UK surname
An English occupational surname referring to a lead beater, one who works with lead.
In the 1881 census there were 128 people recorded with the Ledbetter surname, ranking it #17,079 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 99, ranked #31,358, down from #17,079 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sherfield-on-Loddon, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ledbetter is 165 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.7%.
1881 census count
128
Ranked #17,079
Modern count
99
2016, ranked #31,358
Peak year
1851
165 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ledbetter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ledbetter surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 165 | #12,053 |
| 1861 | historical | 135 | #16,651 |
| 1881 | historical | 128 | #17,079 |
| 1891 | historical | 103 | #23,558 |
| 1901 | historical | 153 | #17,844 |
| 1911 | historical | 120 | #20,447 |
| 1997 | modern | 85 | #28,988 |
| 1998 | modern | 86 | #29,343 |
| 1999 | modern | 90 | #29,056 |
| 2000 | modern | 87 | #29,377 |
| 2001 | modern | 82 | #29,714 |
| 2002 | modern | 81 | #30,294 |
| 2003 | modern | 85 | #29,877 |
| 2004 | modern | 86 | #30,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 83 | #30,486 |
| 2006 | modern | 79 | #31,263 |
| 2007 | modern | 83 | #31,183 |
| 2008 | modern | 80 | #31,833 |
| 2009 | modern | 79 | #32,372 |
| 2010 | modern | 94 | #31,111 |
| 2011 | modern | 91 | #31,442 |
| 2012 | modern | 96 | #30,949 |
| 2013 | modern | 96 | #31,381 |
| 2014 | modern | 95 | #31,792 |
| 2015 | modern | 98 | #31,342 |
| 2016 | modern | 99 | #31,358 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sherfield-on-Loddon, London parishes, St Pancras, Horsham, Sullington and Wisbech St Peter. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sherfield-on-Loddon | Hampshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Horsham, Sullington | Sussex |
| 5 | Wisbech St Peter | Cambridgeshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ledbetter surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ledbetter, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Ledbetter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ledbetter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Ledbetter is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ledbetter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ledbetter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Ledbetter has its origins in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "lead" and "better," referring to someone who worked with lead or was a skilled lead worker. Some early spellings of the name included Leadbetter, Ledbitter, and Ledbytur.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Ledbetter can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a William Leadbetere is listed. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297 mention a John de Ledebeter.
The name Ledbetter has been associated with various place names in England, such as Ledbetter Hill in Warwickshire and Ledbetter Bridge in Lancashire. These place names likely originated from people with the surname Ledbetter who resided in or were associated with those areas.
Notable individuals with the surname Ledbetter throughout history include:
1. Thomas Ledbetter (c. 1615-1677), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Compton Bassett in Wiltshire. 2. Josiah Ledbetter (1761-1837), an American planter and soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. 3. William Ledbetter (1792-1873), an American politician who served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate in the mid-19th century. 4. Mary Ledbetter (1834-1910), an American educator and civil rights activist who founded the Ledbetter Normal and Industrial Institute in Arkansas, one of the earliest schools for African Americans in the state. 5. Huddie Ledbetter (1888-1949), better known as Lead Belly, an influential American folk and blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose musicality and storytelling had a significant impact on the development of popular music.
While the surname Ledbetter originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and immigration patterns. The name has been associated with various professions and backgrounds, reflecting the diverse histories and experiences of those who have carried it through the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ledbetter surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 30 Ledbetters recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 30 | 14.25x |
| Middlesex | 19 | 1.52x |
| Surrey | 19 | 3.12x |
| Lancashire | 9 | 0.61x |
| Worcestershire | 9 | 5.52x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 0.73x |
| Warwickshire | 7 | 2.22x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 1.42x |
| Cambridgeshire | 5 | 6.32x |
| Monmouthshire | 5 | 5.54x |
| Kent | 3 | 0.70x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 2.13x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 1.00x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.41x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.50x |
| West Lothian | 1 | 5.32x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 14 Ledbetters recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.93x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Pancras London | 14 | 13.93x |
| Ifield | 13 | 1477.27x |
| Battersea | 10 | 21.77x |
| Blockley | 9 | 978.26x |
| Thornhill | 8 | 221.61x |
| Aston | 5 | 5.77x |
| Bedwellty | 5 | 31.37x |
| Hove | 5 | 54.11x |
| Nuthurst | 5 | 1428.57x |
| Wisbech St Peter | 5 | 125.94x |
| Camberwell | 4 | 5.02x |
| Hastings St Mary | 4 | 76.34x |
| Prescot | 4 | 149.25x |
| Burton Upon Trent | 3 | 30.43x |
| Everton | 3 | 6.35x |
| Dorking | 2 | 48.90x |
| Maidstone | 2 | 15.76x |
| Sedgley | 2 | 12.78x |
| Twickenham | 2 | 37.38x |
| Barrow In Furness | 1 | 4.96x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 0.95x |
| Brighton | 1 | 2.35x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 2.66x |
| Clapham | 1 | 6.41x |
| Dalmeny | 1 | 138.89x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 9.62x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 3.36x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.44x |
| Lydney | 1 | 79.37x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.18x |
| Preston | 1 | 27.17x |
| Reading St Giles | 1 | 10.87x |
| Skegness | 1 | 175.44x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 3.98x |
| Stamford All Sts | 1 | 89.29x |
| Sunninghill | 1 | 76.92x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 6.51x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 1.99x |
| Warwick St Nicholas | 1 | 43.29x |
| Weston Super Mare | 1 | 19.72x |
| Wimbledon | 1 | 14.64x |
| Worth | 1 | 65.36x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ledbetter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 6 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Esther | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Jessie | 2 |
| Laura | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Sarah | 2 |
| Sophia | 2 |
| Adelaide | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Carrie | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Dorothy | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Flora | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lavinia | 1 |
| Letitia | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Linda | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Rowda | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| William | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ledbetter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 128 people were recorded with the Ledbetter surname. That placed it at #17,079 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016. That gives Ledbetter a modern rank of #31,358.
An English occupational surname referring to a lead beater, one who works with lead.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ledbetter bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.