NameCensus.

UK surname

Lara

A surname of Spanish origin meaning "citadel," derived from the ancient city of Lara in Burgos, Spain.

In the 1881 census there were 20 people recorded with the Lara surname, ranking it #30,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 229, ranked #17,878, up from #30,738 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Cornwall and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lara is 229 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1045.0%.

1881 census count

20

Ranked #30,738

Modern count

229

2016, ranked #17,878

Peak year

2016

229 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lara had 20 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,738 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 229 in 2016, ranked #17,878.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 71 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Lara surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lara surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Lara 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 14 #30,790
1861 historical 71 #24,765
1881 historical 20 #30,738
1891 historical 44 #30,838
1901 historical 30 #30,724
1911 historical 38 #29,147
1997 modern 79 #29,672
1998 modern 81 #29,849
1999 modern 81 #30,037
2000 modern 69 #31,273
2001 modern 77 #30,277
2002 modern 87 #29,644
2003 modern 90 #29,260
2004 modern 104 #27,338
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 125 #24,987
2008 modern 143 #23,160
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 153 #22,996
2012 modern 175 #20,984
2013 modern 193 #19,997
2014 modern 212 #18,945
2015 modern 224 #18,117
2016 modern 229 #17,878

Geography

Back to top

Where Laras are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Cornwall, Central Bedfordshire, Tower Hamlets and Basildon. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 005 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Cornwall 033 Cornwall
3 Central Bedfordshire 025 Central Bedfordshire
4 Tower Hamlets 030 Tower Hamlets
5 Basildon 019 Basildon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Lara

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Lara

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Lara surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Lara household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lara 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

Lara is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lara 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 Lara is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Lara

The surname Lara is of Spanish origin, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "larus," which means "seagull." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near the sea or worked as a fisherman.

In the 13th century, the name Lara appeared in the chronicles of the Kingdom of Castile, where it was associated with the noble family of the House of Lara. This family played a significant role in the political and military affairs of the region, and their name became closely linked with the town of Lara de los Infantes, located in the province of Burgos.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname Lara can be found in the Becerro de las Behetrías, a medieval census of landowners in Castile, compiled in the 14th century. This document lists several individuals bearing the name Lara, indicating its widespread use during that period.

In the 16th century, the name Lara gained further prominence with the birth of Garcilaso de la Vega (1501-1536), a renowned Spanish poet and soldier who served in the court of Charles V. His works significantly influenced the development of Spanish Renaissance literature.

Another notable figure was Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán (1490-1544), a Spanish conquistador who led the conquest of the Kingdom of Nueva Galicia in present-day Mexico. He was also known as Nuño de Guzmán or Nuño Beltrán de Lara, highlighting the connection between the Lara and Guzmán families.

During the 17th century, the name Lara appeared in various literary works, including the play "Fuenteovejuna" by Lope de Vega (1562-1635), which features a character named Frondoso de Lara.

In the 19th century, José María Heredia y Heredia (1803-1839), a Cuban poet and writer, is considered one of the most prominent figures with the surname Lara. He was a key figure in the Romantic literary movement in Spanish America.

Another notable individual was Juan Rafael Mora Porras (1814-1860), a Costa Rican politician and military leader who served as the President of Costa Rica from 1849 to 1859. He played a crucial role in defending Costa Rica's sovereignty during the Campaña Nacional against the filibuster William Walker.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Lara families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lara 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 7 Laras recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.59x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 3.59x
Kent 5 7.52x
Essex 4 10.40x
Glamorgan 2 5.89x
Royal Navy 1 43.10x
Warwickshire 1 2.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ramsgate in Kent leads with 5 Laras recorded in 1881 and an index of 458.72x.

Place Total Index
Ramsgate 5 458.72x
West Ham 4 47.11x
Mile End Old Town London 3 72.29x
Colwinstone 2 20000.00x
Birmingham 1 6.11x
Fulham London 1 35.34x
Hackney London 1 9.16x
Hammersmith London 1 20.83x
Royal Navy 1 50.51x
St Pancras London 1 6.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 2
Amy 1
Angela 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Isadore 1
Jane 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Joseph 2
David 1
Geo.Joe 1
M. 1
Mary 1
Percy 1
Raphael 1
William 1

FAQ

Lara surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lara surname in 1881?

In 1881, 20 people were recorded with the Lara surname. That placed it at #30,738 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lara surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 229 in 2016. That gives Lara a modern rank of #17,878.

What does the Lara surname mean?

A surname of Spanish origin meaning "citadel," derived from the ancient city of Lara in Burgos, Spain.

What does the Lara map show?

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