NameCensus.

UK surname

Lent

Derived from a place name or from the Old English word "lang," meaning long or tall.

In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Lent surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 194, ranked #19,976, down from #19,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Doncaster and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Doncaster and Bury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lent is 211 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.3%.

1881 census count

103

Ranked #19,410

Modern count

194

2016, ranked #19,976

Peak year

2013

211 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lent had 103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016, ranked #19,976.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 157 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Lent surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lent surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lent 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 137 #13,812
1861 historical 112 #19,279
1881 historical 103 #19,410
1891 historical 112 #22,291
1901 historical 131 #19,552
1911 historical 157 #17,348
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 191 #18,624
1999 modern 208 #17,808
2000 modern 198 #18,330
2001 modern 196 #18,146
2002 modern 200 #18,294
2003 modern 177 #19,549
2004 modern 178 #19,603
2005 modern 181 #19,334
2006 modern 187 #19,079
2007 modern 184 #19,485
2008 modern 189 #19,315
2009 modern 191 #19,592
2010 modern 198 #19,577
2011 modern 201 #19,213
2012 modern 207 #18,777
2013 modern 211 #18,872
2014 modern 202 #19,575
2015 modern 200 #19,567
2016 modern 194 #19,976

Geography

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Where Lents are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Doncaster, Burslem, Lambeth and Coychurch. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Doncaster, Bury and Selby. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Burslem Staffordshire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Coychurch Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 020 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 021 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Doncaster 018 Doncaster
4 Bury 026 Bury
5 Selby 007 Selby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lent

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lent

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Lent surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lent household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Lent is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lent is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lent falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lent is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lent

The surname Lent has its origins in the Low German language and is believed to have first emerged in the northern regions of Germany and the Netherlands. It is thought to be derived from the Low German word "lente," which means "spring" or "Lent," referring to the Christian season of Lent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lent can be found in the Osnabrück Monastery records from the late 12th century, where a monk named Johannes Lent is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use during this period and may have been adopted by individuals associated with the church or religious orders.

During the Middle Ages, the name Lent was particularly prevalent in the regions of Lower Saxony and Westphalia in Germany, as well as the neighboring areas of the Netherlands. It is possible that the name was initially used as a descriptive surname, referring to individuals born or associated with the Lenten season.

In the 14th century, the name Lent appeared in various records across these regions, including the Bremian Wardrobe Accounts, where a certain Hinrik Lent is mentioned as a merchant. This indicates that the name had spread beyond its religious connotations and was being used by individuals from different walks of life.

One notable bearer of the surname Lent was Jan Lent (c. 1420-1495), a Dutch painter and stained glass artist from Nijmegen, known for his work in churches and cathedrals throughout the Low Countries. Another figure was Casparus Lent (1550-1622), a German theologian and professor at the University of Rostock.

As the name spread across Europe, variations in spelling emerged, such as Lentt, Lente, and Lenten. In England, the surname Lent can be traced back to the 16th century, with records showing individuals like William Lent (c. 1520-1585), a merchant and landowner from Kent.

Over time, the Lent surname has been associated with various notable individuals, including Johann Lent (1659-1712), a German theologian and author; Johann Lent (1674-1735), a German painter and engraver; and Johann Friedrich Lent (1731-1803), a German composer and organist.

Despite its widespread use, the surname Lent has retained its connection to its linguistic roots, serving as a reminder of the influence of seasonal and religious traditions on the development of surnames throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lent families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lent 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. Yorkshire leads with 30 Lents recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.01x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 30 3.01x
Surrey 21 4.29x
Staffordshire 15 4.42x
Middlesex 9 0.90x
Norfolk 6 3.88x
Monmouthshire 5 6.88x
Bedfordshire 3 5.77x
Devon 3 1.43x
Somerset 2 1.24x
Wigtownshire 2 14.99x
Berkshire 1 1.33x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.65x
Essex 1 0.50x
Kent 1 0.29x
Lancashire 1 0.08x
Lincolnshire 1 0.62x
Midlothian 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burslem in Staffordshire leads with 13 Lents recorded in 1881 and an index of 133.88x.

Place Total Index
Burslem 13 133.88x
Camberwell 13 20.26x
Brightside Bierlow 8 40.96x
Doncaster 7 96.29x
Mynyddyslwyn 5 174.22x
Rotherham 4 71.30x
Saddleworth 4 52.08x
Southwark Christchurch 4 84.93x
Eaton St Andrew 3 697.67x
Lambeth 3 3.42x
Luton 3 33.30x
Swinton In Rotherham 3 114.07x
Kirkcowan 2 444.44x
Leeds 2 3.56x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 47.28x
Moreton Hampstead 2 370.37x
St Botolph Aldgate London 2 96.62x
St Helen Bishopsgate 2 2000.00x
St Pancras London 2 2.47x
Brooke 1 416.67x
Gorton 1 8.92x
Hackney London 1 1.78x
Halifax 1 6.84x
Helpringham 1 312.50x
Holy Trinity St Mary 1 65.79x
Kensington London 1 1.79x
Princes Risborough 1 123.46x
Rocester 1 238.10x
Rotherhithe 1 8.06x
South Leith 1 6.60x
St Marylebone London 1 1.86x
Stratton St Michael 1 1111.11x
Tilehurst 1 65.79x
Tiverton 1 27.78x
Ulcombe 1 434.78x
Walpole St Peter 1 256.41x
West Ham 1 2.28x
Wolstanton 1 9.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 5
Mary 5
Ann 4
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 3
Sarah 3
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Franciska 1
Hannah 1
Julia 1
Lucy 1
Marie 1
Maude 1
Rhoda 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 7
James 6
William 6
John 4
Harry 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Frank 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Fredk.Norton 1
Fredrick 1
Haran 1
Horace 1
Jacob 1
Karl 1
Leonard 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Lent surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lent surname in 1881?

In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Lent surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lent surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016. That gives Lent a modern rank of #19,976.

What does the Lent surname mean?

Derived from a place name or from the Old English word "lang," meaning long or tall.

What does the Lent map show?

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