UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a maker of rope or a person who administers corporal punishment.
In the 1881 census there were 159 people recorded with the Lash surname, ranking it #14,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 75, ranked #33,377, down from #14,935 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Paignton, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lash is 256 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 52.8%.
1881 census count
159
Ranked #14,935
Modern count
75
2016, ranked #33,377
Peak year
1861
256 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lash surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lash surname density by area, 1881 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 | 176 | #11,489 |
| 1861 | historical | 256 | #9,667 |
| 1881 | historical | 159 | #14,935 |
| 1891 | historical | 230 | #13,494 |
| 1901 | historical | 188 | #15,742 |
| 1911 | historical | 180 | #15,961 |
| 1997 | modern | 73 | #30,306 |
| 1998 | modern | 83 | #29,638 |
| 1999 | modern | 83 | #29,823 |
| 2000 | modern | 80 | #30,139 |
| 2001 | modern | 80 | #29,945 |
| 2002 | modern | 77 | #30,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 71 | #31,393 |
| 2004 | modern | 66 | #32,079 |
| 2005 | modern | 73 | #31,616 |
| 2006 | modern | 69 | #32,343 |
| 2007 | modern | 73 | #32,287 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 78 | #32,471 |
| 2010 | modern | 72 | #33,324 |
| 2011 | modern | 71 | #33,392 |
| 2012 | modern | 67 | #33,840 |
| 2013 | modern | 67 | #33,939 |
| 2014 | modern | 69 | #33,833 |
| 2015 | modern | 74 | #33,487 |
| 2016 | modern | 75 | #33,377 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Paignton, London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paignton | Devon |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lash 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 Lash, 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 Lash surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lash 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, Lash 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 Lash is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lash, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Lash is of English origin, and it first emerged during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "læsce," which means a thin, flexible strip of material, such as a whip or a cord. It was likely an occupational surname initially, given to individuals who worked with leather or made whips and other similar products.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Lash surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a Richard le Lascher is mentioned. This spelling variation, "le Lascher," suggests the occupational nature of the name during that time period. Other early spellings include Lashir, Lasher, and Lassher, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.
In the 16th century, the Lash surname appears in several historical records, such as the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1558, which mentions a John Lasshe. The Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1572 also include a reference to a Thomas Lasshe. These records indicate that the surname had become more standardized by this time.
One notable figure bearing the Lash surname was Robert Lash, an English clergyman born in 1636 in Wiltshire. He served as the Rector of Combe Bissett in the same county and published several religious works during his lifetime. Another individual of historical significance was Thomas Lash, born in 1709 in Dorset, who became a renowned architect and surveyor, responsible for designing several notable buildings in the region.
In the 18th century, the Lash surname gained prominence with the birth of Benjamin Franklin Lash in 1781 in Pennsylvania, United States. He was a prominent lawyer and politician who served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the United States House of Representatives. Another notable bearer of the name was John Lash, born in 1809 in Scotland, who became a successful businessman and philanthropist in Canada, contributing significantly to the development of the city of Toronto.
Throughout its history, the Lash surname has been associated with various place names, such as Lashbrook in Gloucestershire, Lashington in Oxfordshire, and Lashley in Devonshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in different regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lash 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. Surrey leads with 30 Lashs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.97x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 30 | 3.97x |
| Middlesex | 28 | 1.81x |
| Essex | 15 | 4.90x |
| Suffolk | 14 | 7.41x |
| Kent | 12 | 2.27x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.54x |
| Lincolnshire | 10 | 4.03x |
| Devon | 8 | 2.48x |
| Somerset | 6 | 2.40x |
| Denbighshire | 5 | 8.53x |
| Buckinghamshire | 4 | 4.27x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 1.68x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 1.73x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.43x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.63x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.13x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 0.86x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.37x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.19x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 11 Lashs recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.13x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lash surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 9 |
| Mary | 8 |
| Florence | 5 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Bertha | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Matilda | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Alicia | 1 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Beatrice | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Celia | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Constance | 1 |
| Dinah | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Emilie | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Letitia | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Marrianne | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Maude | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Nancy | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lash surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| James | 11 |
| John | 7 |
| William | 7 |
| George | 4 |
| Robert | 3 |
| Thomas | 3 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| Benjamin | 2 |
| Drummond | 2 |
| Geo. | 2 |
| Henry | 2 |
| Herbert | 2 |
| Jeffery | 2 |
| Alfee | 1 |
| Alleyne | 1 |
| Arthur | 1 |
| Augustus | 1 |
| Charles | 1 |
| Daniel | 1 |
| David | 1 |
| Edward | 1 |
| Eli | 1 |
| Ernest | 1 |
| Fred | 1 |
| Frederic | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Harry | 1 |
| Horace | 1 |
| Isaac | 1 |
| Jonathan | 1 |
| Joseph | 1 |
| Lewis | 1 |
| Nicholas | 1 |
| Noah | 1 |
| Rowland | 1 |
| Septimus | 1 |
| Stanley | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
| Tom | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
| Watson | 1 |
| Willie | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 159 people were recorded with the Lash surname. That placed it at #14,935 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 75 in 2016. That gives Lash a modern rank of #33,377.
An occupational surname referring to a maker of rope or a person who administers corporal punishment.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lash 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.