NameCensus.

UK surname

Legros

A French surname meaning "the big" or "the large one".

In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Legros surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 116, ranked #28,197, down from #23,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newhaven, London parishes and Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Kensington and Chelsea and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Legros is 129 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.4%.

1881 census count

71

Ranked #23,517

Modern count

116

2016, ranked #28,197

Peak year

2011

129 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Legros had 71 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016, ranked #28,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 124 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Legros surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Legros surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Legros 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 17 #30,267
1861 historical 16 #31,832
1881 historical 71 #23,517
1891 historical 49 #30,349
1901 historical 87 #24,386
1911 historical 124 #20,023
1997 modern 106 #26,057
1998 modern 115 #25,466
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 114 #25,717
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 116 #25,632
2003 modern 119 #25,026
2004 modern 121 #24,939
2005 modern 119 #25,193
2006 modern 122 #25,010
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 120 #25,922
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 126 #26,312
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 126 #26,148
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 121 #27,503
2015 modern 117 #27,982
2016 modern 116 #28,197

Geography

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Where Legros' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newhaven, London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Kensington and Chelsea and West Devon. 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 Newhaven Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 001 Mid Suffolk
2 Kensington and Chelsea 003 Kensington and Chelsea
3 West Devon 003 West Devon
4 Kensington and Chelsea 002 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Kensington and Chelsea 004 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Legros

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Legros

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Legros, 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 Legros surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Legros 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Legros 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

Legros 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

Legros falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Legros is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Legros

The surname LEGROS originated in France, derived from the Old French words "le" meaning "the" and "gros" meaning "big" or "large." It was likely a descriptive nickname given to someone of large stature or size during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the 12th century in northern France, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Picardy. It was often spelled as "Le Gros" or "Legros" in medieval records and documents.

One notable historical reference is the presence of the name LEGROS in the famous Domesday Book, a manuscript commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This record suggests that the surname may have been introduced to England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, a French knight named Robert LEGROS participated in the Seventh Crusade under the leadership of King Louis IX. Records from this time also mention a nobleman named Geoffroy LEGROS who owned lands in the Champagne region of France.

During the 16th century, a prominent figure bearing the name LEGROS was Pierre LEGROS (1510-1572), a French theologian and scholar who was a vocal supporter of the Protestant Reformation. He authored several influential works on religious doctrine and was persecuted for his beliefs.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the surname was Jacques LEGROS (1635-1716), a French painter and engraver who studied under the renowned artist Charles Le Brun. Many of his works can be found in museums across Europe.

Another significant figure was Jean-Baptiste LEGROS (1719-1803), a French sculptor and architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Church of Saint-Sulpice.

In the 19th century, Alphonse LEGROS (1837-1911) was a celebrated French painter and sculptor who spent much of his career in England. He was a prominent figure in the French Realist movement and served as a professor at the Slade School of Fine Art in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Legros families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Legros 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. Channel Islands leads with 258 Legros' recorded in 1881 and an index of 287.02x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 258 287.02x
Middlesex 12 0.40x
Hampshire 9 1.45x
Sussex 9 1.76x
Lancashire 7 0.19x
Somerset 4 0.82x
Surrey 4 0.27x
Gloucestershire 3 0.50x
Kent 2 0.19x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.55x
Monmouthshire 1 0.46x
Rutland 1 4.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helier in Channel Islands leads with 107 Legros' recorded in 1881 and an index of 365.69x.

Place Total Index
St Helier 107 365.69x
St Saviour 33 663.98x
St Lawrence 30 1224.49x
St Martin 25 453.72x
Trinity 18 865.38x
St Mary 17 1634.62x
St Peter 13 501.93x
Newhaven 9 216.87x
Southampton St Mary 5 12.79x
Frome 4 34.25x
Islington London 4 1.36x
Lambeth 4 1.51x
Liverpool 4 1.83x
Poplar London 4 6.99x
St John 4 232.56x
Gloucester 3 1428.57x
Grouville 3 120.00x
St Brelade 3 129.87x
St Peter Port 3 18.04x
Barrow In Furness 2 4.09x
Forest 2 322.58x
Margate St John Baptist 2 10.55x
Paddington London 2 1.79x
Portsea 2 1.64x
Andover 1 17.04x
Great Crosby 1 10.19x
Hornsey 1 2.61x
Iver 1 42.37x
Newport 1 9.56x
Old Tower Without London 1 833.33x
St Faith Winchester 1 34.48x
Uppingham 1 37.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 12
Jane 12
Ann 11
Louisa 7
Eliza 6
Lydia 6
Ada 5
Alice 5
Florence 5
Annie 4
Emma 4
Amelia 3
Clara 3
Elise 3
Harriet 3
Sarah 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Harriett 2
Jeanne 2
Jessie 2
Margaret 2
Sophie 2
Augustine 1
Augustus 1
Betsy 1
Carroline 1
Cecilia 1
Edith 1
Eleanore 1
Elvina 1
Emily 1
Eunice 1
Evelyn 1
Fannie 1
Helena 1
Henriette 1
Isabel 1
Janet 1
Janthe 1
Josephine 1
K. 1
M.A. 1
Marguerite 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 30
Philip 17
Charles 9
George 9
Thomas 8
Walter 7
Alfred 5
Ernest 4
Abraham 3
Francis 3
William 3
Alexandre 2
Clement 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Elias 2
Frederick 2
James 2
Joshua 2
Sydney 2
A. 1
A.J. 1
Albert 1
Edwin 1
Elie 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Gervaise 1
Gordon 1
Herbert 1
Hy.G. 1
Josiah 1
Melville 1
Nevil 1
Nicholos 1
Oscar 1
Tom 1
Winter 1

FAQ

Legros surname: questions and answers

How common was the Legros surname in 1881?

In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Legros surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Legros surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 116 in 2016. That gives Legros a modern rank of #28,197.

What does the Legros surname mean?

A French surname meaning "the big" or "the large one".

What does the Legros map show?

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