NameCensus.

UK surname

Lefevre

An occupational surname referring to a worker of iron or other metals, from the French "fèvre" meaning "smith."

In the 1881 census there were 275 people recorded with the Lefevre surname, ranking it #10,330 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 726, ranked #7,493, up from #10,330 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Aberdeen and Old Machar and Holy Cross, Westgate. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall, Westminster and Bath and North East Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lefevre is 758 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 164.0%.

1881 census count

275

Ranked #10,330

Modern count

726

2016, ranked #7,493

Peak year

2013

758 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lefevre had 275 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,330 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 726 in 2016, ranked #7,493.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 522 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Lefevre surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lefevre surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lefevre 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 115 #15,634
1861 historical 71 #24,765
1881 historical 275 #10,330
1891 historical 257 #12,476
1901 historical 522 #7,802
1911 historical 254 #12,748
1997 modern 695 #7,291
1998 modern 730 #7,253
1999 modern 739 #7,230
2000 modern 739 #7,190
2001 modern 718 #7,222
2002 modern 728 #7,277
2003 modern 692 #7,449
2004 modern 679 #7,588
2005 modern 676 #7,548
2006 modern 662 #7,707
2007 modern 687 #7,535
2008 modern 692 #7,552
2009 modern 704 #7,608
2010 modern 729 #7,541
2011 modern 739 #7,396
2012 modern 727 #7,407
2013 modern 758 #7,282
2014 modern 749 #7,392
2015 modern 739 #7,400
2016 modern 726 #7,493

Geography

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Where Lefevres are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Aberdeen and Old Machar, Holy Cross, Westgate and Doddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Walsall, Westminster, Bath and North East Somerset, Stockton-on-Tees and Fenland. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen
4 Holy Cross, Westgate Kent
5 Doddington Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Walsall 017 Walsall
2 Westminster 011 Westminster
3 Bath and North East Somerset 007 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Stockton-on-Tees 016 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Fenland 006 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lefevre

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lefevre

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lefevre, 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 Lefevre surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lefevre 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Lefevre is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Lefevre 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

Lefevre 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 Lefevre 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 Lefevre, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lefevre

The surname LEFEVRE originated in France and is derived from the Old French words "le" meaning "the" and "fevre" meaning "blacksmith" or "smith". It was an occupational surname given to people who worked as blacksmiths or metalworkers.

This name was first recorded in the early Middle Ages, around the 12th century, when surnames began to be adopted in France. It was particularly common in the northern regions of France, including Normandy, Picardy, and Île-de-France.

One of the earliest known references to the surname LEFEVRE can be found in the Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Bertin, a collection of medieval charters and records from the Abbey of Saint-Bertin in Saint-Omer, France, dating back to the 9th century.

In the 13th century, a man named Nicolas LEFEVRE was mentioned in the records of the city of Amiens, in northern France. Another notable early bearer of this name was Jean LEFEVRE, a 14th-century French theologian and author from the town of Ressons, near Paris.

During the Middle Ages, the surname LEFEVRE was sometimes spelled slightly differently, such as LEFEBVRE or LEFÈVRE, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions.

One of the most famous individuals with this surname was Jacques LEFEVRE d'Étaples (c. 1455-1536), a French scholar, theologian, and humanist who played a significant role in the early stages of the Protestant Reformation in France.

Another notable figure was Nicolas LEFEVRE (1544-1612), a French mathematician and astronomer who made important contributions to the development of trigonometry and the calculation of logarithms.

In the 17th century, Nicolas LEFEVRE (1610-1669) was a French Jesuit missionary and explorer who traveled to Canada and helped establish Catholic missions among the indigenous populations.

During the 18th century, Pierre LEFEVRE (1708-1788) was a French architect and urban planner who designed several prominent buildings in Paris and other cities.

In the 19th century, Adolphe LEFEVRE (1835-1904) was a French painter and illustrator known for his depictions of military scenes and historical events.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lefevre families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lefevre 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. Kent leads with 68 Lefevres recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.69x.

