NameCensus.

UK surname

Larcombe

A locational surname referring to someone from a valley near the water's edge.

In the 1881 census there were 933 people recorded with the Larcombe surname, ranking it #4,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,439, ranked #4,262, down from #4,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Chard and Winsham , Cricket St Thomas. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset and West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Larcombe is 1,538 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.2%.

1881 census count

933

Ranked #4,126

Modern count

1,439

2016, ranked #4,262

Peak year

1999

1,538 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Larcombe had 933 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,439 in 2016, ranked #4,262.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,471 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Larcombe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Larcombe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Larcombe 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 586 #4,364
1861 historical 639 #4,192
1881 historical 933 #4,126
1891 historical 1,079 #3,906
1901 historical 1,215 #4,054
1911 historical 1,471 #3,277
1997 modern 1,455 #4,015
1998 modern 1,523 #3,997
1999 modern 1,538 #3,994
2000 modern 1,496 #4,076
2001 modern 1,476 #4,041
2002 modern 1,464 #4,146
2003 modern 1,427 #4,155
2004 modern 1,448 #4,114
2005 modern 1,422 #4,142
2006 modern 1,438 #4,111
2007 modern 1,450 #4,112
2008 modern 1,462 #4,110
2009 modern 1,509 #4,099
2010 modern 1,517 #4,159
2011 modern 1,490 #4,177
2012 modern 1,436 #4,224
2013 modern 1,466 #4,219
2014 modern 1,471 #4,234
2015 modern 1,441 #4,265
2016 modern 1,439 #4,262

Geography

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Where Larcombes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Chard, Winsham , Cricket St Thomas, London parishes and Chardstock, Membury, Yarcombe (Combe St Nicholas, Somerset). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset and West 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Chard Somerset
3 Winsham , Cricket St Thomas Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Chardstock, Membury, Yarcombe (Combe St Nicholas, Somerset) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 023 South Somerset
2 South Somerset 022 South Somerset
3 South Somerset 021 South Somerset
4 South Somerset 019 South Somerset
5 West Dorset 005 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Larcombe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Larcombe

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Larcombe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Larcombe 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Larcombe is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Larcombe is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Larcombe falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Larcombe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Larcombe

The surname Larcombe is of English origin, originating in the counties of Dorset and Devon in the southwestern part of England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "lar" meaning lore or learning and "comb" meaning a valley or hollow, suggesting the name may have referred to someone who lived in a valley associated with a place of learning or education.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Larcombe can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Larcumbe" in the county of Dorset. This suggests the name had already been established in the region by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with spellings such as "Larcumbe" and "Larkombe," reflecting the variations in spelling common in medieval times. One notable bearer of the name from this period was Robert de Larcumbe, a landowner in Dorset mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1230.

In the 16th century, the spelling "Larcombe" became more standardized. Records from this time include John Larcombe, born around 1520 in Devon, and William Larcombe, a merchant from Dorset who was mentioned in the Port Books of 1567.

Over the centuries, the Larcombe family spread throughout England, with branches establishing themselves in various counties. Notable bearers of the name include Richard Larcombe (1679-1742), a prominent clockmaker from Somerset, and John Larcombe (1764-1838), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars.

Another distinguished bearer of the Larcombe name was Sir Woodbine Larcombe (1835-1914), a British civil servant and administrator who served as the Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in London from 1890 to 1900.

While the Larcombe surname has its roots in southwestern England, it has since spread globally, with bearers of the name found in various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Larcombe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Larcombe 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 310 Larcombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.03x.

County Total Index
Somerset 310 21.03x
Dorset 239 39.76x
Devon 93 4.88x
Surrey 79 1.77x
Middlesex 60 0.66x
Gloucestershire 26 1.45x
Hampshire 25 1.33x
Monmouthshire 15 2.27x
Glamorgan 11 0.69x
Kent 11 0.35x
Durham 9 0.33x
Lancashire 8 0.07x
Sussex 8 0.52x
Channel Islands 6 2.21x
Cornwall 5 0.48x
Derbyshire 5 0.35x
Hertfordshire 5 0.79x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.41x
Royal Navy 5 4.58x
Wiltshire 4 0.49x
Berkshire 3 0.44x
Cheshire 3 0.15x
Bedfordshire 1 0.21x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.18x
Essex 1 0.06x
Worcestershire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chard in Somerset leads with 102 Larcombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 571.11x.

