NameCensus.

UK surname

Ledger

An occupational surname referring to a treasurer, bookkeeper, or one who maintains financial records.

In the 1881 census there were 2,049 people recorded with the Ledger surname, ranking it #2,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,136, ranked #2,161, down from #2,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Sheffield and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ledger is 3,285 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.1%.

1881 census count

2,049

Ranked #2,151

Modern count

3,136

2016, ranked #2,161

Peak year

1999

3,285 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ledger had 2,049 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,136 in 2016, ranked #2,161.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,920 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Ledger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ledger surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ledger 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 1,246 #2,298
1861 historical 1,161 #2,430
1881 historical 2,049 #2,151
1891 historical 2,247 #2,080
1901 historical 2,684 #2,060
1911 historical 2,920 #1,786
1997 modern 3,155 #2,036
1998 modern 3,261 #2,057
1999 modern 3,285 #2,062
2000 modern 3,247 #2,070
2001 modern 3,192 #2,065
2002 modern 3,225 #2,084
2003 modern 3,191 #2,062
2004 modern 3,196 #2,052
2005 modern 3,080 #2,097
2006 modern 3,063 #2,112
2007 modern 3,069 #2,134
2008 modern 3,072 #2,145
2009 modern 3,205 #2,111
2010 modern 3,225 #2,141
2011 modern 3,225 #2,118
2012 modern 3,152 #2,131
2013 modern 3,195 #2,142
2014 modern 3,207 #2,149
2015 modern 3,146 #2,161
2016 modern 3,136 #2,161

Geography

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Where Ledgers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Sheffield, East Riding of Yorkshire and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 005 Barnsley
2 Sheffield 076 Sheffield
3 Barnsley 001 Barnsley
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 034 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Kingston upon Hull 013 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ledger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ledger

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Ledger surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ledger household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

London Fringe

Within London, Ledger is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Ledger is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ledger falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ledger

The surname Ledger is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English word 'lecgere' meaning a dweller at a woodland clearing or ridge. The name first appeared in the regions of Essex and Oxfordshire in England during the 11th century.

The earliest known record of the name Ledger can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as 'Lecgere'. This historical manuscript recorded landholders and their holdings across England and parts of Wales after the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name was also recorded as 'Legger' and 'Leger', indicating variations in spelling during that time. The surname was often associated with place names such as Ledger Hall in Oxfordshire and Ledger Farm in Essex, further cementing its connection to the Old English word 'lecgere'.

One notable example of the surname Ledger from history is William Ledger (1538-1616), an English merchant and explorer who is credited with introducing spices from the East Indies to Europe. Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Ledger (1645-1720), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire.

In the 18th century, John Ledger (1737-1803) was a renowned English clockmaker and inventor, known for his contributions to the development of precision timekeeping instruments. The 19th century saw the rise of Henry Ledger (1812-1888), a British naval officer and explorer who led several expeditions to the Arctic regions.

More recently, the late Heath Ledger (1979-2008) was an acclaimed Australian actor who won numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film "The Dark Knight".

