NameCensus.

UK surname

Latta

An English and Scottish topographic surname referring to a person who lived near a bog or marsh.

In the 1881 census there were 380 people recorded with the Latta surname, ranking it #8,249 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 515, ranked #9,793, down from #8,249 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Old Cumnock, Rutherglen and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hinckley and Bosworth, Drumchapel North and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Latta is 534 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.5%.

1881 census count

380

Ranked #8,249

Modern count

515

2016, ranked #9,793

Peak year

2010

534 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Latta had 380 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,249 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 515 in 2016, ranked #9,793.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 417 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Latta surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Latta surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Latta 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 288 #7,884
1861 historical 303 #8,365
1881 historical 380 #8,249
1891 historical 378 #9,277
1901 historical 417 #9,212
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 471 #9,732
1998 modern 487 #9,794
1999 modern 506 #9,574
2000 modern 518 #9,366
2001 modern 496 #9,526
2002 modern 489 #9,789
2003 modern 476 #9,830
2004 modern 496 #9,566
2005 modern 484 #9,659
2006 modern 489 #9,633
2007 modern 502 #9,538
2008 modern 507 #9,540
2009 modern 526 #9,487
2010 modern 534 #9,581
2011 modern 532 #9,512
2012 modern 525 #9,526
2013 modern 523 #9,697
2014 modern 525 #9,745
2015 modern 513 #9,836
2016 modern 515 #9,793

Geography

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Where Lattas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Old Cumnock, Rutherglen, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hinckley and Bosworth, Drumchapel North, Knowsley, Saltcoats North East and Saltcoats Central. 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 Old Cumnock Ayr
2 Rutherglen Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hinckley and Bosworth 006 Hinckley and Bosworth
2 Drumchapel North Glasgow City
3 Knowsley 015 Knowsley
4 Saltcoats North East North Ayrshire
5 Saltcoats Central North Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Latta

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Latta

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Latta surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Latta household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Latta is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Latta is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Latta 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 Latta is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Latta

The surname Latta originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Middle English word 'lat', meaning a barn or outhouse for storing crops. The name was likely initially used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near or worked in such a building.

The earliest recorded instances of the Latta surname can be found in Scottish records from the 13th century. One of the earliest documented individuals with this name was John de Lath, who was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1290.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, including Lath, Lathe, and Laithe, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling of the time. One notable bearer of the name during this period was William Lath, a landowner in Berwickshire, who was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296.

The Latta surname is also associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Lathalmond in Fife and Lathockar in Lanarkshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in certain regions.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Latta surname. One of the earliest was John Latta, a Scottish merchant and landowner who lived in the 16th century (c. 1540-1610). Another prominent figure was James Latta, a Scottish minister and author born in 1672, who wrote influential works on theology.

In the 18th century, Samuel Latta (1722-1801) was a Presbyterian minister and educator who founded Latta Plantation in North Carolina. His grandson, James Latta (1779-1858), was a prominent lawyer and judge in South Carolina.

Another notable bearer of the Latta name was Raphael Semmes Latta (1838-1909), a Confederate officer during the American Civil War who later became a lawyer and judge in Mississippi.

The Latta surname has also been associated with various industries and professions over the centuries, including agriculture, trade, and law. While the name originated in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Latta families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Latta 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. Lanarkshire leads with 104 Lattas recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.79x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 104 8.79x
Ayrshire 63 23.01x
Midlothian 35 7.14x
Dunbartonshire 31 31.54x
Lancashire 30 0.69x
Fife 17 7.85x
Renfrewshire 15 5.29x
Surrey 14 0.79x
Angus 13 3.84x
Middlesex 13 0.36x
Clackmannanshire 8 26.48x
Wigtownshire 6 12.35x
Essex 5 0.69x
Hertfordshire 5 1.98x
Berwickshire 4 9.03x
Stirlingshire 4 2.96x
Kinross-shire 3 32.43x
Dorset 2 0.83x
Caithness 1 2.00x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.89x
Yorkshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 40 Lattas recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.67x.

Place Total Index
Govan 40 13.67x
Kilmarnock 22 67.53x
Dumbarton 21 153.51x
Rutherglen 21 120.97x
Barony 14 4.68x
Ceres 12 461.54x
Old Cumnock 12 196.72x
Auckinleck 11 129.87x
Duddingston 11 111.79x
Glasgow 11 5.24x
Bothwell 10 31.17x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 10 5.07x
Lambeth 10 3.14x
Dundee 9 7.11x
Edinburgh Greenside 9 139.10x
Dollar 8 255.59x
Dundonald 8 79.29x
Paisley High Church 8 35.45x
Leswalt 6 180.18x
Pennington In Leigh 6 72.03x
Salford 6 4.70x
West Derby 6 4.72x
Bonhill 5 31.69x
Barrow In Furness 4 6.78x
Dunse 4 95.24x
Falkirk 4 12.67x
Hamilton 4 12.12x
Liverpool 4 1.52x
Lochwinnoch 4 94.79x
Old Monkland 4 8.52x
St Pancras London 4 1.36x
St Paul Walden 4 312.50x
St Quivox 4 43.20x
Dysart 3 20.58x
Newton On Ayr 3 36.59x
South Weald 3 48.54x
Walton On Hill 3 12.76x
Westminster St John 3 6.73x
Cramond 2 53.91x
Croydon 2 2.02x
Farnell 2 256.41x
Forfar 2 10.90x
Fossoway 2 125.79x
Kilmaronock 2 172.41x
Maybole 2 23.98x
Mile End Old Town London 2 2.57x
New Kilpatrick 2 21.39x
Poplar London 2 2.90x
Sixpenny Handley 2 170.94x
West Ham 2 1.25x
Abbey 1 2.31x
Caterham 1 12.69x
Chelsea London 1 0.91x
Coylton 1 25.77x
Dunfermline 1 3.00x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 9.83x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 10.49x
Girthon 1 56.18x
Hackney London 1 0.49x
Halifax 1 1.88x
Kilmalcolm 1 29.41x
Little Bolton 1 1.79x
Orwell 1 39.22x
Port Glasgow 1 7.30x
Row 1 7.86x
Scoonie 1 21.32x
South Leith 1 1.81x
Southwark St Saviour 1 5.32x
Watford 1 5.12x
Wick 1 6.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Christine 2
Margeret 2
Martha 2
Rachel 2
Alice 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Hilda 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Minnie 1
Robertina 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Latta surname: questions and answers

How common was the Latta surname in 1881?

In 1881, 380 people were recorded with the Latta surname. That placed it at #8,249 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Latta surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 515 in 2016. That gives Latta a modern rank of #9,793.

What does the Latta surname mean?

An English and Scottish topographic surname referring to a person who lived near a bog or marsh.

What does the Latta map show?

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