newington 4 2.89x
Abbas Temple Coombe 3 967.74x
Camberwell 3 1.25x
Chailey 3 153.06x
Hackney London 3 1.43x
Hastings St Leonards 3 32.33x
Millbrook 3 15.51x
Poole St James 3 32.47x
Ryde 3 18.19x
Southampton St John 3 379.75x
Sturminster Marshall 3 291.26x
Aldershot 2 7.78x
Bathwick 2 29.99x
Calne 2 29.33x
Cheltenham 2 3.53x
Chilthorne Domer 2 769.23x
Christchurch 2 12.01x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.26x
Holy Trinity 2 2.24x
Milborne Port 2 82.99x
Parkstone 2 69.69x
Shepton Montague 2 476.19x
Sherborne 2 27.62x
Beckley 1 63.29x
Brentwood 1 22.17x
Brighton 1 0.78x
Chepstow 1 21.69x
Dewsbury 1 2.63x
Downton 1 23.04x
East Ham 1 7.29x
East Hoathly 1 90.91x
Islington London 1 0.28x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.28x
Longburton 1 204.08x
Newmarket All Sts 1 57.14x
Parr 1 6.29x
Pitminster 1 56.50x
Portsmouth 1 5.66x
Ratcliffe London 1 4.83x
Shepton Mallet 1 14.79x
Sholden 1 200.00x
Shoreditch London 1 0.62x
Southampton St Mary 1 2.07x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.52x
Stour Provost 1 227.27x
Taplow 1 73.53x
Withyam 1 37.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 13
Annie 9
Alice 8
Jane 8
Ann 7
Eliza 7
Ellen 7
Louisa 7
Clara 6
Fanny 5
Ada 4
Florence 4
Kate 4
Bessie 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Emma 3
Martha 3
Anne 2
Edith 2
Flora 2
Harriet 2
Jessie 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Agnes 1
Beatrice 1
Betsey 1
Cathrine 1
Diana 1
Edna 1
Elb. 1
Eleanor 1
Ella 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Eveline 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Herietta 1
Hester 1
Hilda 1
I. 1
Judith 1
Julia 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 22
Charles 15
William 15
Henry 13
Thomas 10
James 9
John 9
Edward 8
Frederick 7
Alfred 6
Harry 6
Robert 5
Albert 4
Walter 4
Chas. 3
Edwin 3
Joseph 3
Philip 3
Arthur 2
Christopher 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Harold 2
Nathaniel 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Barnard 1
Benjamin 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Israel 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Jeremiah 1
Joanna 1
Job 1
Jonas 1
Lewis 1
Merton 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Lanning surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lanning surname in 1881?

In 1881, 384 people were recorded with the Lanning surname. That placed it at #8,195 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lanning surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 412 in 2016. That gives Lanning a modern rank of #11,627.

What does the Lanning surname mean?

Derived from the Old English word "hlæne," referring to a lean or slender person.

What does the Lanning map show?

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