NameCensus.

UK surname

Laycock

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "wood in a hollow".

In the 1881 census there were 4,115 people recorded with the Laycock surname, ranking it #1,101 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,007, ranked #2,234, down from #1,101 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale, Selby and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Laycock is 4,856 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.9%.

1881 census count

4,115

Ranked #1,101

Modern count

3,007

2016, ranked #2,234

Peak year

1911

4,856 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Laycock had 4,115 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,101 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,007 in 2016, ranked #2,234.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,856 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Laycock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Laycock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Laycock 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 2,864 #1,021
1861 historical 2,918 #987
1881 historical 4,115 #1,101
1891 historical 4,274 #1,118
1901 historical 4,673 #1,209
1911 historical 4,856 #1,074
1997 modern 3,347 #1,929
1998 modern 3,413 #1,961
1999 modern 3,489 #1,945
2000 modern 3,446 #1,961
2001 modern 3,367 #1,962
2002 modern 3,399 #1,996
2003 modern 3,302 #2,002
2004 modern 3,260 #2,021
2005 modern 3,143 #2,061
2006 modern 3,098 #2,086
2007 modern 3,123 #2,091
2008 modern 3,114 #2,122
2009 modern 3,119 #2,169
2010 modern 3,181 #2,177
2011 modern 3,112 #2,192
2012 modern 2,979 #2,241
2013 modern 3,018 #2,256
2014 modern 3,053 #2,239
2015 modern 3,012 #2,246
2016 modern 3,007 #2,234

Geography

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Where Laycocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, Bradford, Keighley and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rossendale, Selby, Bradford, Pendle and Calderdale. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rossendale 003 Rossendale
2 Selby 010 Selby
3 Bradford 023 Bradford
4 Pendle 006 Pendle
5 Calderdale 011 Calderdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Laycock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Laycock

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Laycock 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

Laycock is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Laycock falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Laycock

The surname Laycock originated in England during the medieval era. It is derived from the Old English words "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing, and "cock," referring to a small hill or mound. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a meadow or clearing on a small hill.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Leahcoc." This suggests that the name was already in use among English families before the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname was found in various regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire. It was sometimes spelled as "Laycok," "Laycock," or "Laycoke," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

One notable historical figure bearing the name was Sir John Laycock (c. 1490-1557), a prominent English merchant and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. He played a significant role in the wool trade and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1544.

Another individual of note was Thomas Laycock (1786-1861), an English physician and writer who made important contributions to the study of neurology and psychiatry. He was a pioneer in the field of psychosomatic medicine and published several influential works on the subject.

In the 19th century, John Laycock (1809-1889) was a renowned English architect who designed many notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall and several churches in the Gothic Revival style.

William Laycock (1831-1916) was a British artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraits. He was a member of the Royal Academy and exhibited his works at various prestigious venues throughout his career.

George Laycock (1856-1925) was a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of the internal combustion engine. He held several patents related to engine design and worked closely with automotive pioneers of his time.

