NameCensus.

UK surname

Legate

A surname referring to a Roman Catholic ambassador or envoy.

In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Legate surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 262, ranked #16,256, up from #19,999 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Henlow and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, East Lindsey and Rannoch and Aberfeldy.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Legate is 273 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 167.3%.

1881 census count

98

Ranked #19,999

Modern count

262

2016, ranked #16,256

Peak year

2014

273 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Legate had 98 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,999 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016, ranked #16,256.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 189 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Legate surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Legate surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Legate 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 67 #21,440
1861 historical 94 #21,883
1881 historical 98 #19,999
1891 historical 142 #18,995
1901 historical 173 #16,579
1911 historical 189 #15,488
1997 modern 251 #15,236
1998 modern 252 #15,584
1999 modern 252 #15,707
2000 modern 261 #15,314
2001 modern 256 #15,273
2002 modern 261 #15,369
2003 modern 262 #15,150
2004 modern 260 #15,309
2005 modern 255 #15,437
2006 modern 237 #16,334
2007 modern 240 #16,392
2008 modern 243 #16,397
2009 modern 250 #16,421
2010 modern 250 #16,791
2011 modern 262 #16,098
2012 modern 257 #16,212
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 273 #15,914
2015 modern 262 #16,278
2016 modern 262 #16,256

Geography

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Where Legates are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Henlow, Glasgow and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, East Lindsey and Rannoch and Aberfeldy. 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 3
2 Henlow Bedfordshire
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 010 Central Bedfordshire
2 East Lindsey 008 East Lindsey
3 Central Bedfordshire 005 Central Bedfordshire
4 Rannoch and Aberfeldy Perth and Kinross
5 Central Bedfordshire 014 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Legate

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Legate

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Legate, 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 Legate surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Legate household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Legate is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

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Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Legate is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Legate falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Legate

The surname Legate originated in England and has its roots in the medieval era. It is derived from the Old French word "legat," which means a papal legate or an ambassador. This suggests that the name may have been initially applied to someone who held the position of a legate or ambassador, representing religious or secular authorities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Legate can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, there are records of a family named Legate residing in the county of Lincolnshire. Notably, John Legate, born around 1245, was a prominent landowner and was mentioned in various historical documents of that time.

In the 14th century, the name Legate appears in the records of the city of London. William Legate, a merchant born in 1337, was a respected figure in the city's commerce and trade circles. His descendants continued to reside in London for several generations.

Moving into the 16th century, the name Legate gained further recognition with Thomas Legate, born in 1542. He was a prominent English judge and legal scholar who served as a justice of the Court of Common Pleas during the reign of Elizabeth I.

The 17th century saw the rise of John Legate, born in 1620, who was a renowned English printer and publisher. He established his printing press in London and played a significant role in the dissemination of literary works during that era.

Another notable figure was Robert Legate, born in 1687, who was an influential English clergyman and theologian. He served as the Bishop of Oxford and made significant contributions to religious scholarship and education.

In the 18th century, the name Legate was associated with William Legate, born in 1751, who was a respected naval officer in the British Royal Navy. He participated in several significant battles during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

The 19th century brought forth Edward Legate, born in 1810, who was a renowned architect and urban planner. He designed several notable buildings and contributed to the development of urban planning principles in England.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals bearing the surname Legate throughout history, demonstrating the rich heritage and significance of this name in various fields and across different eras.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Legate families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Legate 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. Bedfordshire leads with 36 Legates recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.01x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 36 72.01x
Lanarkshire 18 5.76x
Surrey 9 1.91x
Sussex 7 4.30x
Nottinghamshire 6 4.61x
Somerset 6 3.86x
Middlesex 5 0.52x
Yorkshire 5 0.52x
Norfolk 3 2.02x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.71x
Dunbartonshire 1 3.85x
Northumberland 1 0.70x
Royal Navy 1 8.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Henlow in Bedfordshire leads with 31 Legates recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Henlow 31 10000.00x
Carluke 7 246.48x
Barony 6 7.59x
Bedminster 6 41.10x
Eastbourne 6 80.11x
Sutton On Trent 6 1875.00x
Camberwell 5 8.11x
Holy Trinity 4 17.38x
Clifton 3 625.00x
Govan 3 3.88x
Arlesey 2 317.46x
Diss 2 157.48x
Epsom 2 87.34x
Islington London 2 2.14x
Shettleston 2 71.43x
St Marylebone London 2 3.88x
Amersham 1 120.48x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 32.89x
Brighton 1 3.05x
Guisbrough 1 47.85x
Kensington London 1 1.86x
Lambeth 1 1.19x
Old Kilpatrick 1 32.57x
Rotherhithe 1 8.38x
Royal Navy 1 10.16x
Roydon In Guiltcross 1 500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 6
Emma 4
Mary 4
Elizabeth 3
Fanny 3
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Helena 2
Maria 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Blanche 1
Charlotte 1
Elizbeth 1
Elizth. 1
Emilia 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Phillis 1
Selina 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Frederick 4
George 4
James 4
Thomas 4
Frank 2
Henry 2
John 2
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Ephraim 1
Francis 1
Jas. 1
Josiah 1
R. 1
Samuel 1
Willm.P. 1

FAQ

Legate surname: questions and answers

How common was the Legate surname in 1881?

In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Legate surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Legate surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016. That gives Legate a modern rank of #16,256.

What does the Legate surname mean?

A surname referring to a Roman Catholic ambassador or envoy.

What does the Legate map show?

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