NameCensus.

UK surname

Layfield

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "field with a meadow or clearing."

In the 1881 census there were 546 people recorded with the Layfield surname, ranking it #6,327 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 605, ranked #8,661, down from #6,327 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Otley and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, South Lakeland and Burnley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Layfield is 838 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.8%.

1881 census count

546

Ranked #6,327

Modern count

605

2016, ranked #8,661

Peak year

1911

838 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Layfield had 546 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,327 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 605 in 2016, ranked #8,661.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 838 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Layfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Layfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Layfield 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 319 #7,273
1861 historical 354 #7,224
1881 historical 546 #6,327
1891 historical 609 #6,307
1901 historical 725 #6,108
1911 historical 838 #5,279
1997 modern 597 #8,177
1998 modern 612 #8,275
1999 modern 618 #8,282
2000 modern 598 #8,447
2001 modern 604 #8,260
2002 modern 599 #8,472
2003 modern 590 #8,436
2004 modern 604 #8,309
2005 modern 584 #8,431
2006 modern 564 #8,668
2007 modern 597 #8,383
2008 modern 587 #8,562
2009 modern 622 #8,359
2010 modern 611 #8,669
2011 modern 602 #8,675
2012 modern 595 #8,671
2013 modern 607 #8,662
2014 modern 620 #8,575
2015 modern 605 #8,678
2016 modern 605 #8,661

Geography

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Where Layfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Otley, London parishes, Durham St Oswald and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, South Lakeland, Burnley, Wirral and Richmondshire. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Otley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Durham St Oswald Durham
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 002 Bradford
2 South Lakeland 012 South Lakeland
3 Burnley 010 Burnley
4 Wirral 022 Wirral
5 Richmondshire 002 Richmondshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Layfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Layfield

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Layfield is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Layfield 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

Layfield 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 Layfield 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 Layfield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Layfield

The surname Layfield has its roots in England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is a locational name, derived from the Old English words "lēah," meaning a meadow or clearing, and "feld," meaning a field or open land. The name likely originated in various areas where such meadows or clearings existed.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195, where a person named Robert de Layfeld is listed. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century in the county of Lincolnshire.

In the 13th century, the name was also found in various forms such as Leghfeld, Leighfeld, and Layfelde, reflecting the different spellings and pronunciations of the time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 record a John de Leyfeld in Oxfordshire, while the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 mention a William de Leghfeld in Yorkshire.

By the 14th century, the name had solidified into its modern spelling of Layfield. The Poll Tax Records of 1379 list several individuals with this surname, including John Layfeld in Yorkshire and William Layfeld in Lincolnshire.

One notable figure bearing this name was Sir John Layfield (c. 1570-1617), an English diplomat and politician who served as Ambassador to the Netherlands and held various positions in the court of King James I.

Other historical figures with the Layfield surname include:

1. William Layfield (1612-1701), an English clergyman and academic who served as President of St. John's College, Oxford. 2. Nathaniel Layfield (1619-1670), an English Puritan clergyman and author known for his writings on religious topics. 3. Edward Layfield (1674-1737), an English architect and builder who worked on various projects in London and surrounding areas. 4. Thomas Layfield (1771-1851), an English engraver and cartographer known for his maps and topographical engravings.

Throughout its history, the Layfield surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Layfield in Lincolnshire and Layfield Farm in Oxfordshire, further reinforcing its locational origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Layfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Layfield 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 195 Layfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.09x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 195 3.09x
Yorkshire 163 3.09x
Durham 115 7.26x
Middlesex 27 0.51x
Gloucestershire 10 0.96x
Cumberland 8 1.74x
Cheshire 7 0.60x
Glamorgan 6 0.65x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.70x
Westmorland 3 2.56x
Kent 2 0.11x
Suffolk 2 0.31x
Surrey 2 0.08x
Cornwall 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burnley in Lancashire leads with 61 Layfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 114.62x.

