NameCensus.

UK surname

Lansdown

An English habitational surname derived from a place name referring to a low hill or downland.

In the 1881 census there were 560 people recorded with the Lansdown surname, ranking it #6,184 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 513, ranked #9,816, down from #6,184 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, South Gloucestershire and Swindon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lansdown is 703 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.4%.

1881 census count

560

Ranked #6,184

Modern count

513

2016, ranked #9,816

Peak year

1911

703 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lansdown had 560 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,184 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 513 in 2016, ranked #9,816.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 703 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Lansdown surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lansdown surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lansdown 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 445 #5,532
1861 historical 336 #7,589
1881 historical 560 #6,184
1891 historical 553 #6,848
1901 historical 609 #6,988
1911 historical 703 #6,067
1997 modern 517 #9,079
1998 modern 533 #9,135
1999 modern 519 #9,401
2000 modern 518 #9,366
2001 modern 525 #9,128
2002 modern 530 #9,242
2003 modern 507 #9,391
2004 modern 506 #9,437
2005 modern 488 #9,607
2006 modern 497 #9,518
2007 modern 483 #9,816
2008 modern 482 #9,913
2009 modern 496 #9,929
2010 modern 502 #10,029
2011 modern 506 #9,873
2012 modern 505 #9,787
2013 modern 524 #9,687
2014 modern 525 #9,745
2015 modern 507 #9,906
2016 modern 513 #9,816

Geography

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Where Lansdowns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, London parishes and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Gateshead. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bedminster Somerset
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 005 Mendip
2 South Gloucestershire 011 South Gloucestershire
3 Swindon 022 Swindon
4 Gateshead 027 Gateshead
5 South Gloucestershire 004 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lansdown

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lansdown

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Lansdown is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lansdown is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lansdown falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lansdown is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lansdown

The surname Lansdown is of English origin, deriving from the place name Lansdown, which is found in various locations across England. The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Lansdune" in Gloucestershire.

The name Lansdown is believed to have its roots in the Old English words "lan" meaning "lane" or "path" and "dun" meaning "hill" or "down". This suggests that the name likely referred to a hill or elevated area with a path or lane running through it, which would have been a prominent feature in the landscape.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Lansdown was John Lansdown, who was born in Somerset, England, around 1520. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the region during the 16th century.

Another notable figure with the Lansdown surname was Sir Bevil Lansdown (1590-1643), an English military commander who fought for the Royalist cause during the English Civil War. He was killed in action at the Battle of Lansdown Hill near Bath in 1643, a location that may have derived its name from the same origin as the surname.

In the 18th century, William Lansdown (1736-1808) was a notable English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

The surname Lansdown is also associated with the Lansdown family of Gloucestershire, who were prominent landowners and gentry during the 17th and 18th centuries. One member of this family, George Lansdown (1667-1735), was a member of parliament and served as a Justice of the Peace.

Another individual of note was Charles Lansdown (1856-1933), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

While the surname Lansdown is relatively uncommon, it has a long and rich history that can be traced back to the ancient place names and settlements of England. Despite its rarity, it has been carried by notable individuals throughout the centuries, from military commanders and architects to landowners and sportsmen.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lansdown families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lansdown 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 147 Lansdowns recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.69x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 147 2.69x
Somerset 120 13.65x
Surrey 73 2.74x
Gloucestershire 69 6.44x
Wiltshire 40 8.28x
Devon 25 2.20x
Glamorgan 24 2.52x
Kent 14 0.75x
Lincolnshire 12 1.37x
Hampshire 10 0.89x
Lancashire 5 0.08x
Lanarkshire 4 0.23x
Shropshire 4 0.85x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.61x
Hertfordshire 2 0.53x
Monmouthshire 2 0.51x
Berkshire 1 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.29x
Cornwall 1 0.16x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.58x
Suffolk 1 0.15x
Sussex 1 0.11x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Walcot in Somerset leads with 38 Lansdowns recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.14x.

