NameCensus.

UK surname

Lapham

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a leap or ford, from Old English "lēap" and "hām".

In the 1881 census there were 307 people recorded with the Lapham surname, ranking it #9,568 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 425, ranked #11,300, down from #9,568 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Whatley, Elm, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lapham is 456 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.4%.

1881 census count

307

Ranked #9,568

Modern count

425

2016, ranked #11,300

Peak year

1998

456 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lapham had 307 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,568 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 425 in 2016, ranked #11,300.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 448 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Lapham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lapham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lapham 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 257 #8,596
1861 historical 279 #8,979
1881 historical 307 #9,568
1891 historical 409 #8,712
1901 historical 444 #8,792
1911 historical 448 #8,538
1997 modern 449 #10,094
1998 modern 456 #10,295
1999 modern 435 #10,754
2000 modern 449 #10,459
2001 modern 425 #10,716
2002 modern 429 #10,858
2003 modern 417 #10,924
2004 modern 409 #11,095
2005 modern 394 #11,308
2006 modern 403 #11,187
2007 modern 402 #11,338
2008 modern 409 #11,271
2009 modern 416 #11,364
2010 modern 431 #11,285
2011 modern 423 #11,333
2012 modern 421 #11,245
2013 modern 425 #11,382
2014 modern 429 #11,347
2015 modern 424 #11,364
2016 modern 425 #11,300

Geography

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Where Laphams are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset, Mendip, South Somerset and North Dorset. 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 Whatley, Elm Somerset
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 050 Wiltshire
2 Bath and North East Somerset 001 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Mendip 007 Mendip
4 South Somerset 005 South Somerset
5 North Dorset 001 North Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lapham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lapham

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lapham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Lapham 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

Lapham falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lapham

The surname Lapham has its roots in England, dating back to the medieval era. It is thought to have originated as a locational name, derived from the Old English words "hlaep" meaning "a rising ground" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village." This suggests that the name may have referred to individuals who lived near a prominent hill or raised area of land.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Lapham name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. This historic document lists several individuals bearing variations of the name, such as "Lappham" and "Laphame," indicating the surname's long-standing presence in England.

The Lapham family can trace its roots back to various locations in England, including Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Leicestershire. In the 13th century, the name was also associated with the village of Lapworth in Warwickshire, which was formerly known as "Lappenworth" or "Lappenworthe."

Among the notable individuals bearing the Lapham surname throughout history is William Lapham (1611-1667), an early settler of Dorchester, Massachusetts, who arrived in America aboard the ship Mary and John in 1630. He played a role in the founding of the town of Dorchester and served as a selectman and representative to the General Court.

Another prominent figure was Increase Allen Lapham (1811-1875), an American scientist, naturalist, and writer from Wisconsin. He made significant contributions to the study of geology, botany, and archaeology in the Midwestern United States and authored several influential works, including "The Antiquities of Wisconsin" and "A Geographical and Topographical Description of Wisconsin."

In the literary world, Lewis H. Lapham (born 1935) is a renowned American writer and editor who founded the influential quarterly magazine Lapham's Quarterly. He has also written several books, including "Money and Class in America" and "The Age of Folly: America Abandons Its Democracy."

Albert Lapham (1828-1892) was a prominent American businessman and politician from Rhode Island. He served as a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives and played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in the state.

Lastly, Wilbur Lapham (1865-1935) was an American architect and urban planner who designed numerous notable buildings in New York City, including the Woolworth Building and several stations for the New York City Subway system.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lapham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lapham 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. Somerset leads with 89 Laphams recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.46x.

County Total Index
Somerset 89 18.46x
Surrey 42 2.88x
Gloucestershire 41 6.98x
Wiltshire 34 12.84x
Middlesex 33 1.10x
Cornwall 13 3.83x
Hampshire 10 1.63x
Lancashire 9 0.25x
Devon 7 1.12x
Inverness-shire 7 7.83x
Monmouthshire 6 2.77x
Kent 4 0.39x
Glamorgan 3 0.58x
Suffolk 3 0.82x
Warwickshire 3 0.40x
Durham 1 0.11x
Essex 1 0.17x
Nairnshire 1 10.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilmington in Somerset leads with 40 Laphams recorded in 1881 and an index of 8163.27x.

Place Total Index
Kilmington 40 8163.27x
Whatley 16 3636.36x
Newington 14 12.65x
Frome 13 112.75x
Bristol St Paul In 12 76.68x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 21.70x
Sutton Veney 11 1486.49x
Mere 10 332.23x
Kenwyn 9 101.47x
Lambeth 9 3.45x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 14.94x
Abernethy Kincardine 7 443.04x
St Dunstan In East London 7 3043.48x
Bedwellty 6 15.70x
Bristol St James In 6 69.44x
Exeter St Thomas The 6 94.49x
Chertsey 5 53.02x
Clifton 5 16.84x
Everton 5 4.41x
Hackney London 5 2.98x
Wells St Cuthbert In 5 675.68x
Brislington 4 444.44x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 20.43x
Camberwell 4 2.09x
Edmonton 4 16.58x
Kensington London 4 2.40x
Salisbury St Edmund 4 94.12x
St George Martyr London 4 65.90x
Biddestone St Nicholas 3 714.29x
Birmingham 3 1.19x
Clevedon 3 59.88x
Garston 3 28.60x
Ipswich St Peter 3 61.10x
Mile End Old Town London 3 4.71x
Milton In Gravesend 3 19.58x
Neath 3 28.28x
Portsea 3 2.49x
South Brent 3 370.37x
Andover 2 34.48x
Bodmin 2 35.65x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 15.85x
New Alresford 2 125.79x
St Marylebone London 2 1.25x
Stourton 2 350.88x
Swindon 2 9.74x
Aldershot 1 4.86x
Baverstock 1 769.23x
Bermondsey 1 1.12x
Bisley 1 18.80x
Bristol St Michael 1 19.84x
Chatham 1 3.56x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.41x
Hammersmith London 1 1.36x
Leyton Low 1 8.32x
Madron Penzance 1 8.11x
Nairn 1 18.02x
Northington 1 303.03x
Nunney 1 96.15x
Plymouth Charles The 1 3.64x
St Columb Major 1 35.59x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.90x
St Giles In Fields London 1 6.81x
St Mary Kalendar 1 78.13x
Sunderland 1 6.36x
Warminster 1 17.24x
Wellington 1 15.29x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 25.77x
West Derby 1 0.96x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
George 12
John 10
Henry 9
Thomas 8
Albert 7
James 7
Charles 6
Francis 6
Alfred 5
Joseph 4
Richard 3
Tom 3
Walter 3
Frederick 2
Jessie 2
Mark 2
Nicholas 2
Sydney 2
Uriah 2
Alban 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Charlie 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Elias 1
Ernest 1
Felix 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Gustavus 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Howard 1
Hugh 1
Jeremiah 1
Joshua 1
Lewis 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Tom. 1

FAQ

Lapham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lapham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 307 people were recorded with the Lapham surname. That placed it at #9,568 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lapham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 425 in 2016. That gives Lapham a modern rank of #11,300.

What does the Lapham surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a leap or ford, from Old English "lēap" and "hām".

What does the Lapham map show?

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