NameCensus.

UK surname

Lear

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to a person living near a pasture or clearing.

In the 1881 census there were 1,755 people recorded with the Lear surname, ranking it #2,463 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,400, ranked #2,737, down from #2,463 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, Wolstanton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torfaen, South Gloucestershire and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lear is 2,618 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.8%.

1881 census count

1,755

Ranked #2,463

Modern count

2,400

2016, ranked #2,737

Peak year

1999

2,618 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lear had 1,755 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,463 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,400 in 2016, ranked #2,737.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,196 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lear surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lear surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lear 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 1,196 #2,378
1861 historical 1,071 #2,631
1881 historical 1,755 #2,463
1891 historical 1,908 #2,411
1901 historical 2,052 #2,612
1911 historical 2,196 #2,296
1997 modern 2,369 #2,637
1998 modern 2,598 #2,520
1999 modern 2,618 #2,519
2000 modern 2,537 #2,579
2001 modern 2,489 #2,572
2002 modern 2,524 #2,594
2003 modern 2,501 #2,567
2004 modern 2,483 #2,584
2005 modern 2,364 #2,658
2006 modern 2,344 #2,686
2007 modern 2,366 #2,684
2008 modern 2,382 #2,689
2009 modern 2,449 #2,685
2010 modern 2,494 #2,703
2011 modern 2,464 #2,707
2012 modern 2,401 #2,708
2013 modern 2,474 #2,692
2014 modern 2,478 #2,705
2015 modern 2,456 #2,702
2016 modern 2,400 #2,737

Geography

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Where Lears are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, Wolstanton, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torfaen, South Gloucestershire, Shropshire, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Tameside. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torfaen 003 Torfaen
2 South Gloucestershire 030 South Gloucestershire
3 Shropshire 008 Shropshire
4 Newcastle-under-Lyme 005 Newcastle-under-Lyme
5 Tameside 024 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lear

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lear

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lear is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Lear is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lear falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lear

The surname Lear has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "leah," which means a meadow, clearing, or open field. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or owned a meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Lear can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England. The name appears as "de la Lere," suggesting a connection to a specific place or location.

During the Middle Ages, the name Lear was prevalent in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Lincolnshire. It was often associated with landowners or individuals of some prominence in their local communities.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the name Lear was Sir John de Lear, a knight who served under King Edward I during the Scottish Wars of Independence. He was granted lands in Yorkshire for his military service.

Another prominent individual with the surname Lear was William Lear, a renowned English poet and writer who lived from 1629 to 1691. He is best known for his satirical works and his contributions to the development of English literature during the Restoration period.

In the 18th century, Tobias Lear, an American diplomat and personal secretary to George Washington, became a significant figure associated with the Lear name. He was born in 1762 and played a crucial role in managing Washington's affairs during and after the Revolutionary War.

The name Lear has also been linked to various place names across England, such as Lear Green in Hertfordshire and Lear Hill in Wiltshire. These place names may have derived from individuals bearing the surname Lear who lived or owned land in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname Lear include the American inventor and industrialist William P. Lear, who lived from 1902 to 1978 and is best known for developing the Lear Jet, and the English poet and writer Edward Lear, who lived from 1812 to 1888 and is renowned for his nonsense poems and limericks.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lear families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lear 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 292 Lears recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.22x.

