NameCensus.

UK surname

Learner

A surname derived from the occupation of a student or teacher.

In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Learner surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 95, ranked #31,782, down from #26,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, Chedworth and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aylesbury Vale, Waveney and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Learner is 141 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.7%.

1881 census count

52

Ranked #26,281

Modern count

95

2016, ranked #31,782

Peak year

1998

141 bearers

Map years

3

1911 to 2006

Key insights

  • Learner had 52 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016, ranked #31,782.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 126 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Learner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Learner surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Learner 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 40 #28,970
1881 historical 52 #26,281
1891 historical 76 #27,290
1901 historical 94 #23,588
1911 historical 126 #19,831
1997 modern 125 #23,567
1998 modern 141 #22,517
1999 modern 137 #23,083
2000 modern 133 #23,462
2001 modern 131 #23,343
2002 modern 134 #23,492
2003 modern 125 #24,265
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 110 #26,430
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 110 #27,087
2008 modern 114 #26,796
2009 modern 119 #26,637
2010 modern 108 #28,996
2011 modern 104 #29,424
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 100 #30,773
2014 modern 99 #31,186
2015 modern 96 #31,624
2016 modern 95 #31,782

Geography

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Where Learners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, Chedworth, Paddington, Walsham, North and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aylesbury Vale, Waveney, Barnet, Westminster and Bristol. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Chedworth Gloucestershire
3 Paddington London (West Districts)
4 Walsham, North Norfolk
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aylesbury Vale 022 Aylesbury Vale
2 Waveney 010 Waveney
3 Barnet 033 Barnet
4 Westminster 019 Westminster
5 Bristol 034 Bristol, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Learner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Learner

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Learner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Learner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Learner is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Learner 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

Learner falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Learner 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Learner

The surname Learner has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "leornian," meaning "to learn" or "to study." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as an occupational surname to someone involved in the field of education, such as a teacher or a scholar.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Learner can be found in the Parish Registers of St. Giles Cripplegate in London, where a certain John Learner was mentioned in 1564. The name also appears in historical records from Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, indicating that it was prevalent in various regions of England.

In the 17th century, the surname Learner was sometimes spelled as "Lerner" or "Lernour," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time. One notable individual with this surname was William Learner (1616-1677), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Sedgefield in County Durham.

During the 18th century, the Learner family had established roots in various parts of England. One prominent figure was Thomas Learner (1725-1808), a merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, who was instrumental in establishing several charitable institutions in the city.

As the Industrial Revolution unfolded in the 19th century, the Learner surname became more widely dispersed across England. John Learner (1821-1892), a successful businessman from Manchester, was a key figure in the textile industry and played a significant role in the city's economic development.

Another noteworthy individual was Elizabeth Learner (1845-1919), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded one of the first schools for girls in London and campaigned tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for women.

In the 20th century, the Learner name continued to be associated with various fields, including academia and the arts. One such figure was Professor Albert Learner (1903-1985), a renowned linguist and scholar at the University of Cambridge, who made significant contributions to the study of languages and dialects.

Through the centuries, the surname Learner has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting its origins as an occupational name associated with learning and education.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Learner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Learner 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. Norfolk leads with 25 Learners recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.06x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 25 32.06x
Buckinghamshire 7 22.83x
Durham 7 4.64x
Middlesex 4 0.79x
Bedfordshire 3 11.42x
Hampshire 3 2.89x
Kent 3 1.73x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Walsham in Norfolk leads with 14 Learners recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
North Walsham 14 2500.00x
Winlaton 7 482.76x
Aylesbury 6 441.18x
Burgh 6 15000.00x
Islington London 3 6.10x
Lewisham 3 32.50x
Millbrook 3 114.50x
Potton 3 857.14x
Trunch 3 3750.00x
Great Yarmouth 1 15.48x
Heigham 1 23.87x
Wendover 1 303.03x
Whitechapel London 1 20.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 3
Mary 3
Catherine 2
Jane 2
Clara 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Haphzibath 1
Harriett 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Rosina 1
Sabina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
Charles 3
Thomas 3
Denis 2
James 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Dennis 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Henry 1
Westmore 1

FAQ

Learner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Learner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Learner surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Learner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 95 in 2016. That gives Learner a modern rank of #31,782.

What does the Learner surname mean?

A surname derived from the occupation of a student or teacher.

What does the Learner map show?

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