NameCensus.

UK surname

Lazarus

A surname derived from the biblical figure Lazarus, meaning "God has helped" in Hebrew.

In the 1881 census there were 714 people recorded with the Lazarus surname, ranking it #5,094 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 959, ranked #5,992, down from #5,094 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Botolph Aldgate, St George in the East and Christ Church Spitalfields. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bury, Barnet and Mid Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lazarus is 1,478 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.3%.

1881 census count

714

Ranked #5,094

Modern count

959

2016, ranked #5,992

Peak year

1911

1,478 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lazarus had 714 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,094 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 959 in 2016, ranked #5,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,478 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Lazarus surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lazarus surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lazarus 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 476 #5,228
1861 historical 364 #7,023
1881 historical 714 #5,094
1891 historical 890 #4,626
1901 historical 1,346 #3,723
1911 historical 1,478 #3,257
1997 modern 913 #5,910
1998 modern 939 #5,962
1999 modern 934 #6,030
2000 modern 936 #6,005
2001 modern 903 #6,068
2002 modern 923 #6,079
2003 modern 923 #5,961
2004 modern 909 #6,051
2005 modern 918 #5,933
2006 modern 917 #5,952
2007 modern 931 #5,931
2008 modern 942 #5,920
2009 modern 971 #5,896
2010 modern 1,001 #5,880
2011 modern 968 #5,971
2012 modern 969 #5,876
2013 modern 1,017 #5,745
2014 modern 1,011 #5,804
2015 modern 991 #5,852
2016 modern 959 #5,992

Geography

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Where Lazarus' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Botolph Aldgate, St George in the East, Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes and St Mary Whitechapel. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bury, Barnet, Mid Devon and South Oxfordshire. 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 St Botolph Aldgate London (Central Districts)
2 St George in the East London (East Districts)
3 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 1
5 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bury 019 Bury
2 Barnet 032 Barnet
3 Mid Devon 002 Mid Devon
4 South Oxfordshire 010 South Oxfordshire
5 Bury 026 Bury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lazarus

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lazarus

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Lazarus surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Lazarus 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Lazarus 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

Lazarus is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lazarus 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 Lazarus is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Lazarus, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lazarus

The surname Lazarus originated in ancient Greece, derived from the Hebrew name Eleazar, meaning "God has helped." It first appeared in the Bible as the name of the brother of Mary and Martha, who was raised from the dead by Jesus Christ. This biblical association contributed to the name's widespread adoption across Europe during the Middle Ages.

Lazarus is a variant of the Greek name Lazaros, which was transliterated into Latin as Lazarus. The name spread throughout the Byzantine Empire and was later adopted by various European cultures, resulting in different spellings such as Lazare in French, Lázaro in Spanish, and Lazzaro in Italian.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lazarus can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners in England after the Norman Conquest. The book mentions a landowner named Lazarus in Norfolk, indicating the name's presence in England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, a prominent English scholar named Roger Lazarus (c. 1200-1274) gained recognition for his work on canon law. He served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and contributed significantly to the development of legal education in England.

During the 15th century, the surname Lazarus appeared in various parts of Europe. One notable figure was Lazarus Rainer (c. 1450-1518), a German humanist, poet, and teacher who worked at the University of Vienna and was known for his Latin poetry.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence in Italy with the artist Sebastiano Lazari (c. 1505-1557), also known as Sebastiano del Piombo. He was a prominent Renaissance painter and a contemporary of Michelangelo, known for his oil paintings and frescoes in churches in Rome.

Another notable figure with the surname Lazarus was Emma Lazarus (1849-1887), an American poet and writer of Sephardic Jewish descent. Her famous sonnet "The New Colossus" is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, celebrating the United States as a land of opportunity for immigrants.

