NameCensus.

UK surname

Ledwith

A locational surname derived from a place called Ledwich in Shropshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 59 people recorded with the Ledwith surname, ranking it #25,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 335, ranked #13,611, up from #25,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Oswestry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lancashire, St. Helens and Craigneuk Wishaw.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ledwith is 385 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 467.8%.

1881 census count

59

Ranked #25,281

Modern count

335

2016, ranked #13,611

Peak year

1999

385 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ledwith had 59 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 335 in 2016, ranked #13,611.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 119 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ledwith surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ledwith surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ledwith 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 26 #28,667
1861 historical 34 #29,685
1881 historical 59 #25,281
1891 historical 68 #28,300
1901 historical 86 #24,508
1911 historical 119 #20,535
1997 modern 360 #11,929
1998 modern 369 #12,077
1999 modern 385 #11,771
2000 modern 356 #12,408
2001 modern 347 #12,449
2002 modern 361 #12,337
2003 modern 340 #12,685
2004 modern 350 #12,449
2005 modern 337 #12,738
2006 modern 332 #12,970
2007 modern 348 #12,637
2008 modern 353 #12,616
2009 modern 358 #12,736
2010 modern 371 #12,679
2011 modern 341 #13,341
2012 modern 337 #13,345
2013 modern 335 #13,604
2014 modern 338 #13,624
2015 modern 335 #13,622
2016 modern 335 #13,611

Geography

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Where Ledwiths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Oswestry, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford and Walton-on-the-Hill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lancashire, St. Helens, Craigneuk Wishaw, Wigan and Warrington. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Oswestry Shropshire
4 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
5 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lancashire 015 West Lancashire
2 St. Helens 001 St. Helens
3 Craigneuk Wishaw North Lanarkshire
4 Wigan 010 Wigan
5 Warrington 023 Warrington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ledwith

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ledwith

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ledwith is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ledwith is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ledwith falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ledwith is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ledwith

The surname Ledwith is of Irish origin, deriving from the Gaelic name Ó Laidith. It is believed to have originated in the area of County Westmeath in the 13th century. The name Ó Laidith can be traced back to the old Irish word 'laid' meaning poet or scholar.

Variations of the spelling include Ledwidge, Ledwich, and Laidith. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history written in the 17th century.

One notable early figure with this surname was John Ledwith, born in 1568 in County Westmeath, who served as the Bishop of Kilmore from 1624 to 1637. There are also records of a Thomas Ledwith, born in 1685 in County Longford, who fought in the Williamite War in Ireland in the late 17th century.

The surname is associated with several place names in Ireland, such as Ledwithstown in County Longford, which was named after the Ledwith family who were landowners in the area. Another place name linked to the surname is Ledwithinstown in County Westmeath.

One of the most renowned individuals with the surname Ledwith is Francis Ledwidge, an Irish poet born in 1887 in County Meath. He is renowned for his work depicting the beauty of the Irish countryside and his experiences as a soldier during World War I, where he sadly lost his life in 1917 at the age of 29.

Another notable figure is Michael Ledwith, born in 1944 in County Kildare, who was a Catholic priest and author. He became known for his work exploring the intersection of science and spirituality, and his books on topics such as near-death experiences and the nature of consciousness.

Throughout history, the Ledwith surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, soldiers, poets, and authors, all contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of Ireland and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ledwith families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ledwith 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. Middlesex leads with 21 Ledwiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.65x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 21 3.65x
Lancashire 11 1.61x
Kent 10 5.09x
Staffordshire 9 4.63x
Midlothian 4 5.19x
Worcestershire 4 5.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 10 Ledwiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.01x.

Place Total Index
Deptford St Paul 10 66.01x
St Luke London 10 108.34x
Eccleston In Prescot 9 262.39x
Shoreditch London 8 32.06x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 12.89x
Kidderminster Borough 4 90.91x
Kingswinford 4 56.74x
Kinver 4 714.29x
Kensington London 2 6.25x
Burslem 1 17.99x
Feltham 1 175.44x
Liverpool 1 2.41x
Preston 1 5.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 3
Emma 2
Mary 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Catharine 1
Edith 1
Elianor 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Kate 1
Martha 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
James 3
Austin 2
Bernard 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Michael 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Francis 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Mathew 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
William 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ledwith surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ledwith surname in 1881?

In 1881, 59 people were recorded with the Ledwith surname. That placed it at #25,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ledwith surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 335 in 2016. That gives Ledwith a modern rank of #13,611.

What does the Ledwith surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place called Ledwich in Shropshire, England.

What does the Ledwith map show?

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