NameCensus.

UK surname

Larry

A nickname-derived surname, likely from the given name Lawrence, meaning "from Laurentum" or "crowned with laurel."

In the 1881 census there were 54 people recorded with the Larry surname, ranking it #26,009 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 182, ranked #20,890, up from #26,009 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Botolph Aldgate, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Larry is 215 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 237.0%.

1881 census count

54

Ranked #26,009

Modern count

182

2016, ranked #20,890

Peak year

1861

215 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Larry had 54 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,009 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016, ranked #20,890.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 215 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Larry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Larry surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Larry 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 87 #18,695
1861 historical 215 #11,316
1881 historical 54 #26,009
1891 historical 79 #26,897
1901 historical 32 #30,501
1911 historical 79 #24,903
1997 modern 72 #30,415
1998 modern 70 #30,968
1999 modern 74 #30,759
2000 modern 75 #30,668
2001 modern 74 #30,600
2002 modern 76 #30,830
2003 modern 66 #31,879
2004 modern 89 #29,623
2005 modern 96 #28,671
2006 modern 99 #28,453
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 99 #29,181
2009 modern 101 #29,445
2010 modern 119 #27,250
2011 modern 112 #28,117
2012 modern 137 #24,731
2013 modern 143 #24,434
2014 modern 157 #23,101
2015 modern 164 #22,325
2016 modern 182 #20,890

Geography

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Where Larrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Botolph Aldgate, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), St Leonard Shoreditch, Wigan and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Brent. 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 St Botolph Aldgate London (Central Districts)
2 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 Wigan Lancashire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockton-on-Tees 023 Stockton-on-Tees
2 Middlesbrough 006 Middlesbrough
3 Brent 034 Brent
4 Stockton-on-Tees 003 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Middlesbrough 002 Middlesbrough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Larry

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Larry

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Larry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Larry 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Larry is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Larry 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

Larry falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Larry 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 Larry, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Larry

The surname Larry has its origins in France, where it emerged in the late 11th century. It is derived from the Old French word "laurier," meaning "laurel tree." This surname was likely given to someone who lived near a laurel tree or who worked with laurel wood.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Larry surname is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry lists a landowner named Ralph de Larry, who held lands in Normandy, France, and later in England.

The Larry surname later spread to other parts of Europe, including England, where it was sometimes spelled as "Lary" or "Larey." In the 13th century, records show a Sir Thomas Larry who was a knight and landowner in Hertfordshire, England.

In Scotland, the Larry surname can be traced back to the 14th century, where it was associated with the village of Larry in Aberdeenshire. One of the earliest recorded Scottish bearers of this surname was John Larry, who lived in Aberdeen in the late 1300s.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the Larry surname. One of the most famous was Sir Walter Larry (1558-1628), an English courtier and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another noteworthy figure was Edward Larry (1670-1717), an Irish philosopher and scientist who made significant contributions to the study of optics and the nature of light. He was a member of the Royal Society and corresponded with Isaac Newton.

In the realm of literature, the Larry surname is associated with the American poet and critic Randall Jarrell (1914-1965), whose full name was Randall Jarrell Larry. He was a prominent figure in the mid-20th century literary scene and won the National Book Award for his poetry collection "The Woman at the Washington Zoo" in 1961.

Other notable individuals with the Larry surname include the British artist John Larry (1903-1980), known for his landscapes and still-life paintings, and the American baseball player Frank Larry (1904-1990), who played for the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1920s and 1930s.

Throughout its history, the Larry surname has maintained a strong presence in various parts of the world, from its French origins to its subsequent spread across Europe and beyond. While the specific origins and meanings may vary, this surname has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, leaving an indelible mark on various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Larry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Larry 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. Lancashire leads with 13 Larrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.08x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 13 2.08x
Hampshire 10 9.26x
Middlesex 7 1.33x
Renfrewshire 6 14.70x
Shropshire 4 8.79x
Yorkshire 4 0.77x
Essex 3 2.89x
Devon 2 1.82x
Surrey 2 0.78x
Cardiganshire 1 7.78x
Durham 1 0.64x
Northumberland 1 1.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 10 Larrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.26x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 10 47.26x
Wigan 9 103.09x
Abbey 5 80.26x
Dawley 4 240.96x
Sheffield 3 18.05x
West Ham 3 13.07x
Barrow In Furness 2 23.53x
Farnworth 2 53.48x
Rotherhithe 2 30.72x
Butterlaw 1 0.00x
Cardigan St Mary 1 204.08x
Crook Billy Row 1 49.75x
Holy Trinity 1 7.97x
Kensington London 1 3.42x
Limehouse London 1 17.30x
Paddington London 1 5.16x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 11.83x
Port Glasgow 1 50.76x
Spitalfields London 1 25.25x
St Dunstan In East London 1 2500.00x
St Pancras London 1 2.36x
Stoke Damerel 1 13.04x
Willesden 1 20.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Eliza 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Ellen 1
Harriet 1
Honore 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Norah 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
John 3
Patrick 2
Alfred 1
Christopher 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Thomas 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Larry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Larry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 54 people were recorded with the Larry surname. That placed it at #26,009 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Larry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016. That gives Larry a modern rank of #20,890.

What does the Larry surname mean?

A nickname-derived surname, likely from the given name Lawrence, meaning "from Laurentum" or "crowned with laurel."

What does the Larry map show?

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