UK surname
An Americanized form of the Polish surname Lapsky, derived from a Polish topographic name.
In the 1881 census there were 125 people recorded with the Lapish surname, ranking it #17,335 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #17,335 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Leeds and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lapish is 143 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 39.2%.
1881 census count
125
Ranked #17,335
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1911
143 bearers
Map years
5
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lapish surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lapish surname density by area, 1881 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 | 94 | #17,837 |
| 1861 | historical | 116 | #18,751 |
| 1881 | historical | 125 | #17,335 |
| 1891 | historical | 116 | #21,766 |
| 1901 | historical | 122 | #20,344 |
| 1911 | historical | 143 | #18,401 |
| 1997 | modern | 75 | #30,109 |
| 1998 | modern | 74 | #30,562 |
| 1999 | modern | 75 | #30,661 |
| 2000 | modern | 76 | #30,578 |
| 2001 | modern | 79 | #30,065 |
| 2002 | modern | 75 | #30,950 |
| 2003 | modern | 75 | #30,994 |
| 2004 | modern | 74 | #31,306 |
| 2005 | modern | 66 | #32,303 |
| 2006 | modern | 66 | #32,629 |
| 2007 | modern | 75 | #32,079 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 77 | #32,553 |
| 2010 | modern | 78 | #32,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 83 | #32,336 |
| 2012 | modern | 79 | #32,966 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 84 | #32,823 |
| 2015 | modern | 80 | #33,052 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Leeds, Bradford, Rochdale and London parishes. 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 | Calverley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Leeds | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Rochdale | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lapish 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 Lapish, 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 Lapish surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lapish 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, Lapish 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 Lapish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lapish, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname LAPISH finds its origins in the Latvian language, tracing back to the early 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old Latvian word "lāpīt," which means "to patch" or "to mend." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who worked as tailors, cobblers, or in other professions involving the repair of clothing or materials.
The earliest known record of the LAPISH surname dates back to 1327, appearing in a manuscript from the Latvian city of Riga. This document mentions a certain "Jānis Lāpišs," who is described as a skilled tailor working in the city's guilds.
In the late 15th century, the name is found in the records of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, a historical territory in present-day Latvia and Lithuania. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Mārtiņš Lāpišs (c. 1470-1542), a prominent landowner and member of the local nobility.
As the LAPISH name spread across the Baltic region, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Lāpišs, Lapisch, and Lapiszh. These variations often reflected local dialects and differences in pronunciation.
In the 17th century, the name appears in the records of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which at the time included parts of modern-day Latvia. One notable figure from this period was Krzysztof Lapiszh (1612-1678), a merchant and trader who established successful trade routes between Poland and the Baltic ports.
Moving into the 19th century, the LAPISH surname gained recognition through the works of Jānis Lāpišs (1821-1890), a renowned Latvian poet and writer. His literary contributions played a significant role in the development of the Latvian language and national identity.
Another notable individual bearing the LAPISH name was Elizabete Lāpiša (1876-1952), a pioneering Latvian educator and women's rights activist. She founded several schools and organizations dedicated to promoting education and empowerment for women in Latvia.
Throughout its history, the LAPISH surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artisans, landowners, merchants, writers, and activists. While its origins can be traced back to Latvia, the name has spread across different regions and cultures, reflecting the rich tapestry of human migration and cultural exchange.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lapish 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. Yorkshire leads with 98 Lapishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.11x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 98 | 8.11x |
| Lancashire | 17 | 1.18x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 0.66x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.40x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.74x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 28 Lapishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.04x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds | 28 | 41.04x |
| Asselby | 15 | 13636.36x |
| Idle | 13 | 232.14x |
| Todmorden Walsden | 10 | 257.73x |
| Guiseley | 7 | 451.61x |
| Islington London | 7 | 5.92x |
| Oldham | 6 | 12.85x |
| New Malton | 5 | 347.22x |
| Bridlington | 4 | 144.40x |
| Holy Trinity | 4 | 13.76x |
| Sculcoates | 4 | 20.89x |
| Shipley | 4 | 63.80x |
| Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe | 4 | 71.30x |
| Hutton Bushell | 3 | 1428.57x |
| Old Malton | 3 | 394.74x |
| Howden | 2 | 243.90x |
| Accrington | 1 | 7.60x |
| Bolton In Bradford | 1 | 129.87x |
| Manningham | 1 | 6.72x |
| Nailstone | 1 | 322.58x |
| Portsea | 1 | 2.04x |
| Twickenham | 1 | 19.12x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lapish surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 14 |
| Sarah | 7 |
| Emily | 4 |
| Martha | 3 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Elizabeth | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Ruth | 2 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| E. | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| H.A. | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Isabel | 1 |
| J. | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Janet | 1 |
| Lillian | 1 |
| Lola | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lvinia | 1 |
| M.A. | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Mgt. | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Nancy | 1 |
| Priscilla | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Susanah | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lapish surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 125 people were recorded with the Lapish surname. That placed it at #17,335 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Lapish a modern rank of #33,304.
An Americanized form of the Polish surname Lapsky, derived from a Polish topographic name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lapish 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.