NameCensus.

UK surname

Legrand

Derived from the French phrase "le grand," meaning "the great" or "the large," likely referring to a person's size or importance.

In the 1881 census there were 67 people recorded with the Legrand surname, ranking it #24,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 198, ranked #19,713, up from #24,104 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, South Stoneham and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Lambeth and City of London.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Legrand is 207 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 195.5%.

1881 census count

67

Ranked #24,104

Modern count

198

2016, ranked #19,713

Peak year

2012

207 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Legrand had 67 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,104 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016, ranked #19,713.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 114 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Legrand surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Legrand surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Legrand 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 43 #25,518
1861 historical 45 #28,296
1881 historical 67 #24,104
1891 historical 80 #26,785
1901 historical 104 #22,310
1911 historical 114 #21,064
1997 modern 148 #21,295
1998 modern 161 #20,754
1999 modern 173 #19,935
2000 modern 168 #20,252
2001 modern 156 #20,974
2002 modern 156 #21,348
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 147 #22,094
2005 modern 155 #21,318
2006 modern 171 #20,131
2007 modern 170 #20,471
2008 modern 178 #20,094
2009 modern 182 #20,201
2010 modern 190 #20,087
2011 modern 201 #19,213
2012 modern 207 #18,777
2013 modern 201 #19,454
2014 modern 204 #19,439
2015 modern 196 #19,840
2016 modern 198 #19,713

Geography

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Where Legrands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, South Stoneham, Lambeth and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Lambeth, City of London, East Hampshire and Newham. 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 South Stoneham Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 002 Shropshire
2 Lambeth 014 Lambeth
3 City of London 001 City of London
4 East Hampshire 008 East Hampshire
5 Newham 009 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Legrand

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Legrand

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Legrand surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Legrand 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Legrand is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Legrand 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

Legrand falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Legrand

The surname LEGRAND is of French origin, and it can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French words "le" meaning "the" and "grand" meaning "large" or "great." The name was likely initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone who was tall or physically imposing.

In medieval France, surnames were often derived from personal characteristics, occupations, or place names. The name LEGRAND was likely used to distinguish individuals with a particular physical trait or stature within their local communities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LEGRAND can be found in the census records of Normandy from the late 12th century. The name was particularly prevalent in northern France, including regions such as Normandy, Brittany, and Picardy.

During the Middle Ages, the LEGRAND family name appeared in various historical records and manuscripts. For example, a Jacques LEGRAND was recorded as a landowner in the village of Saint-Malo in Brittany in the 14th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname LEGRAND. One of the earliest was Pierre LEGRAND (c. 1360-1418), a French theologian and scholar who served as the Chancellor of the University of Paris. Another prominent figure was Jacques LEGRAND (1653-1733), a French lawyer and writer who authored several legal treatises.

In the 18th century, Louis LEGRAND (1711-1780) was a French architect and engineer who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Church of Saint-Sulpice. Jean-Joseph LEGRAND (1784-1865) was a French painter and engraver known for his portraits and historical scenes.

During the 19th century, Antoine LEGRAND (1828-1895) was a French soldier and military historian who wrote extensively about the Napoleonic Wars. He was awarded the Légion d'Honneur for his contributions to military history.

The surname LEGRAND has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, architects, and military figures. While the name originated in northern France, it has since spread to other regions and countries through migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Legrand families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Legrand 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 22 Legrands recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.26x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 22 6.26x
Kent 10 8.35x
Monmouthshire 2 7.88x
Berkshire 1 3.79x
Surrey 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 8 Legrands recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.58x.

Place Total Index
Deptford St Paul 8 86.58x
Kensington London 7 35.86x
Islington London 4 11.75x
Paddington London 2 15.49x
St Marylebone London 2 10.67x
St Pancras London 2 7.07x
St Woollos 2 70.67x
Chelsea London 1 9.45x
Ealing 1 31.85x
Folkestone 1 43.10x
Hampstead London 1 18.28x
Lambeth 1 3.27x
Maidstone 1 28.01x
Norwood 1 125.00x
Sandhurst 1 196.08x
St Martin In Fields 1 47.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Marie 2
Sarah 2
Angilena 1
Angilina 1
Bertha 1
C. 1
Celine 1
Constance 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Eugenie 1
F.C. 1
Josephine 1
Julia 1
Kesiah 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
M.A.Rebecca 1
Marguerite 1
S.E. 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 2
Alphonse 1
Auguste 1
Daniel 1
E. 1
Edmond 1
Ernest 1
Eugene 1
Isidore 1
Louis 1
Theophile 1
W.Stove 1

FAQ

Legrand surname: questions and answers

How common was the Legrand surname in 1881?

In 1881, 67 people were recorded with the Legrand surname. That placed it at #24,104 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Legrand surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016. That gives Legrand a modern rank of #19,713.

What does the Legrand surname mean?

Derived from the French phrase "le grand," meaning "the great" or "the large," likely referring to a person's size or importance.

What does the Legrand map show?

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