NameCensus.

UK surname

Lennon

A surname of Irish origin, derived from Ó Leannáin, meaning "descendant of Leannán" (a devotee of St. John).

In the 1881 census there were 1,048 people recorded with the Lennon surname, ranking it #3,760 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,949, ranked #1,365, up from #3,760 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Gateshead and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stanley and Murthly, Thrashbush and Shortlees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lennon is 5,049 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 372.2%.

1881 census count

1,048

Ranked #3,760

Modern count

4,949

2016, ranked #1,365

Peak year

2010

5,049 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lennon had 1,048 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,760 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,949 in 2016, ranked #1,365.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,612 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Lennon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lennon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lennon 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 417 #5,829
1861 historical 452 #5,730
1881 historical 1,048 #3,760
1891 historical 1,193 #3,592
1901 historical 1,612 #3,211
1911 historical 1,278 #3,720
1997 modern 4,499 #1,458
1998 modern 4,669 #1,457
1999 modern 4,709 #1,457
2000 modern 4,647 #1,467
2001 modern 4,537 #1,472
2002 modern 4,669 #1,460
2003 modern 4,512 #1,471
2004 modern 4,572 #1,453
2005 modern 4,584 #1,426
2006 modern 4,557 #1,439
2007 modern 4,657 #1,415
2008 modern 4,792 #1,390
2009 modern 4,884 #1,394
2010 modern 5,049 #1,379
2011 modern 4,975 #1,377
2012 modern 4,917 #1,362
2013 modern 4,996 #1,368
2014 modern 5,044 #1,361
2015 modern 4,978 #1,362
2016 modern 4,949 #1,365

Geography

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Where Lennons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Gateshead, Manchester, Dumfries and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stanley and Murthly, Thrashbush, Shortlees, Airdrie North and Southampton. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Dumfries Dumfries
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stanley and Murthly Perth and Kinross
2 Thrashbush North Lanarkshire
3 Shortlees East Ayrshire
4 Airdrie North North Lanarkshire
5 Southampton 022 Southampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lennon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lennon

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Lennon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lennon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lennon 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

Lennon 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

Lennon falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lennon 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Lennon

The surname Lennon originated in Ireland, where it is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic name Ó Leannáin or Ó Lonáin. The name is derived from the Irish word "leannán" which means "lover" or "sweetheart". The Ó prefix in Irish names indicates "descendant of" or "grandson of".

The Lennon surname can be traced back to the 11th century in Ireland, where it was particularly prominent in the counties of Galway and Mayo. It is believed that the name may have originated with a renowned bard or poet who was known for writing love songs and poems.

The earliest recorded reference to the Lennon name appears in the Annals of Lough Cé, a medieval Irish chronicle, which mentions a member of the Ó Leannáin family in the year 1171. Another early record of the name is found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a historical chronicle compiled in the 17th century, which mentions a member of the family named Gilla na Naomh Ó Leannáin in the year 1216.

The variant spelling "Lennon" became more common in the 16th and 17th centuries, likely due to the anglicization of Irish names during the Tudor and Stuart periods. One notable figure with this surname was Niall Ó Leannáin, a 16th-century Irish poet and historian who was also known as Nial O'Lennon.

In later centuries, the Lennon name was found in various parts of Ireland, particularly in the counties of Galway, Mayo, Sligo, and Westmeath. Some notable individuals with this surname include:

1. Brian Lennon (1935-2017), an Irish novelist and short story writer. 2. James Lennon (1854-1935), an Irish-American industrialist and businessman. 3. Maise Lennon (1876-1958), an Irish stage actress and singer. 4. Patrick Lennon (1830-1901), an Irish-American author and journalist. 5. John Lennon (1940-1980), the renowned English singer, songwriter, and member of the Beatles, whose paternal ancestors were from Ireland.

