NameCensus.

UK surname

Laurence

An English surname derived from a French placename, likely referring to someone from a town called Saint-Laurent.

In the 1881 census there were 4,228 people recorded with the Laurence surname, ranking it #1,061 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,187, ranked #5,011, down from #1,061 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Portsmouth, Thanet and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Laurence is 4,228 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.9%.

1881 census count

4,228

Ranked #1,061

Modern count

1,187

2016, ranked #5,011

Peak year

1881

4,228 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Laurence had 4,228 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,061 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,187 in 2016, ranked #5,011.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,228 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Laurence surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Laurence surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Laurence 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 1,933 #1,501
1861 historical 1,832 #1,576
1881 historical 4,228 #1,061
1891 historical 3,510 #1,359
1901 historical 2,567 #2,141
1911 historical 2,901 #1,798
1997 modern 992 #5,544
1998 modern 1,050 #5,440
1999 modern 1,074 #5,384
2000 modern 1,059 #5,434
2001 modern 1,044 #5,393
2002 modern 1,085 #5,331
2003 modern 1,071 #5,289
2004 modern 1,085 #5,253
2005 modern 1,056 #5,306
2006 modern 1,056 #5,311
2007 modern 1,086 #5,237
2008 modern 1,069 #5,336
2009 modern 1,118 #5,243
2010 modern 1,187 #5,094
2011 modern 1,149 #5,182
2012 modern 1,178 #4,987
2013 modern 1,186 #5,043
2014 modern 1,192 #5,053
2015 modern 1,186 #5,024
2016 modern 1,187 #5,011

Geography

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Where Laurences are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Portsmouth, Thanet, Bristol, North Hertfordshire and Highland. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Portsmouth 007 Portsmouth
2 Thanet 013 Thanet
3 Bristol 023 Bristol, City of
4 North Hertfordshire 003 North Hertfordshire
5 Highland Stirling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Laurence

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Laurence

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Laurence, 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 Laurence surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Laurence 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, Laurence 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

Laurence 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

Laurence falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Laurence

The surname LAURENCE originated in France and has Norman roots. It is derived from the Latin "laurentius", which means "from Laurentum", an ancient town in Italy. The name is associated with the laurel plant and has connotations of victory and honor.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Lorence" and "Lorenz". During the Middle Ages, the name was also spelled as "Laurens", "Lorens", and "Lawrance".

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert Laurence, a Norman knight who fought in the Conquest of England in 1066. His descendants settled in various parts of England, where the name took on different spellings.

In the 13th century, the name appears in records from the county of Oxfordshire, where a Walter Laurence is mentioned as a landowner. Around the same time, a Ralph Laurence is recorded as a merchant in the city of London.

During the Renaissance period, the name was associated with several notable individuals, including Sir John Laurence (1556-1618), a Lord Mayor of London, and Henry Laurence (1567-1637), an English theologian and President of St. John's College, Oxford.

In the 18th century, a prominent bearer of the name was Stringer Laurence (1697-1775), an English philosopher and scientist who made significant contributions to the study of electricity.

Other notable individuals with the surname LAURENCE include Jacques Laurence (1794-1865), a French artist known for his portraits and historical paintings, and David Laurence (1888-1966), an Australian cricketer who played Test matches for the national team.

