NameCensus.

UK surname

Layman

A surname referring to a person without specialized knowledge, derived from the term for a non-ordained church member.

In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Layman surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 86, ranked #32,570, down from #17,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Cullompton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Enfield and New Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Layman is 122 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 29.5%.

1881 census count

122

Ranked #17,602

Modern count

86

2016, ranked #32,570

Peak year

1881

122 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 1998

Key insights

  • Layman had 122 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 86 in 2016, ranked #32,570.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 122 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Layman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Layman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Layman 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 79 #19,712
1861 historical 107 #20,008
1881 historical 122 #17,602
1891 historical 87 #25,802
1901 historical 117 #20,830
1911 historical 107 #21,842
1997 modern 113 #25,106
1998 modern 112 #25,856
1999 modern 114 #25,766
2000 modern 105 #27,001
2001 modern 101 #27,252
2002 modern 96 #28,534
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 97 #28,455
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 92 #29,576
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 97 #29,527
2009 modern 100 #29,597
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 98 #30,612
2013 modern 98 #31,078
2014 modern 95 #31,792
2015 modern 89 #32,325
2016 modern 86 #32,570

Geography

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Where Laymans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Cullompton, London parishes, Beckenham and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Enfield, New Forest and Tendring. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Cullompton Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Beckenham Kent
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 008 Caerphilly
2 Enfield 011 Enfield
3 Caerphilly 022 Caerphilly
4 New Forest 017 New Forest
5 Tendring 012 Tendring

Forenames

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First names often paired with Layman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Layman

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Layman is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Layman 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

Layman falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Layman

The surname LAYMAN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely in the 13th or 14th century. It is derived from the Old English word "leman," which initially referred to a beloved person or sweetheart, but later evolved to mean a secular or non-ordained person, as opposed to a member of the clergy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LAYMAN can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a certain William le Layman is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time and may have initially been an occupational surname denoting a person who was not part of the religious order.

The LAYMAN surname is also thought to be associated with the village of Layman in Oxfordshire, which could have been a place of origin for some families bearing this name. In the 14th century, the village was referred to as "Leman" or "Leyman," indicating a possible connection to the name's etymology.

Notable individuals with the surname LAYMAN throughout history include Sir John Layman (1531-1616), an English merchant and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Layman (1677-1765), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

In the realm of literature, John Layman (1803-1877) was an American poet and author, known for his works depicting rural life in the 19th century. More recently, John Layman (born 1976) is a contemporary American comic book writer and creator, best known for his work on titles like "Chew" and "Outer Darkness."

Other notable individuals with the LAYMAN surname include Richard Layman (1647-1706), an English clergyman and author of religious texts, and Joseph Layman (1835-1918), an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia.

It is worth noting that while the LAYMAN surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through immigration and migration patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Layman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Layman 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 40 Laymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.15x.

County Total Index
Devon 40 16.15x
Kent 17 4.19x
Middlesex 11 0.92x
Yorkshire 11 0.93x
Lancashire 8 0.57x
Essex 7 2.98x
Cornwall 5 3.71x
Radnorshire 4 41.67x
Bedfordshire 3 4.87x
Surrey 3 0.52x
Cambridgeshire 2 2.65x
Shropshire 2 1.95x
Sussex 2 1.00x
Warwickshire 2 0.67x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.39x
Lincolnshire 1 0.53x
Norfolk 1 0.55x
Northamptonshire 1 0.89x
Somerset 1 0.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 9 Laymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.74x.

Place Total Index
Deptford St Paul 9 28.74x
Cullompton 8 740.74x
Sheffield 8 21.31x
Islington London 7 6.07x
Manchester 7 11.02x
West Ham 7 13.50x
Buckfastleigh 6 526.32x
Bridestow 5 1923.08x
Christow 5 2083.33x
Exminster 5 561.80x
Kennerleigh 5 12500.00x
Paul 5 204.08x
Beckenham 4 75.33x
Bexley 4 111.42x
Presteigne 4 655.74x
Crediton 3 127.66x
Shefford 3 681.82x
Birmingham 2 2.00x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 2 60.79x
Farlow 2 1428.57x
Hastings St Mary 2 40.08x
Middlesbrough 2 13.03x
Whitechapel London 2 17.05x
Akeley 1 625.00x
Bovey Tracey 1 114.94x
Dulverton 1 178.57x
Great Yarmouth 1 6.60x
Kensington London 1 1.51x
Lambeth 1 0.96x
Oldham 1 2.19x
Penge 1 13.16x
Seaton 1 105.26x
Southwark St John 1 27.47x
St Luke London 1 5.24x
Tanshelf 1 106.38x
Thorpe Tilney 1 2000.00x
Wellingborough 1 17.76x
Wolborough 1 31.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Mary 6
Charlotte 4
Ellen 4
Sarah 4
Alice 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Margaret 2
Minnie 2
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Aueswaldern 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Dinah 1
Epiphany 1
Esther 1
Gertruide 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Hetty 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Rose 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
James 7
John 6
George 5
Henry 5
Thomas 5
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Isaac 2
Robert 2
Sydney 2
Arthur 1
Beecher 1
Chas. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Felix 1
Francis 1
Joseph 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Sdyney 1
W. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Layman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Layman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Layman surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Layman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 86 in 2016. That gives Layman a modern rank of #32,570.

What does the Layman surname mean?

A surname referring to a person without specialized knowledge, derived from the term for a non-ordained church member.

What does the Layman map show?

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