NameCensus.

UK surname

Laville

A French locational surname referring to someone who lived in or came from a town or village.

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Laville surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 229, ranked #17,878, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Manchester and Wakefield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Laville is 234 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1105.3%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

229

2016, ranked #17,878

Peak year

2013

234 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Laville had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 229 in 2016, ranked #17,878.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 180 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Laville surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Laville surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Laville 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 60 #26,313
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1891 historical 77 #27,169
1901 historical 55 #28,064
1911 historical 180 #15,961
1997 modern 203 #17,457
1998 modern 209 #17,650
1999 modern 203 #18,081
2000 modern 189 #18,860
2001 modern 191 #18,453
2002 modern 197 #18,474
2003 modern 183 #19,152
2004 modern 190 #18,792
2005 modern 185 #19,051
2006 modern 189 #18,961
2007 modern 201 #18,428
2008 modern 208 #18,171
2009 modern 222 #17,797
2010 modern 227 #17,895
2011 modern 212 #18,575
2012 modern 220 #18,034
2013 modern 234 #17,556
2014 modern 233 #17,707
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 229 #17,878

Geography

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Where Lavilles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Manchester, Wakefield, Sheffield and Middlesborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough and Plymouth. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Middlesborough Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 029 Leeds
2 Redcar and Cleveland 020 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Leeds 034 Leeds
4 Middlesbrough 015 Middlesbrough
5 Plymouth 017 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Laville

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Laville

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Laville surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Laville 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Laville is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Laville 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

Laville falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Laville is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Laville

The surname LAVILLE is of French origin, derived from the Old French words "la" meaning "the" and "ville" meaning "town" or "village." It emerged in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century, and was initially used to identify individuals who hailed from a particular town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LAVILLE can be found in the Domesday Book, a vast survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name may have been introduced to England by Norman settlers following the conquest of 1066.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name LAVILLE was Pierre de Laville, a French cleric and scholar who served as the Archbishop of Rouen from 1234 to 1245. Another prominent individual was Jean de Laville, a French knight who fought alongside Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years' War in the 15th century.

During the Renaissance period, the surname LAVILLE was associated with several accomplished artists and intellectuals. François de Laville (1525-1594) was a renowned French sculptor and architect who contributed to the construction of the Louvre Palace in Paris. Meanwhile, Antoine de Laville (1570-1631) was a celebrated French mathematician and astronomer, known for his work on the calculation of planetary orbits.

In the 18th century, a notable figure was Louis-Guillaume de Laville (1720-1788), a French naval officer and explorer who led several expeditions to the West Indies and the Pacific Ocean. His journey to the Pacific Islands in 1763 resulted in the discovery of several previously uncharted territories.

As the surname LAVILLE spread across Europe, it also gained a foothold in other regions. One notable bearer of the name was Johann von Laville (1805-1871), a German military officer and strategist who played a crucial role in the unification of Germany under Otto von Bismarck.

Over the centuries, the surname LAVILLE has been subject to various spelling variations, such as Leville, Lavill, Lavillie, and Lavillette, reflecting regional linguistic differences and orthographic conventions. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in its association with towns and villages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Laville families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Laville 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 11 Lavilles recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.01x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 11 5.01x
Middlesex 4 2.16x
Surrey 4 4.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford in Lancashire leads with 5 Lavilles recorded in 1881 and an index of 485.44x.

Place Total Index
Bradford 5 485.44x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 143.27x
Camberwell 4 33.81x
Paddington London 2 29.37x
St Marylebone London 2 20.22x
Over Darwen 1 56.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Alice 1
Annetti 1
Elizth. 1
Frances 1
Lizzie 1
Nelly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 2
John 2
William 2
Albert 1
Hissolite 1
James 1
Richd. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Laville surname: questions and answers

How common was the Laville surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Laville surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Laville surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 229 in 2016. That gives Laville a modern rank of #17,878.

What does the Laville surname mean?

A French locational surname referring to someone who lived in or came from a town or village.

What does the Laville map show?

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