The LAURENCE surname has been found in various parts of the United Kingdom, as well as in France, Germany, and other European countries. It has also been carried by individuals who immigrated to North America, Australia, and other regions of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Laurence families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Laurence 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. Middlesex leads with 789 Laurences recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.90x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 789 1.90x
Kent 412 2.91x
Surrey 313 1.55x
Yorkshire 229 0.56x
Lancashire 178 0.36x
Essex 167 2.04x
Sussex 157 2.24x
Gloucestershire 143 1.76x
Hampshire 138 1.62x
Warwickshire 128 1.22x
Staffordshire 103 0.73x
Berkshire 93 2.98x
Wiltshire 90 2.45x
Hertfordshire 89 3.11x
Somerset 85 1.27x
Suffolk 73 1.44x
Nottinghamshire 67 1.20x
Cambridgeshire 66 2.51x
Northamptonshire 64 1.64x
Leicestershire 55 1.19x
Cornwall 51 1.08x
Herefordshire 49 2.88x
Norfolk 48 0.75x
Devon 47 0.54x
Angus 45 1.17x
Lanarkshire 44 0.33x
Durham 40 0.32x
Glamorgan 39 0.54x
Bedfordshire 34 1.58x
Buckinghamshire 31 1.23x
Dorset 31 1.14x
Worcestershire 31 0.57x
Channel Islands 28 2.27x
Oxfordshire 26 1.01x
Pembrokeshire 26 1.97x
Aberdeenshire 23 0.60x
Shetland 22 5.19x
Monmouthshire 18 0.60x
Lincolnshire 17 0.26x
Shropshire 16 0.45x
Brecknockshire 13 1.57x
Cheshire 12 0.13x
Banffshire 11 1.28x
Nairnshire 11 8.68x
Ayrshire 10 0.32x
Kincardineshire 10 1.98x
Perthshire 10 0.54x
Midlothian 9 0.16x
Montgomeryshire 9 0.95x
Stirlingshire 9 0.59x
Cumberland 7 0.20x
Fife 6 0.24x
Morayshire 6 0.93x
Inverness-shire 5 0.40x
Northumberland 5 0.08x
Derbyshire 4 0.06x
Renfrewshire 3 0.09x
Westmorland 3 0.33x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.06x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.06x
Isle of Man 1 0.13x
Kinross-shire 1 0.95x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.17x
Radnorshire 1 0.30x
Roxburghshire 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 0.20x
Rutland 1 0.33x
Wigtownshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 100 Laurences recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.48x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 100 2.48x
West Ham 75 4.14x
Birmingham 72 2.06x
Kensington London 66 2.86x
Lambeth 61 1.68x
St Pancras London 52 1.56x
Hackney London 51 2.19x
Bethnal Green London 41 2.27x
Deptford St Paul 39 3.57x
Leeds 35 1.51x
St Marylebone London 35 1.58x
Nottingham St Mary 33 2.28x
Newington 32 2.09x
Southwark St George Martyr 30 3.59x
Camberwell 29 1.09x
Portsea 29 1.74x
Raunds 29 72.90x
Shoreditch London 29 1.61x
Hammersmith London 25 2.44x
Salehurst 25 82.43x
Swindon 25 8.77x
Cheltenham 24 3.82x
Holy Trinity 24 2.42x
Litlington 24 249.74x
Tottenham 24 3.63x
Luton 23 6.18x
Reading St Mary 23 9.21x
Chelsea London 21 1.68x
Bermondsey 20 1.62x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 20 17.43x
Paddington London 20 1.31x
Govan 19 0.57x
Illogan 19 15.26x
Reading St Giles 19 6.21x
St Lawrence 19 19.50x
Aston 18 0.62x
Brighton 18 1.27x
Kings Walden 18 111.18x
Liverpool 18 0.60x
Maidstone 18 4.26x
Byfield 17 150.84x
Enfield 16 5.87x
Hendon 16 10.71x
St Helier 16 3.99x
Bow London 15 2.84x
Greenwich 15 2.27x
Lerwick Gulberwick 15 22.85x
Southwark Christchurch 15 7.71x
St Luke London 15 2.25x
Barony 14 0.41x
Cirencester 14 12.69x
Eastbourne 14 4.34x
Margate St John Baptist 14 5.40x
Bromley London 13 1.42x
Capel 13 162.91x
Chorlton On Medlock 13 1.66x
Clapham 13 2.50x
Clerkenwell London 13 1.33x
Hampstead London 13 2.01x
Harborne 13 2.89x
Leicester St Margaret 13 1.16x
Northiam 13 75.67x
St Andrew Holborn London 13 7.23x
Stanley Pontlarge 13 1368.42x
Toxteth Park 13 0.78x
Watford 13 5.86x
Bury St Edmunds St James 12 8.88x
Croydon 12 1.07x
Ickenham 12 211.64x
Liff Benvie 12 2.05x
Marcham 12 107.24x
Mitcham 12 9.38x
Montrose 12 5.15x
Penge 12 4.52x
Sevenoaks 12 10.44x
St George Bloomsbury 12 5.04x
Walsall Foreign 12 1.66x
Lewisham 11 1.46x
Manchester 11 0.50x
Ringwould 11 90.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 199
Elizabeth 152
Sarah 140
Eliza 74
Emma 73
Jane 72
Annie 70
Emily 67
Alice 65
Ann 64
Ellen 61
Hannah 47
Charlotte 46
Edith 43
Louisa 41
Martha 36
Caroline 34
Fanny 28
Ada 26
Maria 23
Harriet 22
Margaret 21
Rose 21
Kate 20
Lucy 19
Amelia 17
Anne 17
Catherine 17
Matilda 16
Susan 16
Agnes 15
Frances 15
Clara 14
Julia 14
Laura 13
Sophia 13
Florence 12
Isabella 12
Amy 11
Jessie 11
Beatrice 9
Eleanor 9
Harriett 9
Rosa 9
Esther 8
Gertrude 8
Lydia 8
Maud 8
Minnie 8
Bessie 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 263
John 196
George 151
Thomas 116
James 109
Henry 95
Charles 92
Edward 58
Joseph 57
Alfred 52
Arthur 41
Albert 40
Frederick 38
Walter 32
Richard 31
Robert 29
Samuel 29
Harry 24
Edwin 23
Herbert 18
Benjamin 15
David 14
Frank 13
Wm. 13
Ernest 12
Francis 11
Stephen 11
Thos. 11
Fredk. 10
Geo. 7
Percy 7
Sydney 7
Daniel 6
Edwd. 5
Fred 5
Isaac 5
Lewis 5
Phillip 5
Alexander 4
Chas. 4
Fredrick 4
Jesse 4
Philip 4
Reuben 4
Tom 4
Amos 3
Jas. 3
Joshua 3
Laurence 3
Sidney 3

FAQ

Laurence surname: questions and answers

How common was the Laurence surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,228 people were recorded with the Laurence surname. That placed it at #1,061 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Laurence surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,187 in 2016. That gives Laurence a modern rank of #5,011.

What does the Laurence surname mean?

An English surname derived from a French placename, likely referring to someone from a town called Saint-Laurent.

What does the Laurence map show?

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