NameCensus.

UK surname

Laver

A surname derived from the French word "laver" meaning a washer or launderer.

In the 1881 census there were 1,150 people recorded with the Laver surname, ranking it #3,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,350, ranked #4,467, down from #3,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Braintree, Mendip and West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Laver is 1,474 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.4%.

1881 census count

1,150

Ranked #3,484

Modern count

1,350

2016, ranked #4,467

Peak year

1999

1,474 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Laver had 1,150 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,350 in 2016, ranked #4,467.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,470 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Laver surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Laver surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Laver 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 847 #3,213
1861 historical 613 #4,341
1881 historical 1,150 #3,484
1891 historical 1,115 #3,807
1901 historical 1,345 #3,725
1911 historical 1,470 #3,279
1997 modern 1,436 #4,059
1998 modern 1,459 #4,146
1999 modern 1,474 #4,147
2000 modern 1,455 #4,168
2001 modern 1,423 #4,167
2002 modern 1,433 #4,215
2003 modern 1,382 #4,267
2004 modern 1,390 #4,249
2005 modern 1,360 #4,287
2006 modern 1,362 #4,287
2007 modern 1,363 #4,325
2008 modern 1,345 #4,392
2009 modern 1,398 #4,333
2010 modern 1,453 #4,291
2011 modern 1,404 #4,351
2012 modern 1,369 #4,386
2013 modern 1,402 #4,366
2014 modern 1,400 #4,397
2015 modern 1,354 #4,472
2016 modern 1,350 #4,467

Geography

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Where Lavers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street and Yeldham, Great. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Braintree, Mendip, West Dorset, West Somerset and North East Lincolnshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Yeldham, Great Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Braintree 001 Braintree
2 Mendip 013 Mendip
3 West Dorset 007 West Dorset
4 West Somerset 004 West Somerset
5 North East Lincolnshire 021 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Laver

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Laver

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Laver surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Laver 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Laver is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Laver is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Laver falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Laver

The surname LAVER originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "lafer," meaning a dish or container used for holding water or other liquids. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who made or sold such dishes.

During the medieval period, the name LAVER was predominantly found in the county of Lancashire, particularly in the areas around Manchester and Liverpool. It was also present in parts of Yorkshire and Cheshire. Variations in spelling were common at the time, with forms such as Laufer, Lauer, and Lavour appearing in historical records.

One of the earliest known references to the name LAVER can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from the year 1246, where a person named William Lauer is mentioned. The Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from 1332 also list several individuals with the surname LAVER or similar spellings.

In the 16th century, the name LAVER gained prominence with the birth of Ralph Laver (1516-1570), a prominent English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Norwich. Another notable figure was Thomas Laver (1548-1623), a Catholic priest and author who wrote several religious works.

During the 17th century, the name LAVER was associated with a family of landowners and gentry in Lancashire. One of the most prominent members of this family was John Laver (1630-1701), who served as a Justice of the Peace and held significant estates in the region.

The 18th century saw the birth of William Laver (1751-1828), a renowned English engraver and printmaker whose works were highly regarded in his time. Another notable figure was James Laver (1775-1845), a successful merchant and philanthropist who supported various charitable causes in Manchester.

In the 19th century, the name LAVER continued to be associated with notable individuals, including Samuel Laver (1812-1890), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in Liverpool and Manchester. Another prominent figure was William Laver (1853-1921), a pioneering photographer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of color photography.

Throughout its history, the surname LAVER has maintained a strong presence in England, particularly in the northern counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire. While it may have originated from a humble occupation, the name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, landowners, artists, and philanthropists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Laver families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Laver 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. Somerset leads with 275 Lavers recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.20x.

County Total Index
Somerset 275 15.20x
Essex 232 10.46x
Middlesex 181 1.61x
Yorkshire 94 0.84x
Surrey 76 1.39x
Hampshire 49 2.13x
Kent 46 1.20x
Dorset 38 5.15x
Lancashire 37 0.28x
Devon 20 0.86x
Gloucestershire 18 0.82x
Cheshire 13 0.52x
Durham 12 0.36x
Wiltshire 8 0.81x
Monmouthshire 7 0.86x
Berkshire 6 0.71x
Sussex 6 0.32x
Glamorgan 5 0.26x
Lincolnshire 5 0.28x
Northamptonshire 4 0.38x
Royal Navy 4 2.99x
Suffolk 4 0.29x
Warwickshire 3 0.11x
Bedfordshire 2 0.34x
Cumberland 2 0.21x
Ayrshire 1 0.12x
Derbyshire 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.13x
Norfolk 1 0.06x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Cadbury in Somerset leads with 40 Lavers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1156.07x.