While these are just a few examples, the surname Laycock has a long and rich history, tracing its roots back to the English countryside and meadows of medieval times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Laycock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Laycock 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. Yorkshire leads with 2,693 Laycocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.77x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 2,693 6.77x
Lancashire 765 1.61x
Middlesex 94 0.23x
Durham 85 0.71x
Sussex 68 1.00x
Surrey 52 0.27x
Norfolk 46 0.75x
Cheshire 43 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 33 0.61x
Northumberland 32 0.54x
Westmorland 27 3.06x
Cumberland 20 0.58x
Derbyshire 19 0.30x
Hampshire 18 0.22x
Kent 18 0.13x
Somerset 12 0.19x
Warwickshire 9 0.09x
Denbighshire 8 0.53x
Essex 8 0.10x
Lincolnshire 8 0.12x
Wiltshire 8 0.23x
Worcestershire 8 0.15x
Northamptonshire 6 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.16x
Midlothian 4 0.07x
Renfrewshire 4 0.13x
Dorset 3 0.11x
Bedfordshire 2 0.10x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.12x
Flintshire 2 0.19x
Glamorgan 2 0.03x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.25x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.16x
Ayrshire 1 0.03x
Berkshire 1 0.03x
Devon 1 0.01x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 0.21x
Staffordshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 178 Laycocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.92x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 178 7.92x
Keighley 176 41.51x
Bradford 148 15.37x
Horton In Bradford 112 18.03x
Bingley 79 31.19x
Thurgoland 75 279.43x
Mirfield 70 32.05x
Bowling 68 17.26x
Sheffield 66 5.21x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 65 45.75x
Hunslet 57 9.19x
Manningham 57 11.63x
Brighton 56 4.10x
Habergham Eaves 53 12.17x
Southowram 53 43.65x
Burnley 51 12.71x
Glusburn 46 204.72x
Holy Trinity 41 4.29x
Trawden 40 134.23x
North Bierley 36 16.76x
Blackburn 35 2.76x
Halifax 35 5.99x
Newchurch 35 8.98x
Colne 34 23.96x
Oldham 34 2.21x
Skipton 33 26.36x
Thornhill 33 28.43x
Wakefield 33 10.81x
Toxteth Park 32 1.98x
Horbury 31 44.55x
Huddersfield 31 5.35x
Butterworth 30 25.85x
Shipley 29 14.05x
Wortley In Bramley 29 9.21x
Kildwick 27 74.54x
Brightside Bierlow 26 3.33x
Eccleshill 26 26.86x
Great Little Marsden 26 11.92x
Wortley In Wortley 26 166.24x
Tong 25 32.54x
Cononley 24 210.16x
Cowling 24 93.06x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 22 15.23x
Sutton In Keighley 22 97.69x
Birkenhead 21 2.97x
Silsden 21 179.03x
Barnsley 20 4.87x
Scarborough 20 5.53x
Ecclesall Bierlow 19 2.35x
Pudsey 18 8.47x
Armley 17 9.69x
Calverley Cum Farsley 17 15.05x
Headingley Cum Burley 17 6.64x
North Walsham 17 38.19x
Wigan 17 2.55x
Ecclesfield 16 5.49x
Pendleton In Clitheroe 16 88.74x
Spotland 16 3.02x
Wardleworth 16 5.88x
Darlington 15 3.25x
Idle 15 8.13x
Steeton Cum Eastburn 15 109.73x
Accrington 14 3.23x
Almondbury 14 7.28x
Camberwell 14 0.55x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 14 2.71x
Kirkheaton 14 21.70x
Mile End Old Town London 14 1.64x
Rawmarsh 14 9.96x
Wilsden 14 34.27x
Batley 13 3.44x
Great Bolton 13 2.06x
Thornton In Bradford 13 9.82x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 1.15x
Blatchinworth 12 11.07x
Escrick 12 148.33x
Gildersome 12 25.09x
Methley 12 21.42x
Otley 12 12.42x
Padiham 12 10.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 329
Sarah 187
Elizabeth 164
Jane 95
Ann 93
Hannah 78
Annie 73
Emma 59
Martha 58
Alice 57
Margaret 57
Eliza 55
Ellen 55
Emily 43
Ada 27
Maria 25
Fanny 23
Anne 21
Clara 20
Harriet 20
Susannah 19
Isabella 18
Edith 17
Florence 17
Agnes 15
Grace 15
Ruth 15
Louisa 14
Lucy 14
Amy 13
Catherine 12
Rachel 12
Nancy 11
Betty 10
Caroline 10
Elizth. 10
Bertha 9
Frances 9
Kate 9
Rose 9
Lilly 8
Lydia 8
Minnie 8
Charlotte 7
Julia 7
Matilda 7
Susan 7
Betsy 6
Rebecca 6
Sophia 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 252
William 213
James 135
Thomas 123
Joseph 109
George 97
Henry 61
Charles 44
Robert 42
Alfred 40
Richard 39
Samuel 37
Arthur 35
Edward 33
Harry 30
Walter 30
Frederick 26
Fred 25
Benjamin 22
Albert 20
Jonas 19
Ernest 14
Francis 14
Frank 14
Tom 14
Peter 13
Isaac 12
Wm. 12
David 11
Herbert 10
Sam 9
Thos. 8
Joshua 7
Edwin 6
Eli 6
Ellis 6
Matthew 6
Saml. 6
Willie 6
Aaron 5
Christopher 5
Fredk. 5
Geo. 5
Michael 5
Stephen 5
Vincent 5
Ben 4
Daniel 4
Horace 4
Martin 4

FAQ

Laycock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Laycock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,115 people were recorded with the Laycock surname. That placed it at #1,101 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Laycock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,007 in 2016. That gives Laycock a modern rank of #2,234.

What does the Laycock surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "wood in a hollow".

What does the Laycock map show?

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