Place Total Index
Burnley 61 114.62x
Darlington 28 45.77x
Habergham Eaves 24 41.55x
Wetherby 20 581.40x
Stockton On Tees 14 18.33x
Bewerley 13 599.08x
Blackwell 13 1645.57x
Barrow In Furness 11 12.80x
Great Lever 11 163.93x
Blackburn 10 5.95x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 10.17x
North Kilvington 10 6250.00x
Norton 10 171.82x
Felliscliffe 9 1525.42x
Framwellgate 9 95.85x
Liverpool 9 2.34x
Fountains Earth 8 1355.93x
Lancaster 8 21.28x
Leyland 8 72.73x
Silksworth 8 1095.89x
Denton 7 2592.59x
Elvet 7 61.19x
High Low Bishopside 7 149.57x
Low Dinsdale 7 1521.74x
Arlecdon 6 49.22x
Birkenhead 6 6.40x
Eglwysilan 6 37.29x
Northallerton 6 89.02x
Oldham 6 2.94x
Openshaw 6 20.27x
Richmond 6 72.73x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 3.62x
Brompton On Swale 5 757.58x
Croft 5 510.20x
Gorton 5 8.42x
Islington London 5 0.97x
Kirkdale 5 4.70x
Morton Tinmouth 5 8333.33x
Nottingham St Mary 5 2.69x
St Sepulchre London 5 64.10x
Stonebeck Down 5 833.33x
West Derby 5 2.70x
Accrington 4 6.96x
Dacre 4 338.98x
Horton In Bradford 4 4.85x
Hunslet 4 4.86x
Pannal 4 79.05x
Pendleton In Clitheroe 4 167.36x
Sherburn 4 82.99x
St George Hanover Square 4 4.26x
Cassop 3 275.23x
Ingleby Barwick 3 1250.00x
Keighley 3 5.33x
Kirby Fleetham 3 294.12x
Laverton 3 535.71x
Moss Side 3 9.02x
Moulton 3 588.24x
St Andrew By Wardrobe 3 937.50x
St Luke London 3 3.51x
York Holy Trinity 3 65.79x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 2 11.08x
Fulham London 2 2.59x
Gilling 2 125.79x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 5.89x
Ipswich St Clement 2 12.13x
Lambeth 2 0.43x
Manchester 2 0.70x
Mile End Old Town London 2 1.76x
Orton 2 57.14x
Preston 2 1.18x
Preston Quarter 2 15.56x
Upper Stonebeck 2 384.62x
Warsill 2 1818.18x
Woolwich 2 2.98x
York All Sts Peasholme 2 232.56x
Bradford 1 0.78x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.00x
Great Crosby 1 5.80x
Killerby 1 909.09x
Sharples 1 14.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Jane 24
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 17
Ann 15
Alice 14
Hannah 13
Ellen 11
Margaret 6
Eliza 5
Harriet 5
Anne 4
Annie 4
Esther 4
Ada 3
Anna 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Isabella 3
Louisa 3
Margt. 3
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Henrietta 2
Isabel 2
Jenny 2
Lily 2
Margrat 2
Margret 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Rachel 2
Susannah 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Caroline 1
Cecilia 1
Elizebeth 1
Ellenor 1
Emmiline 1
Fany 1
Julia 1
Labitha 1
Leonora 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
Zylla 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 38
William 33
James 21
Thomas 18
George 17
Joseph 17
Robert 17
Richard 16
Henry 10
Allan 7
Charles 6
Arthur 5
Albert 4
Fred 4
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Wm. 3
Alfred 2
Bartholomew 2
Chas. 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Lawrence 2
Leonard 2
Lofthouse 2
Massey 2
Samuel 2
Benjamin 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Henery 1
Howarth 1
Humphrey 1
John. 1
Lenard 1
Luke 1
Mary 1
Mathias 1
Moses 1
Parker 1
Percival 1
Peter 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Layfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Layfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 546 people were recorded with the Layfield surname. That placed it at #6,327 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Layfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 605 in 2016. That gives Layfield a modern rank of #8,661.

What does the Layfield surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "field with a meadow or clearing."

What does the Layfield map show?

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