Throughout history, the surname Ledger has maintained its connection to its Anglo-Saxon roots, reflecting the dwellers of woodland clearings and ridges in England's early history. The variations in spelling and the association with place names further illustrate the rich heritage of this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ledger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ledger 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. Yorkshire leads with 658 Ledgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.32x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 658 3.32x
Surrey 277 2.85x
Kent 245 3.59x
Middlesex 151 0.76x
Lancashire 149 0.63x
Durham 134 2.25x
Nottinghamshire 107 3.97x
Berkshire 40 2.67x
Hampshire 34 0.83x
Staffordshire 33 0.49x
Sussex 32 0.95x
Lincolnshire 29 0.91x
Essex 21 0.53x
Devon 19 0.46x
Northumberland 17 0.57x
Cheshire 15 0.34x
Oxfordshire 15 1.22x
Derbyshire 12 0.38x
Worcestershire 11 0.42x
Hertfordshire 8 0.58x
Shropshire 8 0.46x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.95x
Leicestershire 5 0.23x
Suffolk 5 0.21x
Channel Islands 3 0.51x
Stirlingshire 3 0.41x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.24x
Cumberland 2 0.12x
Anglesey 1 0.28x
Cornwall 1 0.04x
Dorset 1 0.08x
Norfolk 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.42x
Somerset 1 0.03x
Warwickshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 108 Ledgers recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.14x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 108 17.14x
Darton 87 428.99x
Kyo 32 114.37x
Leeds 31 2.77x
Chatham 30 16.00x
Collierley 27 101.96x
Lambeth 27 1.55x
Ecclesall Bierlow 25 6.21x
Nottingham St Mary 25 3.59x
Biddenden 23 246.52x
Doncaster 23 15.90x
Islington London 23 1.19x
Nether Hallam 22 8.21x
Woking 22 37.50x
Croydon 21 3.89x
Newington 20 36.68x
Rotherham 20 17.92x
Deptford St Paul 19 3.61x
West Horsley 19 463.41x
Worksop 19 23.79x
Barnsley 17 8.33x
East Retford 17 72.77x
Greenwich 17 5.35x
St Pancras London 17 1.06x
Holy Trinity 16 3.36x
Southwark St George Martyr 16 3.98x
Tenterden 16 66.56x
Idle 15 16.34x
Newington 15 2.03x
West Ham 14 1.61x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 13 7.05x
Dewsbury 13 6.40x
Cobham 12 75.14x
Everton 12 1.59x
Folkestone 12 9.08x
Kensington London 12 1.08x
Portsea 12 1.50x
Richmond 12 8.80x
Toxteth Park 12 1.49x
Blackburn 11 1.74x
Bowling 11 5.61x
Headingley Cum Burley 11 8.63x
Hoyland Nether 11 22.66x
Lasham 11 797.10x
Newburn 11 129.56x
Reading St Giles 11 7.48x
Bletchington 10 242.72x
Camberwell 10 0.78x
Chertsey 10 15.90x
Clarborough 10 49.65x
Dudley 10 3.15x
Hackney London 10 0.89x
Paddington London 10 1.36x
Pelton 10 35.36x
Swanscombe 10 32.66x
Ulcombe 10 222.72x
Ashburnham 9 170.13x
Borden 9 104.17x
Brightside Bierlow 9 2.32x
Kimberworth 9 8.19x
Kirkdale 9 2.26x
Leek Lowe 9 10.03x
Liverpool 9 0.63x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 9 37.30x
Moss 9 471.20x
Streatham 9 6.07x
Wavertree 9 11.86x
Wombwell 9 15.59x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 8 33.86x
Bethnal Green London 8 0.92x
Brandon Byshottles 8 10.74x
Brighton 8 1.18x
Broseley 8 26.08x
Fulham London 8 2.76x
Holbeck 8 6.10x
Leeds 8 160.97x
Oldham 8 1.05x
Ordsall 8 38.80x
Sale 8 14.79x
Walton On Thames 8 17.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 136
Elizabeth 81
Sarah 65
Annie 45
Jane 40
Ann 36
Alice 33
Emily 30
Emma 30
Eliza 26
Ellen 23
Hannah 19
Clara 16
Florence 16
Harriet 16
Catherine 15
Fanny 15
Martha 15
Caroline 14
Margaret 13
Charlotte 12
Ada 11
Edith 11
Frances 11
Louisa 10
Maria 10
Kate 9
Gertrude 8
Lucy 8
Ruth 8
Sophia 8
Amy 7
Anne 7
Lydia 7
Jessie 6
Rebecca 6
Rose 6
Susan 6
Amelia 5
Elizth. 5
Grace 5
Maud 5
Minnie 5
Eleanor 4
Esther 4
Ethel 4
Harriett 4
Julia 4
Matilda 4
Norah 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 106
John 102
George 79
Thomas 67
James 56
Henry 52
Charles 38
Joseph 37
Edward 26
Arthur 25
Richard 23
Robert 21
Frederick 17
Herbert 17
Alfred 16
Samuel 15
Albert 14
Walter 14
Geo. 10
Wm. 10
Ernest 9
Frank 9
Matthew 9
Harry 8
Abraham 7
Benjamin 7
Tom 7
Percy 6
Chas. 5
David 5
Fred 5
Fredk. 5
Cecil 4
Edmund 4
Edwin 4
Francis 4
Fred. 4
Isaac 4
Clarence 3
Daniel 3
Edgar 3
Horton 3
Jno. 3
Luke 3
Stephen 3
Angelo 2
F. 2
Joshua 2
Lewis 2
Michael 2

FAQ

Ledger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ledger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,049 people were recorded with the Ledger surname. That placed it at #2,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ledger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,136 in 2016. That gives Ledger a modern rank of #2,161.

What does the Ledger surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a treasurer, bookkeeper, or one who maintains financial records.

What does the Ledger map show?

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