NameCensus.

UK surname

Laura

Derived from the Latin "laurus," referring to the laurel tree or a place abundant with laurel trees.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Laura surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 144, ranked #24,390, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Manchester and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Laura is 144 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3500.0%.

1881 census count

4

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

144

2016, ranked #24,390

Peak year

2016

144 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Laura had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016, ranked #24,390.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 62 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Laura surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Laura surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Laura 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 33 #27,390
1861 historical 62 #26,041
1881 historical 4 #33,288
1891 historical 33 #31,681
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1911 historical 31 #29,952
1997 modern 12 #36,785
1998 modern 12 #36,790
1999 modern 14 #36,595
2000 modern 18 #36,104
2001 modern 18 #35,961
2002 modern 18 #36,067
2003 modern 15 #36,415
2004 modern 21 #35,969
2005 modern 25 #35,752
2006 modern 35 #35,191
2007 modern 44 #34,760
2008 modern 55 #34,165
2009 modern 59 #34,072
2010 modern 63 #34,002
2011 modern 65 #33,842
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 125 #26,896
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 144 #24,390

Geography

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Where Lauras are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hackney, Manchester, East Riding of Yorkshire, Camden and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 025 Hackney
2 Manchester 032 Manchester
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Camden 026 Camden
5 Kensington and Chelsea 012 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Laura

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Laura

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Laura surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Laura 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Laura is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Laura 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

Laura falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Laura 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Laura

The surname Laura originated in Italy during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the ancient Roman name Laurus, meaning "laurel tree." This evergreen plant was associated with victory, honor, and success in ancient Rome, and its branches were often woven into crowns or wreaths worn by victorious leaders and poets.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Laura can be traced back to the 11th century in various regions of Italy, such as Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. The name was likely adopted as a surname by families residing near groves of laurel trees or involved in the cultivation or trade of these plants.

In the 13th century, the surname Laura appeared in the historic records of the city of Florence, where a prominent family bearing this name held influential positions within the local government. One notable member was Neri di Laura, who served as a magistrate and ambassador for the Florentine Republic in the late 1200s.

During the Renaissance period, the surname Laura gained further recognition due to the works of the Italian poet Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374), who immortalized his unrequited love for a woman named Laura in his poetic masterpiece, the Canzoniere. Although the identity of this Laura remains a subject of debate among scholars, her name became synonymous with idealized feminine beauty and virtue.

Other notable individuals with the surname Laura throughout history include:

1. Giovanni Battista Laura (1612-1637), an Italian painter and engraver from Rome, known for his religious works and landscapes. 2. Filippo Laura (1670-1732), an Italian architect and engineer from Naples, who designed several churches and palaces in his native city. 3. Antonio Laura (1733-1804), an Italian mathematician and astronomer from Naples, who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics. 4. Girolamo Laura (1792-1861), an Italian patriot and revolutionary from Calabria, who fought against the Bourbon monarchy during the Risorgimento period. 5. Salvatore Laura (1888-1952), an Italian-American sculptor from Naples, who created numerous public monuments and memorials in the United States.

The surname Laura has also been associated with various place names throughout Italy, such as Laura di Bianco in Calabria, Laura di Monferrato in Piedmont, and Laura Vecchia in Tuscany, suggesting the widespread presence of families bearing this name across different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Laura families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Laura 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. Durham leads with 1 Lauras recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.65x.

County Total Index
Durham 1 8.65x
Glamorgan 1 14.77x
Lancashire 1 2.17x
Middlesex 1 2.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire leads with 1 Lauras recorded in 1881 and an index of 99.01x.

Place Total Index
Ashton Under Lyne 1 99.01x
Dawdon 1 714.29x
Islington London 1 26.53x
Llanguick 1 833.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 1
Jane 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
David 1

FAQ

Laura surname: questions and answers

How common was the Laura surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Laura surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Laura surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016. That gives Laura a modern rank of #24,390.

What does the Laura surname mean?

Derived from the Latin "laurus," referring to the laurel tree or a place abundant with laurel trees.

What does the Laura map show?

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