UK surname
A surname denoting a seller or supplier of lard or bacon.
In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Lard surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #25,575 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lard is 279 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.9%.
1881 census count
57
Ranked #25,575
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1891
279 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lard surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lard surname density by area, 1891 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 | 245 | #8,920 |
| 1861 | historical | 236 | #10,393 |
| 1881 | historical | 57 | #25,575 |
| 1891 | historical | 279 | #11,698 |
| 1901 | historical | 74 | #25,958 |
| 1911 | historical | 54 | #27,423 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 14 | #36,372 |
| 2002 | modern | 17 | #36,164 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 25 | #35,610 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 24 | #35,981 |
| 2007 | modern | 26 | #35,932 |
| 2008 | modern | 27 | #35,956 |
| 2009 | modern | 30 | #35,871 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 24 | #36,306 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 30 | #35,990 |
| 2014 | modern | 27 | #36,180 |
| 2015 | modern | 25 | #36,297 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, St Pancras, Manchester, Farnham and Bishop Wearmouth. 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 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Farnham | Surrey |
| 5 | Bishop Wearmouth | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lard 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 Lard, 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 Lard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lard 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, Lard 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 Lard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lard, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Lard is of English origin, and its roots can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "lard," which referred to the rendered fat of a pig or other animal used for cooking and as a preservative.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Lard date back to the 13th century, found in various medieval records and documents. One notable mention is in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, where a certain William Lard is listed among the landholders of the region.
During the Middle Ages, the surname Lard was likely associated with individuals involved in the production, trade, or sale of lard, which was a valuable commodity at the time. It may have been an occupational surname given to those who worked with lard or owned lard-rendering businesses.
In the 16th century, the surname Lard appeared in the parish records of Loughborough, Leicestershire, where a John Lard was recorded as a resident in 1567. Around the same time, the variant spelling "Larde" was also documented in the nearby village of Barrow upon Soar.
One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Lard was Sir John Lard (c. 1520-1588), an English politician and landowner from Hertfordshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of St Albans during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Another notable figure was Thomas Lard (1558-1638), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of St John's College, Cambridge, from 1619 to 1638. He played a significant role in the college's development during his tenure.
In the 17th century, the surname Lard was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, where a family of that name owned land in the village of Skelmanthorpe. One member, William Lard (1624-1692), was a prominent local landowner and served as a churchwarden in the parish church.
During the 18th century, the Lard surname gained recognition through the work of Ralph Lard (1719-1795), an English engraver and artist known for his intricate bookplate designs and illustrations.
In the 19th century, a notable bearer of the surname was George Lard (1816-1899), a British architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas, including the Church of St Peter and St Paul in Hammersmith.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lard 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. Middlesex leads with 15 Lards recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.70x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 15 | 2.70x |
| Durham | 13 | 7.86x |
| Surrey | 7 | 2.58x |
| Essex | 4 | 3.65x |
| Sussex | 4 | 4.27x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.05x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.30x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.36x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 4.45x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.59x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.88x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.61x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.56x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.21x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.48x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 2.03x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hetton Le Hole in Durham leads with 7 Lards recorded in 1881 and an index of 333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hetton Le Hole | 7 | 333.33x |
| Dawdon | 6 | 295.57x |
| Newington | 6 | 29.21x |
| St Pancras London | 6 | 13.41x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 4 | 33.81x |
| Frant | 3 | 454.55x |
| West Ham | 3 | 12.38x |
| Beswick | 2 | 118.34x |
| Bromley London | 2 | 16.35x |
| Stainland Cum Old | 2 | 212.77x |
| Abererch | 1 | 303.03x |
| Bedlington | 1 | 36.23x |
| Brading | 1 | 66.23x |
| Bushey | 1 | 109.89x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 2.82x |
| Chisledon | 1 | 454.55x |
| Eastbourne | 1 | 23.20x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 25.58x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.86x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.24x |
| Lackford | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Little Sampford | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Marhamchurch | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Old Monkland | 1 | 14.03x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 4.89x |
| Plumstead | 1 | 15.82x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Lard surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Lard a modern rank of #36,125.
A surname denoting a seller or supplier of lard or bacon.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lard 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.