County Total Index
Devon 292 8.22x
Staffordshire 238 4.13x
Gloucestershire 192 5.74x
Middlesex 183 1.07x
Lancashire 116 0.57x
Yorkshire 84 0.50x
Surrey 83 1.00x
Somerset 63 2.29x
Cheshire 57 1.51x
Hampshire 55 1.57x
Warwickshire 55 1.28x
Kent 54 0.93x
Glamorgan 41 1.38x
Dorset 27 2.41x
Durham 27 0.53x
Monmouthshire 20 1.62x
Sussex 20 0.70x
Essex 18 0.53x
Wiltshire 17 1.13x
Worcestershire 13 0.58x
Midlothian 12 0.53x
Shropshire 12 0.81x
Hertfordshire 9 0.77x
Berkshire 8 0.62x
Bedfordshire 7 0.79x
Cornwall 7 0.36x
Derbyshire 7 0.26x
Lanarkshire 5 0.09x
Suffolk 5 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.17x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.42x
Cumberland 3 0.20x
Norfolk 3 0.11x
Channel Islands 2 0.40x
Ayrshire 1 0.08x
Cardiganshire 1 0.24x
Isle of Man 1 0.32x
Leicestershire 1 0.05x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.26x
Northamptonshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 62 Lears recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.15x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 62 10.15x
Bitton 55 188.87x
Tormoham 53 35.27x
Birmingham 45 3.14x
Wolstanton 36 20.58x
Bitton Oldland 32 93.54x
Newton Abbot St Mary 32 107.42x
Cheltenham 26 10.07x
Lambeth 23 1.55x
Altrincham 22 33.43x
Burslem 22 13.34x
St Pancras London 20 1.46x
Wolstanton Oldcott 20 95.88x
Portsea 19 2.77x
Bristol St George 18 11.63x
Kenn 18 325.50x
Kensington London 18 1.90x
Leeds 18 1.89x
Newcastle Under Lyme 17 16.68x
Ashburton 16 94.23x
Islington London 16 0.97x
Plymouth St Andrew 16 5.85x
Shillingford St George 16 3902.44x
Swanscombe 16 61.19x
West Dean 15 27.60x
Birkenhead 14 4.66x
Bow London 14 6.45x
Bridgewater 14 18.78x
Exeter St Thomas The 14 38.67x
Hulme 14 3.31x
Southcoates 14 14.92x
Paddington London 13 2.07x
West Ham 13 1.75x
Darlington 12 6.12x
Mangotsfield 12 35.98x
Alverstoke 11 8.69x
Chorlton On Medlock 11 3.42x
Motcombe 11 133.50x
Radstock 11 60.91x
St Marylebone London 11 1.21x
Stoke Newington London 11 8.28x
Wolborough 11 24.50x
Battersea 10 1.59x
Dawlish 10 37.75x
Gorton 10 5.25x
Newington 10 1.59x
Acton 9 9.00x
Ardwick 9 4.93x
Aston 9 0.76x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 9 5.71x
Bermondsey 9 1.77x
Brixham 9 21.87x
Clase 9 8.15x
Kimberworth 9 9.59x
Milton In Gravesend 9 10.31x
Plymouth Charles The 9 5.75x
Salford 9 1.51x
Bedwellty 8 3.67x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.08x
Gillingham 8 41.58x
Handsworth 8 5.64x
Lichfield St Mary 8 48.16x
Madeley 8 55.75x
Stoke Damerel 8 3.22x
Alkrington 7 315.32x
Basingstoke 7 17.40x
Bradford 7 1.71x
Camerton 7 87.50x
Fulham London 7 2.83x
Kingston On Thames 7 3.51x
Lasswade 7 13.39x
Llangeinor 7 40.02x
Meole Brace 7 91.74x
Newton 7 4.49x
North Brewham 7 526.32x
Parr 7 9.66x
Radyr 7 231.02x
Siston 7 117.06x
Southampton St Mary 7 3.18x
Thakeham 7 220.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 120
Elizabeth 68
Sarah 64
Emma 43
Emily 33
Annie 29
Jane 27
Ann 24
Hannah 24
Eliza 22
Martha 22
Alice 19
Ellen 18
Louisa 18
Caroline 14
Florence 13
Margaret 13
Charlotte 12
Edith 12
Ada 11
Agnes 10
Harriet 9
Kate 9
Maria 9
Frances 8
Harriett 7
Amelia 6
Eleanor 6
Gertrude 6
Lucy 6
Anna 5
Sophia 5
Catherine 4
Clara 4
Elizth. 4
Ethel 4
Helen 4
Julia 4
Lily 4
Mabel 4
Minnie 4
Rose 4
Amy 3
Anne 3
Fanny 3
Jessie 3
Laura 3
Lydia 3
Matilda 3
Maud 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 112
John 93
George 74
James 62
Thomas 56
Charles 37
Henry 33
Joseph 28
Samuel 28
Alfred 27
Edward 24
Frederick 21
Richard 20
Arthur 18
Robert 15
Frank 11
Edwin 10
Albert 8
Benjamin 8
Harry 7
Stephen 6
Thos. 6
Wm. 6
Francis 5
Walter 5
Daniel 4
Herbert 4
Job 4
Sidney 4
Chas. 3
Elijah 3
Ernest 3
Evan 3
Fred 3
Cecil 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Lewis 2
Mathew 2
Peter 2
Wallace 2
Willie 2
Willm. 2
Amos 1
Bertram 1
Carl 1
Elija 1
Elisha 1
Enos 1

FAQ

Lear surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lear surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,755 people were recorded with the Lear surname. That placed it at #2,463 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lear surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,400 in 2016. That gives Lear a modern rank of #2,737.

What does the Lear surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name, possibly referring to a person living near a pasture or clearing.

What does the Lear map show?

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