NameCensus.

UK surname

Lerner

A Jewish occupational surname referring to a scholar or teacher, derived from the German word "Lehrner."

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Lerner surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 243, ranked #17,131, up from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Hertsmere and Harrow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lerner is 272 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2330.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

243

2016, ranked #17,131

Peak year

2004

272 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lerner had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 243 in 2016, ranked #17,131.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 75 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Lerner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lerner surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lerner 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 25 #30,804
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1891 historical 27 #32,115
1901 historical 51 #28,492
1911 historical 75 #25,322
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 234 #16,404
1999 modern 257 #15,506
2000 modern 257 #15,468
2001 modern 242 #15,832
2002 modern 247 #15,941
2003 modern 259 #15,254
2004 modern 272 #14,843
2005 modern 264 #15,085
2006 modern 250 #15,749
2007 modern 246 #16,086
2008 modern 246 #16,247
2009 modern 249 #16,466
2010 modern 257 #16,476
2011 modern 255 #16,428
2012 modern 265 #15,862
2013 modern 269 #15,963
2014 modern 270 #16,020
2015 modern 254 #16,608
2016 modern 243 #17,131

Geography

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Where Lerners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Hertsmere, Harrow and Westminster. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 037 Barnet
2 Hertsmere 010 Hertsmere
3 Harrow 003 Harrow
4 Westminster 011 Westminster
5 Barnet 031 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lerner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lerner

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Lerner 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

Lerner 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

Lerner falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lerner 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Lerner

The surname Lerner originated in the German regions of Bavaria and Austria during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Middle High German word "lernen," meaning "to learn" or "to study." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who was a scholar, teacher, or student.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lerner can be found in the Codex Traditionum Lunaelacensis, a medieval manuscript from the Benedictine monastery of Lunelacus in Bavaria, dated to the early 13th century. The manuscript mentions a "Chunradus Lernære" (Conrad the Learner) who was a monk at the monastery.

In the 14th century, the name Lerner appeared in various records from the cities of Nuremberg and Augsburg in Bavaria. For example, a "Hans Lerner" is mentioned in the Nuremberg city records of 1387 as a merchant and member of the local guild.

The surname Lerner is also found in the historical records of the city of Vienna, Austria, where it was sometimes spelled as "Lehrner." In the 16th century, a "Georg Lehrner" (born around 1520) was a renowned clockmaker and engineer who worked on the construction of the iconic clock tower at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna.

Another notable bearer of the name Lerner was the German poet and novelist Gottfried Lerner (1661-1728), who was born in Nuremberg and is considered one of the leading figures of the Baroque period in German literature.

In the 19th century, the surname Lerner was associated with the Jewish community in Central Europe. One prominent figure was the Austrian writer and journalist Adolf Lerner (1834-1890), who was born in Brünn (now Brno, Czech Republic) and was a prominent advocate for Jewish emancipation and assimilation.

The name Lerner has also been found in various place names throughout Central Europe, such as Lernerhof (a village in Bavaria) and Lernau (a town in Austria), which further underscores the historical significance and geographical spread of this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lerner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lerner 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 6 Lerners recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.17x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 6 6.17x
Surrey 2 4.22x
Kent 1 3.01x
Midlothian 1 7.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 6 Lerners recorded in 1881 and an index of 115.61x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 6 115.61x
Chatham 1 109.89x
Croydon 1 38.02x
Rotherhithe 1 83.33x
West Calder 1 384.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Anna 1
Lina 1
Marguerite 1
Marie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Ernest 1
Francis 1
George 1
John 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Lerner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lerner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Lerner surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lerner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 243 in 2016. That gives Lerner a modern rank of #17,131.

What does the Lerner surname mean?

A Jewish occupational surname referring to a scholar or teacher, derived from the German word "Lehrner."

What does the Lerner map show?

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