UK surname
A surname possibly of Irish origin meaning "flat stone" or "flagstone".
In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Legan surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 34, ranked #35,768, down from #30,339 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Tormoham with Torquay and Yarm. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Legan is 129 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.8%.
1881 census count
23
Ranked #30,339
Modern count
34
2016, ranked #35,768
Peak year
1861
129 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Legan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Legan surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 19 | #29,904 |
| 1861 | historical | 129 | #17,271 |
| 1881 | historical | 23 | #30,339 |
| 1891 | historical | 59 | #29,325 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 40 | #28,913 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 39 | #33,967 |
| 1999 | modern | 39 | #34,058 |
| 2000 | modern | 35 | #34,420 |
| 2001 | modern | 35 | #34,261 |
| 2002 | modern | 38 | #34,307 |
| 2003 | modern | 38 | #34,361 |
| 2004 | modern | 39 | #34,477 |
| 2005 | modern | 41 | #34,478 |
| 2006 | modern | 42 | #34,714 |
| 2007 | modern | 43 | #34,845 |
| 2008 | modern | 43 | #34,931 |
| 2009 | modern | 41 | #35,221 |
| 2010 | modern | 42 | #35,294 |
| 2011 | modern | 38 | #35,501 |
| 2012 | modern | 39 | #35,415 |
| 2013 | modern | 42 | #35,325 |
| 2014 | modern | 40 | #35,454 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 34 | #35,768 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Tormoham with Torquay, Yarm, Long Benton and Berwick-on-Tweed. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | Tormoham with Torquay | Devon |
| 3 | Yarm | Durham |
| 4 | Long Benton | Northumberland |
| 5 | Berwick-on-Tweed | Northumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Legan surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Legan, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Legan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Legan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Legan is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Legan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Legan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Legan originated in the region of Hesse, Germany during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "legen," which means "to lay" or "to place." This suggests that the name may have originated as a occupational surname for someone whose job involved laying or placing objects, such as a builder or a mason.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Legan can be found in the Hessian town of Marburg, where a certain Johannes Legan was listed in a census record from the year 1387. Another early record comes from the nearby town of Gießen, where a Hans Legan is mentioned in a church registry from 1412.
In the 16th century, the name Legan began to spread beyond the Hessian region as people migrated to other parts of Germany and Europe. Johann Legan, a Protestant theologian born in Strasbourg in 1531, was one of the first notable figures to bear the name during this period.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, several Legans were recorded in various historical documents across Germany. For example, a merchant named Georg Legan was mentioned in a trade record from Hamburg in 1642, while a farmer named Hans Legan was listed in a land registry from the village of Wachenbuchen in 1736.
As the Legan family continued to spread and establish themselves in different regions, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Lehgan, Legahn, and Leygan. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and regional differences in pronunciation.
One of the most prominent figures with the surname Legan was the German philosopher and writer Friedrich Legan, who was born in Heidelberg in 1788 and died in 1856. His works on ethics and political theory were widely influential during the 19th century.
Other notable individuals with the Legan surname include:
1. Johann Legan (1592-1668), a German Protestant theologian and rector of the University of Marburg. 2. Maria Legan (1721-1798), a German painter and engraver known for her detailed botanical illustrations. 3. Karl Legan (1810-1876), a German architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Berlin. 4. Otto Legan (1863-1935), a German physicist and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of radio technology. 5. Helene Legan (1902-1988), a German-born American artist and sculptor known for her Abstract Expressionist works.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Legan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 12 Legans recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.84x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 12 | 15.84x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 2.25x |
| Kent | 2 | 2.61x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.75x |
| Berwickshire | 1 | 36.76x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 5.75x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 12 Legans recorded in 1881 and an index of 149.44x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke Upon Trent | 12 | 149.44x |
| Sheffield | 5 | 70.62x |
| Newchurch | 2 | 91.74x |
| Plumstead | 2 | 78.43x |
| Langton | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Port Glasgow | 1 | 119.05x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Legan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Legan surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 34 in 2016. That gives Legan a modern rank of #35,768.
A surname possibly of Irish origin meaning "flat stone" or "flagstone".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Legan bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.