NameCensus.

UK surname

Ledingham

A Scottish surname derived from a place name referring to a farm or settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 439 people recorded with the Ledingham surname, ranking it #7,455 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 473, ranked #10,409, down from #7,455 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Insch, Govan Combination and Keith. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fraserburgh Harbour and Broadsea, Barnet and Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ledingham is 545 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.7%.

1881 census count

439

Ranked #7,455

Modern count

473

2016, ranked #10,409

Peak year

1901

545 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ledingham had 439 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,455 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 473 in 2016, ranked #10,409.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 545 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Ledingham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ledingham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ledingham 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 326 #7,136
1861 historical 356 #7,171
1881 historical 439 #7,455
1891 historical 481 #7,664
1901 historical 545 #7,575
1911 historical 92 #23,580
1997 modern 456 #9,971
1998 modern 457 #10,279
1999 modern 472 #10,083
2000 modern 479 #9,951
2001 modern 468 #9,949
2002 modern 491 #9,752
2003 modern 462 #10,045
2004 modern 470 #9,958
2005 modern 461 #10,022
2006 modern 463 #10,015
2007 modern 460 #10,169
2008 modern 472 #10,074
2009 modern 469 #10,344
2010 modern 471 #10,510
2011 modern 463 #10,551
2012 modern 475 #10,232
2013 modern 476 #10,385
2014 modern 481 #10,387
2015 modern 479 #10,327
2016 modern 473 #10,409

Geography

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Where Ledinghams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Insch, Govan Combination, Keith, Edinburgh and Rayne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fraserburgh Harbour and Broadsea, Barnet, Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells, IZ14 and Isle of Anglesey. 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 Insch Aberdeen
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Keith Banff
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Rayne Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fraserburgh Harbour and Broadsea Aberdeenshire
2 Barnet 015 Barnet
3 Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells Aberdeenshire
4 IZ14 East Lothian
5 Isle of Anglesey 002 Isle of Anglesey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ledingham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ledingham

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Ledingham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Ledingham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ledingham 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

Ledingham is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ledingham falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ledingham

The surname Ledingham originates from Scotland, first appearing in the late 12th century. It is derived from the old Scots word "leding," meaning a path or road, and "ham," meaning a homestead or village. The name likely referred to a settlement or farm located along a well-traveled route.

One of the earliest known references to the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England after the Wars of Scottish Independence. The name appears as "Ledyngham" in this document.

In the 14th century, the name Ledingham was associated with the lands of the same name in Berwickshire, Scotland. A prominent family bearing this surname held these lands for several generations.

One notable example is Sir James Ledingham, who lived in the late 15th century and was a prominent landowner and supporter of King James IV of Scotland. He fought alongside the king at the Battle of Flodden in 1513 and was killed in action.

Another early record of the name can be found in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland from 1512, which mentions a "Robert Ledyngham" being granted lands in Berwickshire.

In the 16th century, variations of the spelling included "Ledinghame" and "Ledingam." During this time, the name spread beyond Berwickshire to other parts of Scotland, particularly the Borders region.

One notable bearer of the name was George Ledingham, a Scottish minister and scholar born in 1633. He served as the Principal of the University of Edinburgh from 1679 until his death in 1700.

In the 17th century, the name also appeared in various church records and parish registers across Scotland, indicating its continued presence and distribution among Scottish families.

As the centuries progressed, the Ledingham name spread further, with some bearers emigrating to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to North America and other parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ledingham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ledingham 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 268 Ledinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.58x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 268 67.58x
Angus 40 10.08x
Banffshire 30 33.77x
Midlothian 28 4.88x
Lanarkshire 24 1.73x
Morayshire 15 22.54x
Durham 13 1.02x
Kent 6 0.41x
Ayrshire 5 1.56x
Middlesex 4 0.09x
Wigtownshire 2 3.52x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.73x
Royal Navy 1 1.96x
Stirlingshire 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 48 Ledinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.97x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 48 57.97x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 25 33.69x
Premnay 23 1691.18x
Turriff 21 328.13x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 19 8.23x
Keith 15 158.39x
Govan 14 4.09x
Rayne 14 744.68x
Kirkden 13 524.19x
Kincardine O Neil 12 424.03x
Forres 11 157.37x
Inverurie 11 244.99x
Fraserburgh 10 89.61x
Echt 9 471.20x
Boyndie 8 272.11x
Gateshead 8 8.39x
Insch 8 353.98x
Kennethmont 8 544.22x
Old Deer 8 106.38x
Arbroath 7 53.23x
Logie Buchan 7 614.04x
St Vigeans 7 32.70x
Coull 6 512.82x
Montrose 6 24.96x
Ayr 5 33.05x
Leslie 5 649.35x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 20.10x
Plumstead 5 10.27x
Banff 4 51.88x
Daviot 4 533.33x
Duffus 4 68.26x
Dundee 4 2.70x
Glasgow 4 1.63x
Maryhill 4 14.75x
Newhills 4 49.26x
Tullynessle Forbes 4 275.86x
Udny 4 166.67x
Auchindoir Kearn 3 134.53x
Belhelvie 3 110.70x
Edinburgh St Johns 3 82.87x
Ellon 3 55.05x
New Machar 3 134.53x
St Marylebone London 3 1.31x
Tarves 3 80.00x
Chapel Of Garioch 2 70.92x
Clatt 2 303.03x
Kinnel 2 194.17x
Meldrum 2 59.88x
New Deer 2 27.86x
Portpatrick 2 104.71x
South Leith 2 3.10x
Birse 1 62.11x
Bothwell 1 2.66x
Bourtie 1 147.06x
Camrose 1 76.92x
Cruden 1 19.57x
Culsalmond 1 81.97x
Drumoak 1 73.53x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 8.40x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 8.97x
Fordyce 1 15.65x
Forgue 1 28.09x
Fyvie 1 15.46x
Glenmuick Tullich 1 34.97x
Hamilton 1 2.59x
Hammersmith London 1 0.95x
Inverkeithny 1 74.07x
Lee 1 4.71x
Lochlee 1 188.68x
Logie Coldstone 1 75.19x
Lonmay 1 27.78x
Marnoch 1 20.96x
North Leith 1 3.77x
Oyne 1 70.92x
Peterhead 1 4.77x
Skene 1 38.02x
St Nicholas 1 416.67x
St Ninians 1 6.39x
Wigan 1 1.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Isabella 2
Margaret 2
Mary 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Barbara 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Jane 1
Lilian 1
Maggie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 3
John 2
William 2
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Jno. 1

FAQ

Ledingham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ledingham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 439 people were recorded with the Ledingham surname. That placed it at #7,455 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ledingham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 473 in 2016. That gives Ledingham a modern rank of #10,409.

What does the Ledingham surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a place name referring to a farm or settlement.

What does the Ledingham map show?

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