UK surname
A surname derived from the Old French term "l'an," meaning wooded area or thicket.
In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Lans surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #32,581 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, Sawley and Portland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lans is 174 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 250.0%.
1881 census count
8
Ranked #32,581
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1861
174 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lans surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lans 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 | 54 | #23,577 |
| 1861 | historical | 174 | #13,483 |
| 1881 | historical | 8 | #32,581 |
| 1891 | historical | 79 | #26,897 |
| 1901 | historical | 40 | #29,678 |
| 1911 | historical | 45 | #28,332 |
| 1997 | modern | 23 | #35,484 |
| 1998 | modern | 24 | #35,488 |
| 1999 | modern | 20 | #35,923 |
| 2000 | modern | 23 | #35,588 |
| 2001 | modern | 17 | #36,053 |
| 2002 | modern | 19 | #35,991 |
| 2003 | modern | 22 | #35,740 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 21 | #36,083 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 27 | #35,956 |
| 2009 | modern | 24 | #36,261 |
| 2010 | modern | 26 | #36,220 |
| 2011 | modern | 30 | #35,949 |
| 2012 | modern | 34 | #35,711 |
| 2013 | modern | 31 | #35,927 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 25 | #36,297 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, Sawley, Portland, Lambeth and Brancepeth. 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 | Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean | Monmouthshire |
| 2 | Sawley | Derbyshire |
| 3 | Portland | Dorset |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Brancepeth | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lans 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 Lans, 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 Lans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lans 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, Lans 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 Lans is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lans, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname LANS is believed to have originated in France, where it can be traced back to the early Middle Ages. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from the Old French word "l'anse," meaning a cove or small bay. This suggests that the first bearers of the name may have lived near such a geographical feature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the LANS name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name may have been introduced to England during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.
In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the LANS surname was Guillaume de Lans, a French knight who fought in the Seventh Crusade under King Louis IX of France. Records from this period also mention a village called "Lans" in the Burgundy region of France, possibly indicating the original place of origin for some bearers of the name.
During the Renaissance period, an Italian painter named Giovanni Battista Lans (1531-1597) gained recognition for his religious works, including altarpieces and frescoes in various churches throughout Italy.
In the 17th century, the LANS surname appeared in the records of French settlers in North America. One such individual was Pierre Lans, who established a homestead in the colony of Acadia (now Nova Scotia) in the 1630s.
In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the LANS surname was German astronomer Johann Hieronymus Schroeter (1745-1816), whose work on lunar topography earned him the nickname "Selenographicus" or "the Lunar Lans."
Throughout history, variations in the spelling of the LANS name have been observed, including Lanse, Lanz, and Lantz, reflecting regional linguistic influences and changes over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lans 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. Durham leads with 3 Lans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.79x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 3 | 20.79x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 1.74x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 33.44x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sunderland in Durham leads with 2 Lans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 800.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | 2 | 800.00x |
| Chilton | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Oxford St Mary Magdalen | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Wavertree | 1 | 555.56x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lans surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Lans surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Lans a modern rank of #36,125.
A surname derived from the Old French term "l'an," meaning wooded area or thicket.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lans 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.