Place Total Index
Chard 102 571.11x
Chardstock 72 1730.77x
Crewkerne 51 325.67x
Lambeth 29 3.63x
Haselbury Plucknett 23 1236.56x
Charmouth 21 1071.43x
Mosterton 21 2079.21x
Whitchurch Canonicorum 21 628.74x
Croydon 15 6.05x
Wiveliscombe 15 182.48x
Bedminster 13 9.38x
Winsham 12 446.10x
Musbury 11 658.68x
Panteg 11 105.47x
Shoreditch London 11 2.77x
St George In East London 11 12.77x
Burnham 10 88.97x
Axmouth 9 420.56x
Bermondsey 9 3.30x
Exeter St Lawrence 9 629.37x
Misterton 9 430.62x
Pitney 9 891.09x
Portisham 9 401.79x
Hawkchurch 8 427.81x
Monkwearmouth 8 30.67x
Sidmouth 8 73.33x
Spaxton 8 278.75x
Westbury On Trym 8 13.14x
Weymouth 8 70.24x
Bristol St Paul In 7 14.63x
Hampreston 7 160.18x
Honiton 7 66.35x
Melcombe Regis 7 28.10x
Plymouth Charles The 7 8.33x
Shute 7 384.62x
Southampton St Mary 7 5.93x
Uplyme 7 244.76x
Bradpole 6 121.70x
Broadwinsor 6 152.28x
Broughton In Salford 6 6.04x
Chatham 6 6.98x
Clapham 6 5.24x
Harrow On The Hill 6 32.79x
Langton Herring 6 750.00x
Millbrook 6 12.69x
Poole St James 6 26.56x
Portsea 6 1.63x
Wembdon 6 137.61x
West Parley 6 571.43x
Axminster 5 55.93x
Beaminster 5 74.85x
Bristol St Augustine 5 17.25x
Canford Magna 5 144.09x
Combe St Nicholas 5 140.45x
Derby St Werburgh 5 6.04x
Lyme Regis 5 69.44x
Royal Navy 5 5.36x
Scilly Islands St Martin 5 909.09x
Bow London 4 3.43x
Burstock 4 666.67x
East Budleigh 4 44.54x
Hampton London 4 26.56x
Hollacombe 4 1111.11x
Melksham 4 28.43x
Nettlecombe 4 430.11x
Roath 4 5.52x
Selworthy 4 310.08x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.17x
St Helier 4 4.53x
Watford 4 8.17x
Wells St Cuthbert 4 39.76x
Yeovil 4 13.35x
Allington 3 55.97x
Chaffcombe 3 461.54x
Kensington London 3 0.59x
Radford 3 4.78x
St George Hanover Square 3 1.86x
St Woollos 3 4.06x
Swansea Town 3 2.29x
Williton 3 60.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 53
John 44
George 32
Henry 28
James 27
Thomas 27
Charles 18
Samuel 16
Robert 15
Frederick 14
Albert 11
Arthur 10
Francis 7
Joseph 7
Alfred 6
Frank 6
Fred 6
Walter 6
Edward 5
Ernest 5
Richard 5
Eli 4
Matthew 4
Tom 4
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Fredk. 3
Jno. 3
Sidney 3
Sydney 3
Abraham 2
Benjiman 2
Earnest 2
Job 2
Lot 2
Saml. 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Apollos 1
Benjn. 1
Chas. 1
Clifford 1
Ely 1
Esau 1
Frances 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Jno 1

FAQ

Larcombe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Larcombe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 933 people were recorded with the Larcombe surname. That placed it at #4,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Larcombe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,439 in 2016. That gives Larcombe a modern rank of #4,262.

What does the Larcombe surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a valley near the water's edge.

What does the Larcombe map show?

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