NameCensus.

UK surname

Lessiter

In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Lessiter surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 122, ranked #27,255, down from #24,711 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Malmesbury St Paul, London parishes and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, North Devon and Conwy.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lessiter is 139 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.7%.

1881 census count

63

Ranked #24,711

Modern count

122

2016, ranked #27,255

Peak year

2004

139 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lessiter had 63 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,711 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016, ranked #27,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 111 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lessiter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lessiter surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lessiter 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 41 #25,926
1861 historical 29 #30,287
1881 historical 63 #24,711
1891 historical 75 #27,414
1901 historical 90 #24,021
1911 historical 111 #21,392
1997 modern 134 #22,608
1998 modern 134 #23,202
1999 modern 137 #23,083
2000 modern 138 #22,960
2001 modern 131 #23,343
2002 modern 137 #23,198
2003 modern 134 #23,260
2004 modern 139 #22,891
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 127 #24,384
2007 modern 130 #24,389
2008 modern 132 #24,476
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 133 #25,379
2011 modern 128 #25,793
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 132 #25,789
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 130 #26,093
2016 modern 122 #27,255

Geography

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Where Lessiters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Malmesbury St Paul, London parishes, Halifax and Paddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, North Devon, Conwy, South Kesteven and Broadland. 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 Malmesbury St Paul Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Paddington London (West Districts)
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 052 Cornwall
2 North Devon 010 North Devon
3 Conwy 009 Conwy
4 South Kesteven 011 South Kesteven
5 Broadland 007 Broadland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lessiter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lessiter

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lessiter, 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 Lessiter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lessiter 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Lessiter 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

Lessiter is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lessiter falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lessiter 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 Lessiter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Lessiter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lessiter 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 15 Lessiters recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.44x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 15 2.44x
Wiltshire 13 23.93x
Sussex 10 9.65x
Hampshire 9 7.15x
Essex 6 4.95x
Yorkshire 6 0.99x
Gloucestershire 2 1.66x
Berkshire 1 2.17x
Somerset 1 1.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Horsted in Sussex leads with 10 Lessiters recorded in 1881 and an index of 16666.67x.

Place Total Index
Little Horsted 10 16666.67x
Paddington London 8 35.41x
Southampton St Mary 8 101.01x
Kensington London 7 20.49x
Halifax 6 67.11x
Little Henny 6 30000.00x
Chippenham 5 438.60x
Langley Burrell 3 1304.35x
Malmesbury St Paul 3 638.30x
Tetbury 2 294.12x
Bathwick 1 91.74x
Kington St Michael 1 1000.00x
Southampton St Michael 1 243.90x
Stanton St Quintin 1 1666.67x
Windsor Castle 1 2500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Louisa 4
Sarah 3
Elizabeth 2
Harriet 2
Margaret 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Fairy 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
L. 1
Laretta 1
Minnie 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Lessiter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lessiter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Lessiter surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lessiter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016. That gives Lessiter a modern rank of #27,255.

What does the Lessiter map show?

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