UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a person who worked with lava or produced architectural ornaments.
In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Lave surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #31,914 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St James Westminster, St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lave is 141 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 66.7%.
1881 census count
12
Ranked #31,914
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1891
141 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lave surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lave surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 22 | #29,378 |
| 1861 | historical | 78 | #23,836 |
| 1881 | historical | 12 | #31,914 |
| 1891 | historical | 141 | #19,108 |
| 1901 | historical | 20 | #31,803 |
| 1911 | historical | 31 | #29,952 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 6 | #37,696 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St James Westminster, St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn, St Mary Islington, St Giles Camberwell and New Windsor, Clewer. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St James Westminster | London (West Districts) |
| 2 | St George the Martyr, St Andrew Holborn above the Bars, Furnival's Inn | London (Central Districts) |
| 3 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St Giles Camberwell | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | New Windsor, Clewer | Berkshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lave surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lave, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Lave surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lave household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Lave is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lave is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lave, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname LAVE originated in France during the medieval period, deriving from the Old French word "lave," which means "a flood" or "a stream." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived near a body of water or a low-lying area prone to flooding.
The earliest known record of the LAVE surname dates back to the 12th century in the region of Normandy, France. It appears in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Wandrille, a manuscript containing charters and grants from the Saint-Wandrille Abbey, which was located in the Seine-Maritime department of Normandy.
During the Middle Ages, the LAVE name was also found in various regions of France, including Brittany, where it was spelled as "Lavve" or "Laue." In the 14th century, the surname was mentioned in the Échevinage records of the city of Lille, located in northern France.
One of the earliest documented individuals with the LAVE surname was Jehan Lave, who was born around 1350 in the village of Bray-et-Lû, near Rouen, in the Normandy region. He was a farmer and landowner, and his name appeared in several land records and tax rolls from the late 14th century.
Another notable figure with the LAVE surname was Pierre Lave, born in 1488 in the town of Mézières, in the Ardennes department of northeastern France. He was a renowned scholar and philosopher who taught at the University of Paris and wrote several treatises on logic and metaphysics.
In the 16th century, the LAVE surname was also found in the region of Lorraine, where it was sometimes spelled as "Lâve" or "Lauwe." One example is Jacques Lâve, born in 1522 in the town of Toul, who was a merchant and alderman in the local government.
During the 17th century, the LAVE name spread to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Germany, where it was sometimes rendered as "Lave" or "Laven." One prominent individual with this surname was Johannes Laven, a Dutch painter and engraver born in 1619 in Amsterdam, who was known for his landscapes and cityscapes.
Throughout history, the LAVE surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, including farmers, merchants, scholars, artists, and government officials. While not a particularly widespread name, it has maintained a presence in various regions of France and other parts of Europe for several centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lave surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 6 Laves recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.13x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridgewater in Somerset leads with 5 Laves recorded in 1881 and an index of 980.39x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater | 5 | 980.39x |
| Islington London | 4 | 35.30x |
| Bridewell Precinct London | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 13.40x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 15.27x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lave surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lave surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Joseph | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Lave surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Lave a modern rank of #38,419.
An occupational surname referring to a person who worked with lava or produced architectural ornaments.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lave bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.