UK surname
A locational surname originating from a place named Leatherton in Scotland.
In the 1881 census there were 134 people recorded with the Legerton surname, ranking it #16,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #16,602 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hedingham, Sible, Clacton, Great and Hunsdon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Legerton is 171 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 62.7%.
1881 census count
134
Ranked #16,602
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1891
171 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Legerton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Legerton surname density by area, 1881 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 | 78 | #19,840 |
| 1861 | historical | 86 | #22,810 |
| 1881 | historical | 134 | #16,602 |
| 1891 | historical | 171 | #16,733 |
| 1901 | historical | 156 | #17,638 |
| 1911 | historical | 119 | #20,535 |
| 1997 | modern | 63 | #31,335 |
| 1998 | modern | 68 | #31,181 |
| 1999 | modern | 68 | #31,311 |
| 2000 | modern | 67 | #31,473 |
| 2001 | modern | 70 | #31,016 |
| 2002 | modern | 70 | #31,432 |
| 2003 | modern | 64 | #32,056 |
| 2004 | modern | 61 | #32,581 |
| 2005 | modern | 62 | #32,708 |
| 2006 | modern | 62 | #33,043 |
| 2007 | modern | 62 | #33,346 |
| 2008 | modern | 63 | #33,498 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 57 | #34,421 |
| 2011 | modern | 58 | #34,330 |
| 2012 | modern | 51 | #34,756 |
| 2013 | modern | 58 | #34,488 |
| 2014 | modern | 54 | #34,700 |
| 2015 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hedingham, Sible, Clacton, Great, Hunsdon, Shalford and Easton, Great. 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 | Hedingham, Sible | Essex |
| 2 | Clacton, Great | Essex |
| 3 | Hunsdon | Hertfordshire |
| 4 | Shalford | Essex |
| 5 | Easton, Great | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Legerton 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 Legerton, 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 Legerton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Legerton 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, Legerton 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 Legerton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Legerton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Legerton has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "leag" and "tun," which together translate to "a farm or estate in a meadow or clearing." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived on or owned land located in a meadow or clearing.
One of the earliest known references to the name Legerton can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1188, where a William de Legerton is mentioned as a landowner. The "de" prefix indicates that the name was originally a territorial surname, referring to the place where the family resided or held lands.
In the 13th century, a variant spelling of the name, "Legherton," appears in the Curia Regis Rolls of Worcestershire, indicating the presence of the family in that region as well. The Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1274 also contain references to individuals with the surname Legerton.
During the medieval period, the Legerton family held lands and properties in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Oxfordshire. One notable example is Sir John Legerton, who lived in the 14th century and served as a knight under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.
The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Legerton. However, it is possible that the name's origins can be traced back to landholdings or settlements mentioned in the Domesday records.
Other notable individuals with the surname Legerton include:
1. Robert Legerton (c. 1520 - 1585), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. 2. Anne Legerton (1578 - 1640), a philanthropist and benefactor of several charitable institutions in Oxfordshire. 3. William Legerton (1650 - 1718), a scholar and translator of ancient Greek texts at the University of Cambridge. 4. Elizabeth Legerton (1710 - 1782), a prominent figure in the early stages of the industrial revolution in England, known for her innovative textile manufacturing techniques. 5. Thomas Legerton (1820 - 1892), a renowned architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Legerton 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. Essex leads with 98 Legertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.98x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 98 | 37.98x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.64x |
| Norfolk | 6 | 2.99x |
| Cambridgeshire | 5 | 6.04x |
| Hertfordshire | 5 | 5.55x |
| Suffolk | 5 | 3.14x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.74x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.22x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.08x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.16x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Easton in Essex leads with 18 Legertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5142.86x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Great Easton | 18 | 5142.86x |
| Tollesbury | 15 | 2307.69x |
| Shalford | 9 | 2727.27x |
| Finchingfield | 7 | 864.20x |
| Great Clacton | 7 | 795.45x |
| Liverpool | 7 | 7.43x |
| Grays Thurrock | 5 | 208.33x |
| Haverhill | 5 | 354.61x |
| Holy Trinity Cambridge | 5 | 555.56x |
| Norwich St John Sepulchre | 5 | 384.62x |
| Sible Hedingham | 5 | 581.40x |
| Braintree | 4 | 172.41x |
| Great Dunmow | 4 | 298.51x |
| Great Wakering | 4 | 689.66x |
| Halstead | 4 | 132.89x |
| Hunsdon | 4 | 1666.67x |
| South Benfleet | 4 | 1333.33x |
| Thaxted | 4 | 465.12x |
| West Derby | 3 | 6.61x |
| Exeter Heavitree | 2 | 98.52x |
| Nazeing | 2 | 606.06x |
| Saffron Walden | 2 | 73.26x |
| Bocking | 1 | 64.52x |
| Carshalton | 1 | 40.98x |
| Gravesend | 1 | 26.46x |
| Maldon St Peter | 1 | 76.34x |
| Sall | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Standon | 1 | 107.53x |
| Wakes Colne | 1 | 434.78x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 7.44x |
| White Colne | 1 | 588.24x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Legerton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Sarah | 7 |
| Jane | 6 |
| Mary | 6 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Anna | 3 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Julia | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Tabitha | 2 |
| Adelaide | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Enerico | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Janet | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Lilley | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Nellie | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Legerton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 134 people were recorded with the Legerton surname. That placed it at #16,602 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Legerton a modern rank of #34,889.
A locational surname originating from a place named Leatherton in Scotland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Legerton 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.