NameCensus.

UK surname

Lavis

An occupational surname associated with being a lawyer or legal practitioner.

In the 1881 census there were 580 people recorded with the Lavis surname, ranking it #6,010 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 773, ranked #7,118, down from #6,010 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay and Long Sutton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Plymouth, Wiltshire and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lavis is 856 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.3%.

1881 census count

580

Ranked #6,010

Modern count

773

2016, ranked #7,118

Peak year

1998

856 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lavis had 580 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,010 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 773 in 2016, ranked #7,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 838 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Lavis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lavis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lavis 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 426 #5,735
1861 historical 537 #4,889
1881 historical 580 #6,010
1891 historical 752 #5,296
1901 historical 728 #6,087
1911 historical 838 #5,279
1997 modern 828 #6,362
1998 modern 856 #6,402
1999 modern 840 #6,544
2000 modern 817 #6,664
2001 modern 797 #6,668
2002 modern 834 #6,555
2003 modern 788 #6,731
2004 modern 805 #6,634
2005 modern 783 #6,711
2006 modern 769 #6,851
2007 modern 779 #6,839
2008 modern 767 #6,983
2009 modern 800 #6,888
2010 modern 807 #6,976
2011 modern 806 #6,895
2012 modern 790 #6,911
2013 modern 809 #6,885
2014 modern 817 #6,861
2015 modern 790 #7,007
2016 modern 773 #7,118

Geography

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Where Lavis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay, Long Sutton, Hatherleigh and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Plymouth, Wiltshire and Pembrokeshire. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 Long Sutton Somerset
4 Hatherleigh Devon
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Plymouth 017 Plymouth
2 Plymouth 021 Plymouth
3 Wiltshire 024 Wiltshire
4 Pembrokeshire 002 Pembrokeshire
5 Plymouth 008 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lavis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lavis

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Lavis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lavis household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Lavis is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lavis is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lavis falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lavis

The surname LAVIS is believed to have originated in the beautiful countryside of England, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from a specific place or geographic feature.

One theory suggests that LAVIS may have evolved from the Old English word "læfer," meaning a leafy bower or arbor. This could indicate that the name's origins are tied to a particular area known for its lush foliage or perhaps even a specific homestead or dwelling surrounded by verdant greenery.

Alternatively, some scholars propose a connection to the Old French word "lavandière," referring to a washerwoman or laundress. This theory implies that the surname may have initially been assigned to someone whose occupation involved washing clothes or linens, potentially near a river or stream.

Early records mentioning the LAVIS surname are scarce, but it is believed to have first emerged in the 13th or 14th century. One of the earliest known references can be found in the Worcestershire Feet of Fines from 1327, which mentions a certain John Lavis.

Throughout the centuries, variations in spelling and pronunciation have occurred, including Lavies, Laveyes, and Laves. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the preferences of record keepers or scribes at the time.

Renowned individuals who bore the LAVIS surname include:

1. Sir William Lavis (1554-1618), an English merchant and politician who served as Mayor of Bristol in 1612. 2. John Lavis (1693-1768), a notable English architect and surveyor responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in London. 3. Mary Lavis (1760-1842), a pioneering British botanist and illustrator known for her intricate drawings of rare plant species. 4. Henry Lavis (1815-1892), a prominent English geologist and paleontologist who made significant contributions to the study of fossil formations in the United Kingdom. 5. Edith Lavis (1875-1962), a British author and novelist who gained recognition for her historical fiction set in medieval and Tudor England.

While the LAVIS surname may have humble beginnings, it has been carried through the ages by individuals from various walks of life, each leaving their mark on history in their own unique way.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lavis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lavis 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. Devon leads with 220 Lavis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.78x.

County Total Index
Devon 220 18.78x
Somerset 113 12.47x
Middlesex 53 0.94x
Gloucestershire 38 3.44x
Lancashire 26 0.39x
Cornwall 22 3.45x
Glamorgan 17 1.73x
Lanarkshire 13 0.71x
Hampshire 11 0.95x
Lincolnshire 9 1.00x
Monmouthshire 9 2.21x
Durham 7 0.42x
Kent 7 0.36x
Surrey 5 0.18x
Cheshire 3 0.24x
Midlothian 3 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.40x
Pembrokeshire 3 1.68x
Royal Navy 3 4.47x
Oxfordshire 2 0.58x
Sussex 2 0.21x
Wiltshire 2 0.40x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.29x
Dorset 1 0.27x
Essex 1 0.09x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tormoham in Devon leads with 36 Lavis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.62x.

