NameCensus.

UK surname

Lardner

An English occupational surname derived from the Old French term "lardier" meaning a keeper or seller of lard.

In the 1881 census there were 309 people recorded with the Lardner surname, ranking it #9,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 437, ranked #11,045, down from #9,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Bourton-on-the-Water. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Canterbury, Hambleton and Swindon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lardner is 483 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.4%.

1881 census count

309

Ranked #9,517

Modern count

437

2016, ranked #11,045

Peak year

2000

483 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lardner had 309 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 437 in 2016, ranked #11,045.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 405 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Lardner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lardner surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lardner 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 298 #7,691
1861 historical 222 #10,993
1881 historical 309 #9,517
1891 historical 328 #10,348
1901 historical 405 #9,405
1911 historical 404 #9,221
1997 modern 452 #10,034
1998 modern 479 #9,928
1999 modern 472 #10,083
2000 modern 483 #9,891
2001 modern 457 #10,113
2002 modern 460 #10,248
2003 modern 459 #10,113
2004 modern 455 #10,208
2005 modern 452 #10,173
2006 modern 443 #10,369
2007 modern 435 #10,613
2008 modern 435 #10,735
2009 modern 446 #10,755
2010 modern 442 #11,066
2011 modern 454 #10,707
2012 modern 432 #11,015
2013 modern 431 #11,231
2014 modern 437 #11,176
2015 modern 437 #11,077
2016 modern 437 #11,045

Geography

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Where Lardners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, Bourton-on-the-Water and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Canterbury, Hambleton, Swindon, Stroud and Birmingham. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bourton-on-the-Water Gloucestershire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Canterbury 001 Canterbury
2 Hambleton 011 Hambleton
3 Swindon 001 Swindon
4 Stroud 009 Stroud
5 Birmingham 092 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lardner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lardner

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Lardner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Lardner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Lardner is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lardner 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

Lardner falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lardner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lardner

The surname Lardner is of English origin, deriving from the Old French word 'lardier', meaning 'the keeper of the larder' or 'the larder servant'. The name first emerged in the Middle Ages, during the 11th and 12th centuries, in various regions of England, particularly in Lancashire and Yorkshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Lardener'. This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, served as a comprehensive survey of landholdings and people across England.

During the 13th century, variations of the name began to appear, such as 'Lardenere' and 'Lardiner'. These spellings reflected the regional dialects and linguistic evolutions of the time. The name Lardner was often associated with individuals employed in households or manors, responsible for managing and overseeing the larder, which was a crucial part of medieval kitchens.

Notably, in the 14th century, a prominent figure named John Lardner was recorded as a member of the Guild of Cordwainers (shoemakers) in the city of London. This association suggests that the name had spread beyond its initial occupational roots and was adopted more broadly within various trades and professions.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Lardner surname continued to be well-represented across England, with records indicating families bearing the name in counties like Cheshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Lardner (c. 1510-1582), a renowned English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Tilbrook in Bedfordshire.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence through the literary works of Nathaniel Lardner (1684-1768), an eminent English Presbyterian minister and author. His extensive writings on Christian antiquities and the credibility of the Gospel narratives earned him widespread recognition and influenced theological discourse of the time.

Another illustrious bearer of the Lardner surname was Dionysius Lardner (1793-1859), a renowned Irish scientific writer and mathematics professor. His influential works on railway economics and the development of steam locomotion played a crucial role in the advancement of transportation technology during the Industrial Revolution.