Place Total Index
Walcot 38 81.14x
Camberwell 28 8.02x
St Pancras London 25 5.69x
Southwark St George Martyr 16 14.56x
Bathwick 15 154.16x
Clifton 15 27.70x
Bedminster 13 15.73x
Shoreditch London 13 5.49x
St Marylebone London 13 4.46x
Compton Gifford 12 337.08x
Kensington London 12 3.95x
St Maryle Wigford 12 176.73x
Bristol St Peter 11 287.21x
Lambeth 11 2.31x
St Andrew Holborn London 11 46.51x
Trowbridge 11 51.52x
Feniton 10 1492.54x
Ystradyfodwg 9 10.79x
Bow London 8 11.50x
Cheltenham 8 9.68x
Olveston 8 265.78x
Wells St Cuthbert 8 133.33x
Wiveliscombe 8 163.27x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 6.94x
Cardiff St John 7 22.53x
Chelsea London 7 4.25x
Cricklade St Sampson 7 311.11x
Islington London 7 1.32x
Newington 7 3.47x
Westminster St Margaret 7 26.57x
Basingstoke 6 46.58x
Bath St James 6 65.43x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.53x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 16.80x
Hammersmith London 6 4.46x
Hampstead London 6 7.05x
Mile End Old Town London 6 5.16x
Warminster 6 56.66x
Wimbledon 6 20.08x
Wootton Bassett 6 142.86x
Beckenham 5 20.53x
Llanharan 5 510.20x
Tottenham 5 5.75x
Willesden 5 9.71x
Acton 4 12.49x
Almondsbury 4 97.80x
Clutton 4 209.42x
Elm 4 597.01x
Govan 4 0.92x
Over Stowey 4 408.16x
Road 4 373.83x
Stowe 4 851.06x
Woolwich 4 5.81x
Alverstoke 3 7.40x
Bath St Peter St Paul 3 77.12x
Bristol St Augustine 3 17.35x
Elberton 3 1034.48x
Llandaff 3 9.48x
North Bradley 3 84.99x
Stoke Lane 3 238.10x
Weston Super Mare 3 13.51x
Aylesbury 2 13.67x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 2 20.49x
Cheetham 2 4.14x
Chepstow 2 29.76x
Croydon 2 1.35x
East Barnet 2 26.77x
Epsom 2 15.42x
Frome 2 9.51x
Great Bolton 2 2.33x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 8.69x
Ramsbury 2 45.66x
Slapton 2 172.41x
Swindon 2 5.34x
Westminster St John 2 3.01x
Westwood 2 200.00x
Ashford 1 5.51x
Hungerford 1 18.02x
Longhope 1 54.95x
Whitechapel London 1 1.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 27
Jane 16
Sarah 16
Emily 12
Alice 11
Eliza 10
Florence 9
Louisa 9
Ellen 8
Martha 8
Annie 7
Emma 7
Charlotte 6
Caroline 5
Edith 5
Hannah 5
Ada 4
Elizth. 4
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Minnie 4
Rosa 4
Agnes 3
Ann 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Amy 2
Bessie 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Lilian 2
Rosener 2
Sophia 2
Anna 1
Cathrine 1
Celia 1
Clara 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Littitia 1
Lizzie 1
Lucia 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
Charles 26
George 20
James 18
Thomas 17
Henry 15
Frederick 13
John 12
Alfred 6
Edward 6
Arthur 5
Benjamin 5
Joseph 5
Albert 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Geo. 4
Harry 4
Ben 3
Frank 3
Fredk. 3
Richard 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Gilbert 2
Mathias 2
Robert 2
Sydney 2
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
E. 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Fras.E. 1
Fred 1
Fred.J. 1
Fredk.C. 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Geo.M. 1
Hubert 1
Infant 1
Jacob 1
Jessie 1
Jms. 1
Job 1
Jonah 1
Wm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Lansdown surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lansdown surname in 1881?

In 1881, 560 people were recorded with the Lansdown surname. That placed it at #6,184 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lansdown surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 513 in 2016. That gives Lansdown a modern rank of #9,816.

What does the Lansdown surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name referring to a low hill or downland.

What does the Lansdown map show?

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