NameCensus.

UK surname

Layer

An occupational surname referring to one who laid tiles or stones.

In the 1881 census there were 106 people recorded with the Layer surname, ranking it #19,083 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 99, ranked #31,358, down from #19,083 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Birch, Easthorpe, Copford and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Kettering and Dacorum.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Layer is 444 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.6%.

1881 census count

106

Ranked #19,083

Modern count

99

2016, ranked #31,358

Peak year

1861

444 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 1911

Key insights

  • Layer had 106 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,083 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016, ranked #31,358.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 444 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Layer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Layer surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Layer 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 141 #13,507
1861 historical 444 #5,826
1881 historical 106 #19,083
1891 historical 265 #12,208
1901 historical 146 #18,335
1911 historical 276 #12,099
1997 modern 82 #29,325
1998 modern 87 #29,240
1999 modern 93 #28,711
2000 modern 89 #29,173
2001 modern 88 #29,056
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 86 #29,752
2004 modern 93 #29,065
2005 modern 89 #29,683
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 90 #30,228
2008 modern 90 #30,567
2009 modern 91 #30,944
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 94 #31,016
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 99 #31,186
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 99 #31,358

Geography

Back to top

Where Layers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Birch, Easthorpe, Copford, Birmingham Town: Birmingham, St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Kettering and Dacorum. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Birch, Easthorpe, Copford Essex
3 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
4 St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a Norfolk
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 025 Cornwall
2 Kettering 002 Kettering
3 Dacorum 007 Dacorum
4 Kettering 010 Kettering
5 Cornwall 026 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Layer

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Layer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Layer, 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 Layer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Layer 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Layer is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Layer is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Layer falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Layer

The surname Layer is of English origin, dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "leah", meaning a meadow, woodland, or clearing, and was initially used as a toponymic name to identify someone who lived near a meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Layer surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1198, where a Richard de la Leyere is mentioned. The surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a Roger de la Laye is listed.

The Layer surname is closely associated with several place names in England, such as Layer Breton and Layer Marney in Essex, and Layer de la Haye in Hertfordshire. These place names likely originated from the Old English words "leah" and "breten" (Briton), "leah" and "mere" (boundary or lake), and "leah" and "haye" (enclosure), respectively.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the Layer surname was John Layer, a prominent merchant and alderman from London, who lived from around 1310 to 1375. Another early bearer was Thomas Layer, a landowner and member of the gentry from Cambridgeshire, who was born in the late 15th century.

During the English Civil War in the mid-17th century, Christopher Layer (1633-1694) was a notable Royalist soldier who fought for King Charles I. He was later knighted for his services.

In the late 17th century, John Layer (1670-1720) was a prominent English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and buildings in London, including St. James' Church in Piccadilly.

In the 18th century, Edward Layer (1692-1737) was a notable but ill-fated Jacobite conspirator who was convicted of treason and executed for his role in the Atterbury Plot, a plan to overthrow King George I and restore the Stuart monarchy.

Throughout history, the Layer surname has been associated with various professions, including merchants, landowners, soldiers, architects, and even conspirators, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Layer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Layer 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. Essex leads with 50 Layers recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.50x.

County Total Index
Essex 50 24.50x
Surrey 11 2.18x
Kent 10 2.83x
Yorkshire 8 0.78x
Suffolk 7 5.56x
Middlesex 5 0.48x
Durham 4 1.30x
Sussex 4 2.29x
Lancashire 2 0.16x
Brecknockshire 1 4.84x
Carmarthenshire 1 2.30x
Glamorgan 1 0.56x
Norfolk 1 0.63x
Staffordshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Marks Tey in Essex leads with 14 Layers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9333.33x.

Place Total Index
Marks Tey 14 9333.33x
Earls Colne 9 1607.14x
Great Tey 9 3600.00x
Colchester St Giles 8 396.04x
Camberwell 7 10.60x
Ipswich St Peter 7 411.76x
Kelvedon 7 1296.30x
Greenwich 5 30.38x
Lewisham 5 26.58x
Normanby In 5 182.48x
Brighton 3 8.53x
South Weald 3 171.43x
Wingate 3 142.18x
Habergham Eaves 2 17.84x
Brotton 1 74.63x
Cardiff St Mary 1 10.08x
Carmarthen St Peter 1 26.88x
Croydon 1 3.58x
East Grinstead 1 40.49x
Hillam 1 833.33x
Kensington London 1 1.74x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 20.96x
Lambeth 1 1.11x
Llanspyddid 1 500.00x
Middlesbrough 1 7.50x
Penge 1 15.15x
Shoreditch London 1 2.23x
Southwark St Saviour 1 18.83x
Spitalfields London 1 12.85x
Stoke Newington London 1 12.42x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 2.70x
Sunderland 1 18.42x
Willesden 1 10.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Alice 4
Eliza 4
Ann 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Emma 2
Ethel 2
Harriet 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Sarah 2
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Elizab. 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Elyza 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Lillian 1
M. 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Maude 1
Mercy 1
Salome 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
George 5
John 5
Thomas 5
Arthur 4
Albert 3
James 3
Chas. 2
Henry 2
Walter 2
Warcup 2
Alfred 1
Austen 1
Bertram 1
Clarence 1
Daniel 1
Edwd. 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Joseph 1
Mark 1
Robt.M. 1
Samuel 1
Shadrach 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Layer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Layer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 106 people were recorded with the Layer surname. That placed it at #19,083 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Layer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016. That gives Layer a modern rank of #31,358.

What does the Layer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to one who laid tiles or stones.

What does the Layer map show?

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