NameCensus.

UK surname

Latchford

A surname derived from an English place name combining an Old English word for barn with ford, referring to one living near a barn by a river crossing.

In the 1881 census there were 465 people recorded with the Latchford surname, ranking it #7,144 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 658, ranked #8,097, down from #7,144 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, London parishes and Wheathampstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Uttlesford, Birmingham and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Latchford is 740 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.5%.

1881 census count

465

Ranked #7,144

Modern count

658

2016, ranked #8,097

Peak year

1999

740 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Latchford had 465 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,144 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 658 in 2016, ranked #8,097.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 620 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Latchford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Latchford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Latchford 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 287 #7,909
1861 historical 265 #9,355
1881 historical 465 #7,144
1891 historical 500 #7,430
1901 historical 616 #6,930
1911 historical 620 #6,668
1997 modern 714 #7,142
1998 modern 731 #7,244
1999 modern 740 #7,225
2000 modern 733 #7,237
2001 modern 723 #7,179
2002 modern 737 #7,206
2003 modern 706 #7,331
2004 modern 681 #7,569
2005 modern 665 #7,652
2006 modern 666 #7,659
2007 modern 669 #7,703
2008 modern 683 #7,622
2009 modern 679 #7,828
2010 modern 681 #7,943
2011 modern 664 #8,021
2012 modern 647 #8,103
2013 modern 651 #8,213
2014 modern 654 #8,216
2015 modern 654 #8,154
2016 modern 658 #8,097

Geography

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Where Latchfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, London parishes, Wheathampstead, Leigh and Hemel Hempstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Uttlesford, Birmingham, Wigan, South Derbyshire and Basildon. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Wheathampstead Hertfordshire
4 Leigh Lancashire
5 Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Uttlesford 004 Uttlesford
2 Birmingham 046 Birmingham
3 Wigan 027 Wigan
4 South Derbyshire 006 South Derbyshire
5 Basildon 016 Basildon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Latchford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Latchford

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Latchford, 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 Latchford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Latchford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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, Latchford 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

Latchford is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Latchford falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Latchford

The surname LATCHFORD is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name "Latchford" in Cheshire, England. The name is believed to come from the Old English words "laece" meaning a bog or marsh, and "ford" referring to a shallow crossing point on a river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Lacheford" and "Laceforde." This historical record suggests that the name was already well-established in the region during the late 11th century.

The village of Latchford, from which the surname originates, dates back to at least the 13th century. It is mentioned in various historical documents, including the Cheshire Pipe Rolls of 1260, where it is spelled as "Lacheford."

A notable figure bearing this surname was John Latchford (c. 1570-1645), an English clergyman and author. He served as the rector of St. Sampson's Church in York and wrote several religious works, including "The Protestants Apologie" published in 1608.

Another individual of note was William Latchford (1767-1842), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He participated in several significant battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and rose to the rank of Captain in the Royal Navy.

In the 19th century, James Latchford (1818-1893) was a prominent businessman and philanthropist in Manchester, England. He made his fortune in the cotton trade and was known for his charitable contributions to various educational and religious institutions in the city.

Ellen Latchford (1876-1955) was a British suffragette and activist who campaigned tirelessly for women's rights and universal suffrage. She was involved in numerous demonstrations and protests, and even served a prison sentence for her activism.

Thomas Latchford (1905-1988) was a renowned British architect who designed several notable buildings in London and other parts of England. Some of his most famous works include the Royal Festival Hall and the Barbican Estate in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Latchford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Latchford 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 135 Latchfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.51x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 135 2.51x
Hertfordshire 101 32.30x
Middlesex 68 1.50x
Cheshire 48 4.79x
Essex 35 3.91x
Kent 26 1.68x
Surrey 24 1.09x
Warwickshire 14 1.22x
Staffordshire 8 0.52x
Cumberland 2 0.51x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Lanarkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire leads with 44 Latchfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 312.28x.

