NameCensus.

UK surname

Larwood

A surname derived from a placename meaning "a clearing in the woods".

In the 1881 census there were 167 people recorded with the Larwood surname, ranking it #14,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 269, ranked #15,956, down from #14,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Roughton, Hainford and Swaffham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Breckland and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Larwood is 336 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.1%.

1881 census count

167

Ranked #14,443

Modern count

269

2016, ranked #15,956

Peak year

1999

336 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Larwood had 167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 269 in 2016, ranked #15,956.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 283 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Larwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Larwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Larwood 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 100 #17,164
1861 historical 116 #18,751
1881 historical 167 #14,443
1891 historical 179 #16,198
1901 historical 245 #13,298
1911 historical 283 #11,883
1997 modern 313 #13,158
1998 modern 325 #13,166
1999 modern 336 #12,969
2000 modern 336 #12,921
2001 modern 325 #13,030
2002 modern 319 #13,448
2003 modern 307 #13,614
2004 modern 300 #13,871
2005 modern 282 #14,368
2006 modern 278 #14,623
2007 modern 279 #14,732
2008 modern 274 #15,063
2009 modern 272 #15,475
2010 modern 279 #15,529
2011 modern 274 #15,571
2012 modern 266 #15,828
2013 modern 281 #15,487
2014 modern 283 #15,495
2015 modern 277 #15,622
2016 modern 269 #15,956

Geography

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Where Larwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Roughton, Hainford, Swaffham, Felthorpe and Kirby-in-Ashfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, Breckland, Newham, East Cambridgeshire and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Roughton Norfolk
2 Hainford Norfolk
3 Swaffham Norfolk
4 Felthorpe Norfolk
5 Kirby-in-Ashfield Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 002 South Norfolk
2 Breckland 008 Breckland
3 Newham 013 Newham
4 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 018 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Larwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Larwood

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Larwood, 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 Larwood surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Larwood 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Larwood is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Larwood 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

Larwood falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Larwood is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Larwood

The surname Larwood originated in England and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "lar" meaning learning or instruction, and "wudu" meaning woods or forest. Thus, Larwood likely referred to a person who lived near a wooded area used for teaching or instructional purposes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where it appears as "Richard de Larewode". This suggests the name was already established in the county of Oxfordshire by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms such as "Larwode", "Larewhode", and "Larewood" in records from Essex, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. This indicates the name had spread to different regions of England by this time.

A notable early bearer of the name was John Larwood, who was born in Nottinghamshire around 1450. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of parliament for the county in 1472.

Another historical figure with this surname was Thomas Larwood, a yeoman farmer from Oxfordshire born in the late 16th century. He is mentioned in the manorial records of Woodstock in 1589 as a tenant of the local lord.

In the 17th century, the name Larwood can be found in various parish records and court documents from counties like Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Gloucestershire. This suggests the name had become well-established across southern and central England by this time.

One notable individual from this period was Robert Larwood, born in Gloucestershire in 1623. He was a Puritan clergyman and author who wrote several religious treatises and sermons.

The 18th century saw the name appearing in records from Yorkshire and Lancashire, indicating its spread to northern England. A significant figure was Samuel Larwood, born in Yorkshire in 1745, who was a prominent landowner and served as a justice of the peace.

By the 19th century, the name had become widely distributed across England. One notable bearer was John Larwood, born in Nottinghamshire in 1820, who was a renowned cricket player and umpire. He played first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire and umpired several famous matches in the 1850s and 1860s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Larwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Larwood 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. Norfolk leads with 136 Larwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.29x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 136 55.29x
Nottinghamshire 7 3.25x
Warwickshire 5 1.24x
Suffolk 4 2.05x
Surrey 3 0.38x
Yorkshire 3 0.19x
Middlesex 2 0.13x
Northumberland 2 0.84x
Cumberland 1 0.73x
Lancashire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heigham in Norfolk leads with 16 Larwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 121.21x.

Place Total Index
Heigham 16 121.21x
Hainford 14 4117.65x
Great Yarmouth 13 63.79x
Newton St Faith 11 5789.47x
Roughton 11 4583.33x
Gresham 9 4285.71x
Gressenhall 8 1739.13x
Annesley 7 864.20x
Great Dunham 6 2727.27x
Horsham St Faith 6 1463.41x
Wighton 6 2142.86x
Birmingham 5 3.72x
Felbrigg 5 6250.00x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 4 220.99x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 4 54.20x
South Lynn 4 143.88x
Sporle With Palgrave 4 1000.00x
Swaffham 4 200.00x
Holy Trinity 3 7.87x
Earsdon 2 103.09x
Horstead With Stanninghall 2 645.16x
Lambeth 2 1.43x
Little Dunham 2 1250.00x
Necton 2 465.12x
Shoreditch London 2 2.88x
West Walton 2 425.53x
Brundall 1 3333.33x
Chertsey 1 19.84x
Crostwick 1 1111.11x
Drayton 1 454.55x
Felthorpe 1 384.62x
Hoe 1 909.09x
Manchester 1 1.17x
Scarning 1 277.78x
Stratton Strawless 1 1000.00x
Wigton 1 48.54x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Larwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Larwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 167 people were recorded with the Larwood surname. That placed it at #14,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Larwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 269 in 2016. That gives Larwood a modern rank of #15,956.

What does the Larwood surname mean?

A surname derived from a placename meaning "a clearing in the woods".

What does the Larwood map show?

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