County Total Index
Kent 68 8.69x
Middlesex 64 2.79x
Essex 20 4.42x
Surrey 20 1.79x
Cambridgeshire 13 8.95x
Lancashire 12 0.44x
Yorkshire 10 0.44x
Aberdeenshire 6 2.83x
Hampshire 4 0.85x
Warwickshire 4 0.69x
Channel Islands 3 4.42x
Bedfordshire 2 1.68x
Devon 1 0.21x
Gloucestershire 1 0.22x
Lincolnshire 1 0.27x
Norfolk 1 0.28x
Northamptonshire 1 0.46x
Royal Navy 1 3.66x
Somerset 1 0.27x
Suffolk 1 0.36x
Sussex 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Canterbury St Mary in Kent leads with 15 Lefevres recorded in 1881 and an index of 285.71x.

Place Total Index
Canterbury St Mary 15 285.71x
March 13 267.49x
West Ham 13 13.01x
Bethnal Green London 12 12.05x
Kensington London 10 7.85x
Huddersfield 9 27.20x
Hampstead London 8 22.41x
Canterbury St Peter 7 795.45x
Islington London 7 3.15x
St Pancras London 7 3.79x
Whitechapel London 7 30.97x
Aberdeen Old Machar 6 13.53x
Camberwell 6 4.10x
Canterbury St Dunstan 6 444.44x
Walthamstow 6 36.83x
Broughton In Salford 5 20.10x
Deptford St Paul 5 8.29x
Greenwich 5 13.70x
Woolwich 5 17.30x
Barnes 4 84.75x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 19.53x
Birmingham 4 2.08x
Buckland In Dover 4 154.44x
Battersea 3 3.56x
Canterbury St Andrew 3 909.09x
Canterbury St Mildred 3 161.29x
Faversham 3 40.21x
Mile End Old Town London 3 6.15x
Southwark St Saviour 3 25.47x
St Helier 3 13.57x
Canterbury Holy Cross 2 266.67x
Folkestone 2 13.18x
Hackney London 2 1.56x
Harrold 2 250.00x
Penshurst 2 151.52x
Portsea 2 2.17x
Sandwich St Peter 2 243.90x
Southampton St Mary 2 6.77x
St George Hanover Square 2 4.95x
St Marylebone London 2 1.63x
Westminster St James 2 8.49x
Ashford 1 13.12x
Bildeston 1 163.93x
Bristol St Michael 1 25.97x
Cantsfield 1 1111.11x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.31x
Compton Bishop 1 232.56x
Deeping St Nicholas 1 93.46x
Devonport 1 18.25x
Doncaster 1 6.02x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 13.21x
Everton 1 1.15x
Fulham London 1 3.01x
Harwich St Nicholas 1 28.57x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 35.09x
Lambeth 1 0.50x
Maidstone 1 4.29x
Mortlake 1 20.08x
Norwich St Julian 1 67.57x
Royal Navy 1 4.28x
St George In East London 1 4.64x
Streatham 1 5.88x
Sutton 1 12.38x
Tonbridge 1 3.54x
Wilbarston In Market 1 250.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
James 11
Edward 8
George 7
John 5
Thomas 5
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Frank 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Albert 2
G.W. 2
Isaac 2
Samuel 2
Abraham 1
Arthur 1
Auguste 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Caleb 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Eugene 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Garnent 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jean 1
Jim 1
Jno.T. 1
Jules 1
Norman 1
Ormand 1
Percey 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Rutta 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Lefevre surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lefevre surname in 1881?

In 1881, 275 people were recorded with the Lefevre surname. That placed it at #10,330 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lefevre surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 726 in 2016. That gives Lefevre a modern rank of #7,493.

What does the Lefevre surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a worker of iron or other metals, from the French "fèvre" meaning "smith."

What does the Lefevre map show?

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