NameCensus.

UK surname

Laurent

A French toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "the bright one" or "the shining one."

In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Laurent surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 443, ranked #10,921, up from #25,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmond upon Thames, Tower Hamlets and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Laurent is 443 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 650.8%.

1881 census count

59

Ranked #25,281

Modern count

443

2016, ranked #10,921

Peak year

2016

443 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Laurent had 59 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016, ranked #10,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 63 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Laurent surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Laurent surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Laurent 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 36 #26,838
1861 historical 37 #29,339
1881 historical 59 #25,281
1891 historical 60 #29,204
1901 historical 63 #27,134
1911 historical 59 #26,914
1997 modern 326 #12,811
1998 modern 356 #12,399
1999 modern 360 #12,371
2000 modern 351 #12,534
2001 modern 334 #12,789
2002 modern 353 #12,512
2003 modern 331 #12,944
2004 modern 346 #12,544
2005 modern 346 #12,464
2006 modern 365 #12,076
2007 modern 373 #12,005
2008 modern 386 #11,795
2009 modern 387 #12,021
2010 modern 386 #12,330
2011 modern 396 #11,943
2012 modern 422 #11,223
2013 modern 436 #11,106
2014 modern 431 #11,308
2015 modern 428 #11,276
2016 modern 443 #10,921

Geography

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Where Laurents 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 Richmond upon Thames, Tower Hamlets, Camden, Brent and Hackney. 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 Richmond upon Thames 001 Richmond upon Thames
2 Tower Hamlets 001 Tower Hamlets
3 Camden 008 Camden
4 Brent 028 Brent
5 Hackney 014 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Laurent

These lists show first names that appear often with the Laurent 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 Laurent

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

Laurent 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

Laurent 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 Laurent is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Laurent

The surname Laurent has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin name Laurentius, which was a common name given to children born on the feast day of St. Lawrence, a 3rd-century Roman deacon and martyr. The name Laurentius itself comes from the Latin word "laurus," meaning laurel.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Laurent can be found in various medieval French records and documents, such as the Cartulaires de l'Abbaye de Saint-Victor de Marseille (12th century) and the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Savigny (13th century). In these records, the name appears in various spellings, including Lorent, Lorenz, and Lorens.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Laurent was Jean Laurent, a French composer and organist who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was known for his contributions to the development of Renaissance music.

Another notable figure was Pierre Laurent, a French mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1679 to 1773. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and is best known for his work on the theory of the motion of the Moon.

In the 19th century, Auguste Laurent (1807-1853) was a French chemist who made important contributions to the field of organic chemistry, particularly in the study of naphthalene derivatives.

Emile Laurent (1861-1904) was a French painter and printmaker associated with the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements. He is known for his landscapes and scenes of modern life in Paris.

More recently, Jacqueline Laurent (1918-2009) was a French actress who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career, which spanned over six decades.

The surname Laurent has also been associated with various place names in France, such as Laurent-du-Pont, a commune in the department of Isère, and Laurent-du-Var, a commune in the department of Alpes-Maritimes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Laurent families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Laurent 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 33 Laurents recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.37x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 33 5.37x
Midlothian 5 6.08x
Renfrewshire 5 10.50x
Yorkshire 5 0.82x
Channel Islands 4 21.97x
Kent 3 1.43x
Durham 2 1.09x
Staffordshire 2 0.96x
Surrey 2 0.67x
Cheshire 1 0.74x
Lincolnshire 1 1.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 13 Laurents recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.63x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 13 39.63x
Willesden 7 120.90x
Islington London 6 10.08x
Edinburgh St Andrews 5 735.29x
West Greenock 5 58.48x
Kingstonupon Hull 4 816.33x
St Pancras London 3 6.07x
Lambeth 2 3.73x
St Helier 2 33.73x
Stockton On Tees 2 22.70x
Walsall Borough 2 124.22x
Bowdon 1 185.19x
Kensington London 1 2.93x
Margate St John Baptist 1 26.04x
Paddington London 1 4.43x
Reepham 1 1428.57x
Scarborough 1 18.08x
St Brelade 1 212.77x
St George Hanover Square 1 9.24x
St Mary 1 476.19x
Tonbridge 1 13.23x
Westminster St James 1 15.82x
Woolwich 1 12.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Ealenor 2
Abigirl 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Camille 1
Cath 1
Charlotte 1
Clare 1
Elizabeth 1
Emilie 1
Florence 1
Helena 1
Jessie 1
Julie 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Milly 1
Minnie 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 3
F. 2
James 2
Jules 2
William 2
Albert 1
Alexandre 1
Antoine 1
Constant 1
Cyprien 1
Deque 1
Edward 1
Ferdinand 1
Francois 1
Frank 1
Guerion 1
Harry 1
J.B. 1
Joseph 1
Leon 1
Leopold 1
Nicolas 1
Philip 1

FAQ

Laurent surname: questions and answers

How common was the Laurent surname in 1881?

In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Laurent surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Laurent surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016. That gives Laurent a modern rank of #10,921.

What does the Laurent surname mean?

A French toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "the bright one" or "the shining one."

What does the Laurent map show?

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