NameCensus.

UK surname

Lerwill

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Lerwill surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 275, ranked #15,720, up from #20,127 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Down, East and Ilfracombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon, Maidstone and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lerwill is 275 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 183.5%.

1881 census count

97

Ranked #20,127

Modern count

275

2016, ranked #15,720

Peak year

2016

275 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lerwill had 97 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,127 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 275 in 2016, ranked #15,720.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 160 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lerwill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lerwill surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lerwill 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 56 #23,235
1861 historical 54 #27,127
1881 historical 97 #20,127
1891 historical 129 #20,285
1901 historical 142 #18,633
1911 historical 160 #17,151
1997 modern 238 #15,760
1998 modern 254 #15,508
1999 modern 254 #15,638
2000 modern 255 #15,538
2001 modern 252 #15,452
2002 modern 254 #15,641
2003 modern 247 #15,733
2004 modern 249 #15,739
2005 modern 241 #16,036
2006 modern 245 #15,956
2007 modern 249 #15,943
2008 modern 253 #15,941
2009 modern 261 #15,926
2010 modern 269 #15,935
2011 modern 273 #15,606
2012 modern 253 #16,377
2013 modern 258 #16,421
2014 modern 259 #16,509
2015 modern 268 #16,007
2016 modern 275 #15,720

Geography

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Where Lerwills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Down, East, Ilfracombe, Braunton and Combmartin. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon, Maidstone and Caerphilly. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Down, East Devon
3 Ilfracombe Devon
4 Braunton Devon
5 Combmartin Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 006 North Devon
2 North Devon 002 North Devon
3 Maidstone 018 Maidstone
4 North Devon 005 North Devon
5 Caerphilly 001 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lerwill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lerwill

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Lerwill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lerwill 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Lerwill is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Lerwill is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lerwill 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 Lerwill 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lerwill

The surname LERWILL is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the county of Devon. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "hler" meaning "hill" and "wyll" meaning "stream" or "spring." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a stream flowing down a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Devon from the year 1242, where a Richard Lerwill is mentioned. The spelling variations at the time included Lerwyll, Lerewyll, and Lerewylle.

By the 14th century, the name had spread to other parts of England, with records showing a John Lerwill living in Dorset in 1327 and a William Lerwyll residing in Somerset in 1379.

In the 16th century, the LERWILL surname is found in the parish records of Stoke Damerel, Devon, with the baptism of John Lerwill in 1562 and the marriage of Robert Lerwill in 1583.

One notable individual bearing this surname was Sir John Lerwill, a wealthy merchant and landowner from Devon who lived during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was knighted in 1603 by King James I.

Another person of note was Thomas Lerwill, a prominent clergyman and author from Devonshire who lived from 1629 to 1701. He wrote several theological works and served as the rector of Tawstock.

In the 18th century, the LERWILL name appears in records from the village of Shirwell in Devon, with the baptism of William Lerwill in 1723 and the marriage of Mary Lerwill in 1744.

One of the earliest instances of the LERWILL surname in North America dates back to 1635, when a man named John Lerwill arrived in Virginia as an indentured servant.

Another notable figure was Captain John Lerwill, an English naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and was involved in several battles against the French fleet in the West Indies between 1778 and 1782.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lerwill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lerwill 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. Devon leads with 70 Lerwills recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.18x.

County Total Index
Devon 70 35.18x
Glamorgan 11 6.61x
Warwickshire 8 3.32x
Gloucestershire 4 2.13x
Surrey 3 0.64x
Royal Navy 1 8.78x
Sussex 1 0.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Combmartin in Devon leads with 40 Lerwills recorded in 1881 and an index of 9302.33x.

Place Total Index
Combmartin 40 9302.33x
Kentisbury 21 19090.91x
Llangeinor 6 612.24x
Swansea Town 5 36.63x
Aston 4 6.03x
Birmingham 4 4.98x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 4 571.43x
Braunton 3 447.76x
Camberwell 3 4.91x
Ilfracombe 3 146.34x
Littleham 2 137.93x
Bishops Tawton 1 161.29x
Lewes St John Southover 1 92.59x
Royal Navy 1 10.27x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
John 6
Thomas 5
Walter 5
Richard 4
Alfred 2
George 2
Harry 2
Archibald 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Humphery 1
Humphrey 1
Humphry 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Noah 1
Philip 1
Samuel 1
Simon 1
Thos. 1
Tommie 1

FAQ

Lerwill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lerwill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 97 people were recorded with the Lerwill surname. That placed it at #20,127 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lerwill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 275 in 2016. That gives Lerwill a modern rank of #15,720.

What does the Lerwill surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Lerwill map show?

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