The surname Lazarus has also been associated with various places and landmarks. For example, the island of Lazarus off the coast of Larnaca, Cyprus, is believed to have been named after the biblical Lazarus, who was said to have taken refuge there after his resurrection.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lazarus families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lazarus 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. Middlesex leads with 487 Lazarus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.00x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 487 7.00x
Lancashire 40 0.48x
Yorkshire 36 0.52x
Surrey 35 1.03x
Devon 19 1.31x
Durham 13 0.63x
Glamorgan 13 1.07x
Cornwall 9 1.14x
Anglesey 8 6.49x
Caernarfonshire 8 2.84x
Kent 7 0.30x
Northumberland 7 0.68x
Gloucestershire 6 0.44x
Somerset 6 0.54x
Warwickshire 6 0.34x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.19x
Essex 3 0.22x
Hampshire 2 0.14x
Lanarkshire 2 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 96 Lazarus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.85x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town London 96 64.85x
Whitechapel London 64 93.35x
Islington London 33 4.90x
Spitalfields London 30 57.35x
Bethnal Green London 29 9.60x
Hackney London 28 7.18x
Paddington London 27 10.56x
Leeds 22 5.65x
St Marylebone London 21 5.66x
St Pancras London 20 3.57x
St George In East London 18 27.51x
Mile End New Town London 16 116.45x
Newington 15 5.84x
Bishopwearmouth 13 7.32x
Manchester 13 3.50x
St Giles In Fields London 13 38.10x
Liverpool 12 2.39x
Old Artillery Ground 12 200.33x
Bampton 11 248.31x
St Botolph Aldgate London 11 76.82x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 11 111.79x
St George Bloomsbury 11 27.57x
Bermondsey 9 4.35x
Cheetham 9 14.62x
Madron Penzance 9 31.44x
Elswick 7 8.48x
Hammersmith London 7 4.09x
Merthyr Tydfil 7 6.01x
Bangor 6 22.12x
Bedminster 6 5.70x
Holy Trinity 6 3.62x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 5 40.23x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 3.57x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 3.57x
St Clement Danes London 5 34.75x
West Derby 5 2.07x
Aylesbury 4 21.47x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.44x
Ealing 4 6.44x
Exeter St Sidwell 4 12.06x
Lambeth 4 0.66x
Llanddona 4 363.64x
Shoreditch London 4 1.33x
St Botolph Aldersgate 4 50.13x
St Luke London 4 3.59x
Wapping London 4 75.33x
Ystradyfodwg 4 3.77x
Atherstone 3 33.48x
Birmingham 3 0.51x
Bow London 3 3.39x
Holy Trinity 3 98.68x
Llanfihangel Trer 3 389.61x
Ramsgate 3 7.74x
West Ham 3 0.99x
Barnes 2 13.96x
Brightside Bierlow 2 1.48x
Canterbury St George 2 70.18x
Cardiff St John 2 5.06x
Kensington London 2 0.52x
St George Hanover Square 2 1.63x
St Sepulchre London 2 19.65x
Beaumaris 1 22.03x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 1.53x
Brading 1 5.28x
Bromley London 1 0.65x
Glasgow 1 0.25x
Govan 1 0.18x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 9.53x
Horfield 1 7.28x
Llandegai 1 11.61x
Llanllechid 1 5.06x
Milton In Gravesend 1 2.81x
South Brent 1 32.15x
St Faith Winchester 1 15.06x
St Katherine Creechurch 1 83.33x
Stone 1 30.67x
Ware 1 7.28x
Woolwich 1 1.14x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Samuel 22
Abraham 18
Henry 18
John 15
Lewis 14
Isaac 13
Jacob 13
David 12
Joseph 11
Moses 9
Solomon 8
Frederick 7
Hyman 7
Morris 6
Thomas 6
Louis 5
Philip 5
Barnett 4
Benjamin 4
Charles 4
Emanuel 4
Israel 4
James 4
Nathan 4
William 4
Albert 3
Alexander 3
Alfred 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Mark 3
Meyer 3
Nathaniel 3
Ralph 3
Simeon 3
Simon 3
Victor 3
Wolf 3
Arthur 2
Barnet 2
Edward 2
George 2
Harry 2
Lazarus 2
Maurice 2
Michael 2
Phillip 2
Phineas 2
Soloman 2
Wolff 2

FAQ

Lazarus surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lazarus surname in 1881?

In 1881, 714 people were recorded with the Lazarus surname. That placed it at #5,094 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lazarus surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 959 in 2016. That gives Lazarus a modern rank of #5,992.

What does the Lazarus surname mean?

A surname derived from the biblical figure Lazarus, meaning "God has helped" in Hebrew.

What does the Lazarus map show?

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