Place Total Index
North Cadbury 40 1156.07x
Great Yeldham 28 1217.39x
Lambeth 26 2.65x
Southampton St Mary 25 17.26x
Poplar London 22 10.37x
West Ham 20 4.08x
Plumstead 19 14.87x
Little Yeldham 17 1531.53x
Puncknowle 17 934.07x
Steeple Bumpstead 17 418.72x
Meare 16 294.66x
Sheffield 16 4.51x
Glastonbury 15 101.63x
Silkstone 15 272.23x
Bridgewater 13 26.47x
Hanwell 13 65.26x
Tranmere 13 14.26x
Bermondsey 12 3.59x
Great Warley 12 239.04x
Halstead 12 46.37x
Toxteth Park 12 2.66x
Hackney London 11 1.75x
Lewisham 11 5.38x
Paddington London 11 2.66x
Taunton St Mary 11 33.13x
Wath On Dearne 11 49.51x
Great Burstead 10 123.92x
Ridgwell 10 395.26x
Somerton 10 135.32x
St Marylebone London 10 1.67x
Wedmore 10 84.96x
Ealing 9 8.96x
Newington 9 2.17x
Rayleigh 9 176.13x
Barking 8 12.32x
Doncaster 8 9.83x
Kensington London 8 1.28x
Kingweston 8 1403.51x
Marston Magna 8 683.76x
Mile End Old Town London 8 3.34x
Norwood 8 31.13x
Wombwell 8 24.64x
Aberystruth 7 9.78x
Bishopwearmouth 7 2.44x
Camberwell 7 0.98x
Devizes St Mary 7 69.72x
Godalming 7 20.31x
Islington London 7 0.64x
Mountnessing 7 207.72x
Nether Hallam 7 4.65x
Powerstock 7 221.52x
St George In East London 7 6.62x
Yatton 7 99.43x
Barrow In Furness 6 3.31x
Bonchurch 6 230.77x
Bradwell 6 157.89x
Burnham 6 73.26x
Castle Cary 6 76.14x
Charlcombe 6 250.00x
Curry Mallet 6 320.86x
Dodworth 6 51.86x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 2.65x
Fobbing 6 363.64x
Fulham London 6 3.68x
Leathley 6 1034.48x
Little Ilford 6 156.25x
Lyncombe Widcombe 6 12.67x
Maidstone 6 5.25x
Moss Side 6 8.55x
Shepton Mallet 6 29.56x
St Luke London 6 3.33x
Wookey 6 150.38x
Battersea 5 1.21x
Corton Denham 5 384.62x
Hutton 5 378.79x
Kingston On Thames 5 3.80x
Roath 5 5.63x
Taunton St James 5 18.95x
Twickenham 5 10.38x
Weston Super Mare 5 10.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 65
John 61
James 39
George 35
Henry 34
Charles 32
Thomas 31
Robert 21
Joseph 15
Edward 13
Walter 13
Frederick 12
Harry 11
Alfred 10
Samuel 10
Arthur 8
Stephen 8
Albert 7
Ernest 7
Edwin 5
Eli 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Herbert 4
David 3
Geo. 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Edwd. 2
Elijah 2
Fredrick 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Willie 2
Alex 1
Archibald 1
Bertie 1
Bertram 1
Burnet 1
C.G. 1
E. 1
E.R.T.G. 1
Edw.Bertrand 1
Efrim 1
Elias 1
Goerge 1
Halford 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Laver surname: questions and answers

How common was the Laver surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,150 people were recorded with the Laver surname. That placed it at #3,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Laver surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,350 in 2016. That gives Laver a modern rank of #4,467.

What does the Laver surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "laver" meaning a washer or launderer.

What does the Laver map show?

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