NameCensus.

UK surname

Legard

A French surname derived from the Old French term meaning "watchful" or "vigilant."

In the 1881 census there were 105 people recorded with the Legard surname, ranking it #19,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 143, ranked #24,505, down from #19,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Nafferton and Burton Agnes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, East Riding of Yorkshire and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Legard is 154 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.2%.

1881 census count

105

Ranked #19,183

Modern count

143

2016, ranked #24,505

Peak year

2000

154 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Legard had 105 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016, ranked #24,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 149 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Legard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Legard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Legard 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 84 #19,067
1861 historical 91 #22,206
1881 historical 105 #19,183
1891 historical 105 #23,241
1901 historical 123 #20,248
1911 historical 149 #17,937
1997 modern 153 #20,868
1998 modern 152 #21,481
1999 modern 148 #22,020
2000 modern 154 #21,415
2001 modern 147 #21,756
2002 modern 137 #23,198
2003 modern 138 #22,823
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 136 #23,205
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 142 #23,025
2008 modern 138 #23,763
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 140 #24,569
2011 modern 141 #24,294
2012 modern 145 #23,780
2013 modern 146 #24,107
2014 modern 142 #24,734
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 143 #24,505

Geography

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Where Legards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Nafferton, Burton Agnes, Wakefield and Driffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, East Riding of Yorkshire, Harrogate and West Oxfordshire. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Nafferton Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Burton Agnes Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Driffield Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 004 Ryedale
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 019 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Harrogate 019 Harrogate
4 Ryedale 007 Ryedale
5 West Oxfordshire 010 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Legard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Legard

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Legard is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Legard is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Legard falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Legard

The surname Legard originated in France, with its earliest recorded usage dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "legar," meaning "inheritance" or "legacy." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with someone who had received a significant inheritance or had a notable legacy.

The Legard name has its roots in the historic region of Normandy, where it was first documented in medieval records. Some of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Legarde, Legart, and Leguard, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during the Middle Ages. In some instances, the name may have been influenced by the Old English word "leagyr," meaning "meadow" or "pasture."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Legard surname was Sir John Legard, a prominent English nobleman who lived in the 14th century. He was born around 1320 and served as a knight in the service of King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.

Another notable figure was Sir Ralph Legard, who was born in 1490 and served as a member of the English Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. He played a significant role in the political and religious turmoil of the 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Legard family established themselves as influential landowners in Yorkshire, England. One of the most prominent members of this branch was Sir Thomas Legard (1620-1685), who served as High Sheriff of Yorkshire and was known for his extensive estates and political influence.

During the 18th century, the Legard family continued to hold prominent positions in English society. Sir Digby Legard (1718-1793) was a distinguished military officer who served in the British Army during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, Sir Heneage Legard (1815-1897) was a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including East Riding of Yorkshire. He was also known for his interest in agriculture and played a significant role in the development of modern farming practices.

While the Legard surname has a rich history and notable individuals associated with it, its origins and early development remain rooted in the regions of Normandy and England, where it emerged as a testament to inheritance, legacy, and the enduring impact of names throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Legard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Legard 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. Yorkshire leads with 56 Legards recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.47x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 56 5.47x
Lincolnshire 26 15.73x
Surrey 8 1.59x
Cornwall 6 5.13x
Devon 3 1.39x
Kent 2 0.57x
Middlesex 2 0.19x
Durham 1 0.33x
Hampshire 1 0.47x
Suffolk 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Driffield in Yorkshire leads with 8 Legards recorded in 1881 and an index of 380.95x.

Place Total Index
Great Driffield 8 380.95x
St Nicholas Lincoln 8 506.33x
Thixendale 7 7777.78x
Burton Agnes 6 5000.00x
Madron Penzance 6 140.85x
Barnsley 5 47.30x
Frimley 5 347.22x
Great Grimsby 5 47.66x
Wakefield 5 63.53x
Beverley St Martin 4 233.92x
Healing 4 10000.00x
Soothill 4 108.11x
Appleby 3 1578.95x
Headingley Cum Burley 3 45.52x
Scarborough 3 32.22x
Stokesley 3 468.75x
Tealby 3 1304.35x
Tormoham 3 32.93x
Fridaythorpe 2 1818.18x
Nafferton 2 454.55x
Shalford 2 357.14x
Ashby 1 192.31x
Badsworth 1 1250.00x
Boston 1 19.92x
Bridlington 1 42.55x
Cadney 1 625.00x
Crossgate 1 74.63x
Dover Castle 1 384.62x
Filey 1 120.48x
Herne 1 64.10x
Holton 1 625.00x
Kensington London 1 1.74x
Southampton All Sts 1 27.47x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 4.81x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 84.03x
Tibthorpe 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 5
Hannah 4
Mary 4
Annie 3
Sarah 3
Catherine 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Henrietta 2
Martha 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Blanche 1
Constance 1
Eleanor 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Kezia 1
Lady 1
Louisa 1
Marcia 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Mildreda 1
Rachel 1
Thursa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
George 6
John 5
Charles 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
James 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Ambrose 1
Cecil 1
Darcy 1
Digby 1
Digley 1
Elias 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Philip 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Wm 1

FAQ

Legard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Legard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 105 people were recorded with the Legard surname. That placed it at #19,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Legard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016. That gives Legard a modern rank of #24,505.

What does the Legard surname mean?

A French surname derived from the Old French term meaning "watchful" or "vigilant."

What does the Legard map show?

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