NameCensus.

UK surname

Lavan

A surname derived from the Hebrew word meaning "white" or "pale".

In the 1881 census there were 121 people recorded with the Lavan surname, ranking it #17,671 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 201, ranked #19,525, down from #17,671 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Dumfries and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockton-on-Tees, Lochside and Lincluden and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lavan is 204 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.1%.

1881 census count

121

Ranked #17,671

Modern count

201

2016, ranked #19,525

Peak year

2015

204 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lavan had 121 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,671 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 201 in 2016, ranked #19,525.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 129 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Lavan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lavan surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Lavan 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 86 #18,820
1861 historical 59 #26,466
1881 historical 121 #17,671
1891 historical 112 #22,291
1901 historical 129 #19,735
1911 historical 73 #25,541
1997 modern 160 #20,259
1998 modern 169 #20,104
1999 modern 176 #19,722
2000 modern 176 #19,698
2001 modern 172 #19,696
2002 modern 179 #19,598
2003 modern 180 #19,347
2004 modern 171 #20,079
2005 modern 172 #19,908
2006 modern 166 #20,534
2007 modern 171 #20,387
2008 modern 169 #20,745
2009 modern 168 #21,290
2010 modern 178 #20,965
2011 modern 184 #20,363
2012 modern 181 #20,531
2013 modern 193 #19,997
2014 modern 200 #19,713
2015 modern 204 #19,331
2016 modern 201 #19,525

Geography

Back to top

Where Lavans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Dumfries, Manchester, Wakefield and Acomb. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockton-on-Tees, Lochside and Lincluden, Wolverhampton, Hartlepool and Chiltern. 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 Edinburgh Edinburgh
2 Dumfries Dumfries
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Acomb Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockton-on-Tees 003 Stockton-on-Tees
2 Lochside and Lincluden Dumfries and Galloway
3 Wolverhampton 019 Wolverhampton
4 Hartlepool 001 Hartlepool
5 Chiltern 010 Chiltern

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Lavan

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Lavan

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

Lavan 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

Lavan 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 Lavan 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Lavan

The surname Lavan has its roots in the Gaelic language and is thought to have originated in Ireland, specifically in the northern region of Ulster. The name is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "láván," which means "small meadow" or "little field." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive term referring to a person who lived near or owned a small meadow or field.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lavan can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In this text, dated to the late 15th century, there is a reference to a "Domhnall O'Lavan," who was described as a prominent landowner and chieftain in County Fermanagh.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, as the English colonization of Ireland intensified, many Irish surnames underwent anglicization, and Lavan was no exception. The spelling variants "Lavane" and "Lavan" began to appear more frequently in official records and documents.

A notable bearer of the Lavan surname was Edmond Lavan (1630-1708), an Irish Jacobite and participant in the Williamite War. He served as a colonel in the Irish Army and fought against the forces of William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.

Another historical figure was Patrick Lavan (1760-1825), an Irish-born soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He served in the Continental Army and later settled in Pennsylvania, where he became a prominent landowner and community leader.

In the 19th century, the Lavan surname gained some recognition in the literary world with the writer and poet Mary Ann Lavan (1821-1891). Born in County Cavan, Ireland, she immigrated to the United States and published several collections of poetry and short stories.

A notable 20th-century bearer of the Lavan name was John Lavan (1912-1989), an American businessman and philanthropist. He co-founded the Lavan Petroleum Company, which became one of the largest independent oil and gas producers in the western United States.

Despite its Irish origins, the Lavan surname has spread to various parts of the world due to immigration and diaspora. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its connection to the Irish Gaelic language and the concept of a small meadow or field remains a significant part of its history and meaning.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Lavan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lavan 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 43 Lavans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.97x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 43 2.97x
Yorkshire 31 2.57x
Midlothian 12 7.35x
Durham 10 2.76x
Staffordshire 9 2.19x
Dumfriesshire 6 22.28x
Channel Islands 4 11.07x
Middlesex 3 0.25x
Berkshire 2 2.19x
Cheshire 2 0.74x
Hampshire 1 0.40x
Lanarkshire 1 0.25x
Leicestershire 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Batley in Yorkshire leads with 11 Lavans recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.82x.

Place Total Index
Batley 11 95.82x
Darlington 9 64.29x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 12.17x
Wakefield 8 86.30x
Bradford 6 20.52x
Chorley 6 73.89x
Dumfries 6 225.56x
Ince In Makerfield 5 74.29x
Liverpool 5 5.69x
Newcastle Under Lyme 5 68.68x
Salford 5 11.75x
Manchester 4 6.15x
St Helier 4 34.01x
Edinburgh Old Church 3 229.01x
Spotland 3 18.66x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 6.33x
Birkenhead 2 9.32x
Great Little Preston 2 571.43x
Wednesbury 2 19.46x
West Derby 2 4.73x
Wolverhampton 2 6.32x
Acomb 1 158.73x
Adel Cum Eccup 1 200.00x
Ashbury 1 344.83x
Ashton In Makerfield 1 24.27x
Bickerton 1 1666.67x
Billinge Chapel End 1 123.46x
Binsted 1 105.26x
Bishopwearmouth 1 3.21x
Bothwell 1 9.35x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 25.91x
Garston 1 23.42x
Islington London 1 0.85x
Kensington London 1 1.48x
Kirkdale 1 4.11x
Little Hoole 1 555.56x
Moss Side 1 13.14x
Nailstone 1 322.58x
New Windsor 1 32.47x
Preston 1 2.58x
Rufforth 1 909.09x
St George Hanover Square 1 4.66x
Toxteth Park 1 2.04x
Walton On Hill 1 12.76x
Widnes 1 9.59x
Wigan 1 4.95x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
Thomas 9
Patrick 7
James 5
Michael 4
Ambrose 1
Anthony 1
Bartley 1
Bryan 1
Charles 1
David 1
Domnick 1
Francis 1
Lawrance 1
Lloyd 1
Michal 1
Mickael 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Lavan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lavan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 121 people were recorded with the Lavan surname. That placed it at #17,671 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lavan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 201 in 2016. That gives Lavan a modern rank of #19,525.

What does the Lavan surname mean?

A surname derived from the Hebrew word meaning "white" or "pale".

What does the Lavan map show?

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