NameCensus.

UK surname

Lefort

A French surname derived from the Old French "fort," meaning strong or sturdy.

In the 1881 census there were 54 people recorded with the Lefort surname, ranking it #26,009 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 144, ranked #24,390, up from #26,009 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, Dacorum and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lefort is 161 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 166.7%.

1881 census count

54

Ranked #26,009

Modern count

144

2016, ranked #24,390

Peak year

2010

161 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lefort had 54 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,009 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016, ranked #24,390.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 103 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Lefort surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lefort surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lefort 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 17 #30,267
1861 historical 19 #31,470
1881 historical 54 #26,009
1891 historical 61 #29,103
1901 historical 76 #25,734
1911 historical 103 #22,328
1997 modern 147 #21,393
1998 modern 148 #21,841
1999 modern 160 #20,943
2000 modern 149 #21,874
2001 modern 150 #21,482
2002 modern 145 #22,392
2003 modern 142 #22,460
2004 modern 146 #22,202
2005 modern 143 #22,473
2006 modern 139 #23,044
2007 modern 147 #22,510
2008 modern 146 #22,822
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 161 #22,385
2011 modern 146 #23,736
2012 modern 140 #24,376
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 142 #24,734
2015 modern 141 #24,723
2016 modern 144 #24,390

Geography

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Where Leforts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Lambeth and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor, Dacorum, Wealden, Bromley and Torridge. 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 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 014 Sedgemoor
2 Dacorum 007 Dacorum
3 Wealden 008 Wealden
4 Bromley 007 Bromley
5 Torridge 007 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lefort

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lefort

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Lefort surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Lefort household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Lefort is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lefort 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

Lefort falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lefort 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Lefort

The surname LEFORT originated in the northwestern region of France, specifically in the area around Normandy during the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old French words "le" meaning "the" and "fort" meaning "strong" or "fortified." This combination likely referred to someone who lived near a fortified structure or a location with a strong defensive position.

The earliest recorded instances of the LEFORT name can be traced back to the 11th and 12th centuries in various medieval documents and charters from Normandy. One notable example is the mention of a "Robertus Lefort" in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086.

During the 12th century, the LEFORT name appeared in several records related to the Crusades, indicating that some individuals with this surname participated in the military campaigns to the Holy Land. One such individual was Guillaume LEFORT, a knight from Rouen who fought in the Third Crusade under Richard the Lionheart in the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the LEFORT name was associated with several prominent figures in the French nobility. One noteworthy individual was Jehan LEFORT (c. 1225-1289), a powerful nobleman who served as a trusted advisor to King Louis IX (Saint Louis) and accompanied him on the Seventh Crusade.

The LEFORT surname also has a connection to the history of France's military and engineering. Pierre LEFORT (1618-1692) was a renowned military engineer and architect who oversaw the construction of several fortifications and defensive structures during the reign of Louis XIV.

Another notable figure with the LEFORT surname was François LEFORT (c. 1655-1699), a French soldier and adventurer who played a significant role in modernizing the Russian military under Peter the Great. He served as a close advisor and friend to the Tsar and helped establish Russia's first modern navy.

Over the centuries, the LEFORT name has been associated with various locations across France, including places like Le Fort in Normandy, Fort-en-Forêt in Brittany, and Fort-de-France, the capital of the French Caribbean island of Martinique. These place names likely derived from the same root words as the surname, reflecting the connection to fortified or defensive locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lefort families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lefort 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 36 Leforts recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.39x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 36 8.39x
Surrey 5 2.39x
Sussex 2 2.76x
Pembrokeshire 1 7.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 13 Leforts recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.25x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 13 31.25x
Chiswick 10 427.35x
Mile End Old Town London 9 98.58x
Newington 5 31.55x
Hampstead London 3 44.91x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 64.94x
Kensington London 1 4.19x
Newhaven 1 169.49x
Pembroke St Mary 1 56.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Eugene 2
George 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Authur 1
Ernest 1
Francois 1
Henry 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Lefort surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lefort surname in 1881?

In 1881, 54 people were recorded with the Lefort surname. That placed it at #26,009 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lefort surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016. That gives Lefort a modern rank of #24,390.

What does the Lefort surname mean?

A French surname derived from the Old French "fort," meaning strong or sturdy.

What does the Lefort map show?

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