Place Total Index
Tormoham 36 72.62x
High Ham 25 1157.41x
Walcot 20 41.45x
Wolborough 19 128.29x
Bridestow 17 1370.97x
Calstock 17 136.00x
Hatherleigh 17 584.19x
Highweek 17 406.70x
North Petherton 15 205.20x
Long Sutton 13 769.23x
St Pancras London 13 2.87x
Littleham 12 140.02x
Kensington London 11 3.52x
Plymouth St Andrew 11 12.19x
Stoke St Gregory 11 400.00x
Westbury On Trym 11 29.41x
Portsea 10 4.42x
Great Little Marsden 9 29.42x
Mile End Old Town London 9 7.51x
Stoke Damerel 9 10.98x
Everton 8 3.76x
Spittlegate 8 64.26x
Clifton 7 12.54x
Dawdon 7 33.98x
Hammersmith London 7 5.05x
Shobrooke 7 564.52x
Tavistock 7 52.43x
Cwmdu 6 50.25x
Michaelstone Super Avon 6 56.55x
Old Monkland 6 8.31x
Paddington London 6 2.90x
Winterbourne 6 98.36x
Bisley 5 50.00x
Bovey Tracey 5 121.95x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 4.81x
Carluke 5 30.25x
Dawlish 5 57.21x
Ermington 5 117.37x
Exminster 5 118.76x
Weston 5 71.74x
Exeter St Leonard 4 124.61x
Okehampton 4 90.50x
Othery 4 360.36x
Salford 4 2.04x
Whitchurch 4 194.17x
Bere Ferrers 3 155.44x
Bridgewater 3 12.20x
Clapham 3 4.26x
Colaton Raleigh 3 206.90x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.03x
Dyffryn Clydach 3 127.12x
East Stockwith 3 483.87x
East Stonehouse 3 13.00x
Henbury 3 55.66x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 3 38.66x
Manchester 3 1.00x
North Leith 3 8.60x
Pitney 3 483.87x
Plymouth Charles The 3 5.81x
Plympton Maurice 3 135.75x
Royal Navy 3 5.23x
Sourton 3 303.03x
Tiverton 3 14.87x
Tranmere 3 6.57x
Wrington 3 98.68x
Bedminster 2 2.35x
Letterston 2 253.16x
Milton In Gravesend 2 6.94x
North Curry 2 64.94x
North Hinksey 2 363.64x
St Just In Penwith 2 16.18x
St Stephen 2 88.50x
St Woollos 2 4.40x
Topsham 2 36.17x
Westminster St John 2 2.92x
Wookey 2 100.00x
Aldershot 1 2.59x
Devizes St Mary 1 19.88x
Haverfordwest St Martin 1 30.21x
Kingweston 1 344.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Sarah 19
Elizabeth 15
Jane 15
Emma 11
Ann 10
Eliza 10
Annie 9
Emily 9
Alice 7
Louisa 7
Lucy 6
Martha 6
Bessie 5
Ellen 5
Ada 4
Edith 4
Grace 4
Hannah 4
Kate 4
Lydia 4
Margaret 4
Caroline 3
Florence 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Rosa 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Hetty 2
Isabella 2
Laura 2
Lilly 2
Nelly 2
Rebecca 2
Rosina 2
Anna 1
Betty 1
Blanch 1
Blanche 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Jessie 1
Joanna 1
Julia 1
Wilmot 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 48
John 28
George 26
Thomas 17
James 13
Charles 11
Edward 11
Henry 10
Walter 9
Robert 8
David 7
Frederick 7
Alfred 6
Richard 5
Albert 4
Ernest 4
Samuel 4
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Harry 3
Philip 3
Sidney 3
Andrew 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Jasper 2
Joseph 2
Lewis 2
Peter 2
Albion 1
Alex 1
Alexander 1
Arthur 1
E.Henry 1
F.S. 1
F.W.Thomas 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
H.J. 1
Harold 1
Jno. 1
Joe 1
Laurence 1
Lenard 1
Maurice 1
Orlando 1
Percy 1
Raymond 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Lavis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lavis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 580 people were recorded with the Lavis surname. That placed it at #6,010 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lavis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 773 in 2016. That gives Lavis a modern rank of #7,118.

What does the Lavis surname mean?

An occupational surname associated with being a lawyer or legal practitioner.

What does the Lavis map show?

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