While the Lennon surname has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Irish emigration in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in Ireland, where it was associated with poets, bards, and historians.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lennon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lennon 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. Lancashire leads with 340 Lennons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.78x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 340 2.78x
Lanarkshire 134 4.02x
Ayrshire 93 12.06x
Durham 91 2.97x
Cumberland 55 6.20x
Yorkshire 40 0.39x
Warwickshire 39 1.50x
Midlothian 30 2.17x
Middlesex 29 0.28x
Dumfriesshire 22 9.67x
Northumberland 19 1.24x
Surrey 18 0.36x
Cheshire 17 0.75x
Essex 17 0.84x
Kent 13 0.37x
Dunbartonshire 11 3.97x
Staffordshire 11 0.32x
Hampshire 9 0.43x
Renfrewshire 9 1.13x
Wigtownshire 8 5.85x
Devon 7 0.33x
Somerset 7 0.42x
Channel Islands 6 1.97x
Hertfordshire 5 0.70x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 3.35x
Angus 3 0.31x
Cornwall 3 0.26x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.48x
Wiltshire 2 0.22x
Worcestershire 2 0.15x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.10x
Caithness 1 0.71x
Flintshire 1 0.36x
Gloucestershire 1 0.05x
Lincolnshire 1 0.06x
Norfolk 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.81x
West Lothian 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 93 Lennons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.53x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 93 12.53x
Glasgow 44 7.44x
Govan 42 5.10x
Birmingham 37 4.27x
Barony 34 4.03x
Manchester 30 5.46x
Dumfries 22 98.00x
Dalry 21 57.88x
Everton 19 4.88x
Kilmarnock 19 20.71x
Heworth 18 29.81x
Birtley 15 119.90x
St Cuthbert W O 15 34.70x
Toxteth Park 14 3.38x
Kirkdale 13 6.32x
Warrington 13 8.97x
Lewisham 12 6.40x
Pendleton In Salford 12 8.24x
Stevenston 12 59.70x
Ardwick 11 9.98x
Bishopwearmouth 11 4.18x
Bradford 11 4.45x
Brightside Bierlow 11 5.49x
Dundonald 11 38.69x
Barrow In Furness 10 6.02x
Bedlington 10 19.54x
Birkenhead 10 5.52x
Lancaster 10 13.75x
Salford 10 2.78x
West Derby 10 2.80x
Barton Upon Irwell 9 9.78x
Brandon Byshottles 9 23.44x
Riccarton Hurlford 9 66.57x
Carrington 8 370.37x
Edinburgh St Johns 8 91.85x
Harrington 8 74.70x
Kirkintilloch 8 21.27x
Whitehaven 8 16.92x
Bedminster 7 4.49x
East Ham 7 18.55x
Newchurch 7 7.00x
Oldham 7 1.77x
Preston 7 2.14x
Riccarton 7 60.19x
Abbey 6 4.93x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 6.18x
Edinburgh Old Church 6 54.15x
Escomb 6 42.61x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 4.52x
Hensingham 6 82.76x
Hulme 6 2.35x
Kilwinning 6 24.11x
Preston Quarter 6 24.14x
Tunstall 6 39.32x
West Ham 6 1.34x
Godalming 5 15.82x
Islington London 5 0.50x
Leeds 5 0.87x
Newton On Ayr 5 21.65x
Redbourn 5 64.43x
Shotts 5 12.54x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 2.41x
St Helier 5 5.03x
Troqueer 5 25.56x
Whittington 5 70.32x
Chorley 4 5.83x
Kyo 4 27.72x
Litherland 4 15.65x
Mochrum 4 48.96x
St Anne Soho London 4 6.80x
St Marylebone London 4 0.73x
Whithorn 4 38.39x
Caldewgate 3 6.17x
Farnborough 3 13.53x
Hamilton 3 3.23x
Hartlepool 3 6.89x
Manningham 3 2.39x
Tonge 3 11.70x
Walton On Hill 3 4.53x
Worsley 3 3.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 83
Margaret 24
Ellen 21
Catherine 20
Sarah 20
Elizabeth 19
Annie 14
Ann 13
Jane 13
Bridget 12
Rose 9
Anne 6
Eliza 6
Alice 5
Catharine 5
Emma 5
Isabella 5
Julia 5
Hannah 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Agnes 3
Frances 3
Maria 3
Rachel 3
Betsy 2
Dorothy 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Teresa 2
Cath. 1
Cecilia 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Elizbeth 1
Elizth. 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Honoria 1
Jennet 1
Jessie 1
Joanna 1
Laura 1
Levinia 1
Luisa 1
Maggie 1
March 1
Margred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 61
James 43
William 38
Thomas 35
Patrick 23
Edward 13
George 13
Joseph 13
Michael 12
Peter 12
Robert 8
Charles 7
Francis 7
Henry 7
Richard 7
Matthew 6
Arthur 4
Philip 4
Stephen 4
Wm. 4
Bernard 3
Cornelius 3
Dennis 3
Felix 3
Alfred 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Hugh 2
Jas. 2
Jas.Mc. 2
Mathew 2
Owen 2
Archbold 1
Barnard 1
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
Clarence 1
Felia 1
Frederick 1
Jeremiah 1
Micheal 1
Mick 1
Morris 1
Nathaniel 1
Nicholas 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Roderick 1
Saml. 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Lennon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lennon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,048 people were recorded with the Lennon surname. That placed it at #3,760 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lennon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,949 in 2016. That gives Lennon a modern rank of #1,365.

What does the Lennon surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from Ó Leannáin, meaning "descendant of Leannán" (a devotee of St. John).

What does the Lennon map show?

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