Place Total Index
Hemel Hempstead 44 312.28x
Macclesfield 24 53.92x
Hurdsfield 20 324.68x
Kensington London 18 7.14x
Bedford 17 150.98x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 16 103.29x
Newton 14 33.74x
Wheathampstead 13 360.11x
Hindley 11 47.93x
Astley 10 240.96x
Birmingham 10 2.62x
Salford 10 6.32x
North Weald Bassett 9 576.92x
St Albans St Michael 9 257.88x
Clerkenwell London 8 7.47x
Hitchin 8 56.70x
Little Bolton 8 11.56x
Plumstead 8 15.51x
Stoke Newington London 8 22.64x
Woodford 8 78.90x
Urmston 7 200.57x
Widnes 7 18.03x
Failsworth 6 48.74x
Lambeth 6 1.52x
Manchester 6 2.48x
Sandwich St Clement 6 458.02x
Walsall Foreign 6 7.59x
Camberwell 5 1.73x
Clapham 5 8.82x
Hackney London 5 1.97x
Harpenden 5 104.82x
Islington London 5 1.14x
Lambourne 5 375.94x
St Anne Soho London 5 19.31x
St Luke London 5 6.87x
St Peters 5 69.83x
Abbots Langley 4 86.21x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 3.40x
Aston 4 1.27x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 9.87x
Bygrave 4 1081.08x
Mile End New Town London 4 44.64x
Pennington In Leigh 4 38.72x
St Albans St Peter 4 37.91x
Theydon Mount 4 1739.13x
Toxteth Park 4 2.19x
Bovingdon 3 182.93x
Great Gaddesden 3 205.48x
Kirkdale 3 3.31x
St George Hanover Square 3 3.75x
West Ham 3 1.52x
Berkhampstead 2 28.45x
Bermondsey 2 1.48x
Chelsea London 2 1.46x
Chigwell 2 23.67x
Dartford 2 12.63x
Harborne 2 4.08x
High Laver 2 270.27x
Holy Trinity 2 1.85x
Newington 2 1.19x
Penge 2 6.90x
Preston Quarter 2 18.28x
Stockport 2 3.88x
Sutton In Macclesfield 2 19.25x
Tonbridge 2 3.58x
Banstead 1 16.69x
Bury 1 1.63x
Fulham London 1 1.52x
Govan 1 0.28x
Hertford All Saints 1 57.14x
Limehouse London 1 2.01x
Northchurch 1 29.94x
Portsmouth 1 4.67x
Preston 1 0.69x
Rainham 1 23.53x
Rochester St Nicholas 1 20.79x
St Martin In Fields 1 3.68x
St Pancras London 1 0.27x
Walton On Thames 1 9.85x
Woolwich 1 1.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Elizabeth 21
Sarah 20
Ann 14
Emma 11
Charlotte 9
Emily 9
Alice 8
Annie 8
Eliza 7
Ellen 7
Maria 7
Fanny 6
Jane 6
Harriet 5
Ada 4
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Hannah 3
Margaret 3
Margt. 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Helena 2
Marian 2
Martha 2
Rose 2
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Catharine 1
Elizabet 1
Emiley 1
Flora 1
Georgina 1
Laura 1
Letetia 1
Letitia 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Mahala 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 24
John 22
William 22
Joseph 18
Thomas 18
George 12
Edward 11
Henry 8
Alfred 7
Charles 7
Arthur 5
Stephen 5
Giles 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Cornelius 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Peter 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Edgar 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
G.E. 1
Godfery 1
Harold 1
Hugh 1
Jerimiah 1
Jno.W. 1
Lenoard 1
Lewis 1
Montague 1
Moses 1
Oliver 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Shadrach 1
Shadrack 1
Sidney 1
Wm.Harry 1

FAQ

Latchford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Latchford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 465 people were recorded with the Latchford surname. That placed it at #7,144 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Latchford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 658 in 2016. That gives Latchford a modern rank of #8,097.

What does the Latchford surname mean?

A surname derived from an English place name combining an Old English word for barn with ford, referring to one living near a barn by a river crossing.

What does the Latchford map show?

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