Throughout history, the Lardner surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including writers, scholars, clergymen, and professionals. While its origins can be traced back to the occupational role of managing the larder, the name has transcended its initial connotations and become a respected surname in its own right.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lardner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lardner 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 75 Lardners recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.48x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 75 2.48x
Oxfordshire 73 39.09x
Surrey 46 3.12x
Gloucestershire 20 3.37x
Lancashire 18 0.50x
Worcestershire 15 3.80x
Warwickshire 12 1.57x
Staffordshire 9 0.88x
Yorkshire 9 0.30x
Cheshire 6 0.90x
Leicestershire 6 1.79x
Northamptonshire 4 1.41x
Devon 3 0.48x
Sussex 3 0.59x
Channel Islands 2 2.23x
Durham 2 0.22x
Midlothian 2 0.49x
Somerset 2 0.41x
Derbyshire 1 0.21x
Essex 1 0.17x
Hampshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 14 Lardners recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.31x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 14 5.31x
Charlbury 13 619.05x
Shipston On Stour 13 722.22x
Camberwell 11 5.69x
Hammersmith London 9 12.08x
Liverpool 9 4.13x
North Leigh 9 1323.53x
Teddington London 9 131.39x
Burton Upon Trent 8 33.50x
Little Compton 8 1538.46x
Tottenham 8 16.61x
Acton 7 39.48x
Bourton On The Water 7 578.51x
Mitcham 7 75.19x
Oxford St Ebbe 7 127.27x
Shoreditch London 7 5.34x
Stow On The Wold 7 530.30x
Westminster St John 7 19.01x
Deddington 6 295.57x
Hapton 6 267.86x
Huddersfield 6 13.74x
Islington London 6 2.05x
Chester St Mary On Hill 5 87.26x
Ducklington 5 1111.11x
Newington 5 4.48x
St Marylebone London 5 3.10x
Witney 5 160.26x
Clapham 4 10.58x
Curbridge 4 634.92x
Eynsham 4 338.98x
Paddington London 4 3.60x
Ascott Under Wychwood 3 714.29x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.28x
Birmingham 3 1.18x
Chipping Norton 3 69.44x
Handborough 3 300.00x
Hartpury 3 361.45x
Kettering 3 26.09x
North Aston 3 1304.35x
South Bersted 3 69.12x
Thame 3 88.24x
Ashby De La Zouch 2 25.74x
Bishopwearmouth 2 2.59x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.80x
Cossington 2 476.19x
Ealing 2 7.40x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.23x
Great Little Hampton 2 303.03x
Kingston On Thames 2 5.65x
Ormesby 2 24.84x
Owston 2 1111.11x
St George Hanover Square 2 3.75x
St Helier 2 6.86x
St Pancras London 2 0.82x
St Sepulchre London 2 45.15x
Adlestrop 1 588.24x
Aynho 1 172.41x
Banbury 1 26.74x
Barton On The Heath 1 500.00x
Cheadle 1 7.84x
Churchill 1 192.31x
Croydon 1 1.22x
Egham 1 11.05x
Fernilee 1 90.91x
Holywell 1 113.64x
Kirkdale 1 1.66x
Middlesbrough 1 2.56x
Minster Lovell 1 188.68x
Moreton In Marsh 1 67.11x
Oldham 1 0.86x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 1 45.25x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.06x
Rugeley 1 13.66x
Saffron Walden 1 15.85x
Southwark St John 1 10.81x
Walton On Hill 1 5.14x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 25.51x
Weston Super Mare 1 8.14x
Willersey 1 243.90x
Wolborough 1 12.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Eliza 10
Annie 9
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 8
Alice 7
Ellen 7
Ann 5
Emily 5
Emma 5
Jane 4
Martha 4
Leah 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Adelaide 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Maria 2
Rachel 2
Bertha 1
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Elizth. 1
Emey 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Harrt. 1
Helen 1
Hilda 1
Jeannette 1
Jefrey 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Mabel 1
Margret 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Mille 1
Miriane 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
William 18
Henry 13
James 12
Thomas 11
Joseph 7
Edward 6
George 6
Harry 4
Robert 4
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Edwd. 2
Edwin 2
Mark 2
Michael 2
Samuel 2
Timothy 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Aurthur 1
Chas. 1
Chas.L. 1
Christopher 1
Dennis 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Harvey 1
Hy. 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Louis 1
Nathan 1
Pat 1
Pat. 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
S. 1
Stephen 1
Thoma 1
W. 1

FAQ

Lardner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lardner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 309 people were recorded with the Lardner surname. That placed it at #9,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lardner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 437 in 2016. That gives Lardner a modern rank of #11,045.

What does the Lardner surname mean?

An English occupational surname derived from the Old French term "lardier" meaning a keeper or seller of lard.

What does the Lardner map show?

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