NameCensus.

UK surname

Letchford

A locational surname originating from a place in England.

In the 1881 census there were 324 people recorded with the Letchford surname, ranking it #9,214 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 570, ranked #9,038, up from #9,214 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Northfleet, London parishes and Rochester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dartford, West Devon and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Letchford is 626 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.9%.

1881 census count

324

Ranked #9,214

Modern count

570

2016, ranked #9,038

Peak year

1998

626 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Letchford had 324 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,214 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 570 in 2016, ranked #9,038.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 560 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Letchford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Letchford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Letchford 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 156 #12,552
1861 historical 181 #12,997
1881 historical 324 #9,214
1891 historical 346 #9,920
1901 historical 439 #8,863
1911 historical 560 #7,188
1997 modern 611 #8,038
1998 modern 626 #8,144
1999 modern 625 #8,206
2000 modern 615 #8,287
2001 modern 597 #8,321
2002 modern 616 #8,298
2003 modern 603 #8,304
2004 modern 596 #8,389
2005 modern 587 #8,402
2006 modern 573 #8,575
2007 modern 575 #8,629
2008 modern 585 #8,584
2009 modern 593 #8,672
2010 modern 592 #8,874
2011 modern 588 #8,825
2012 modern 550 #9,167
2013 modern 579 #8,965
2014 modern 588 #8,936
2015 modern 565 #9,108
2016 modern 570 #9,038

Geography

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Where Letchfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Northfleet, London parishes, Rochester and Lewisham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dartford, West Devon, Bromley and Dover. 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 Northfleet Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 Rochester Kent
4 Lewisham London (South Districts)
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dartford 001 Dartford
2 West Devon 002 West Devon
3 Dartford 009 Dartford
4 Bromley 032 Bromley
5 Dover 011 Dover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Letchford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Letchford

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Letchford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Letchford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Letchford is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Letchford is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Letchford falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Letchford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Letchford

The surname Letchford is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname derived from the place name "Letchworth" in Hertfordshire, England. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "leac" meaning leek, and "worth" meaning an enclosed settlement or homestead, suggesting that the area may have been known for cultivating leeks.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Leccheworth." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England at the time.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Lechewrth" and "Lecheworth," as evidenced by records from the Hertfordshire county archives. These variations reflect the local dialect and spelling conventions of the time.

In the 14th century, a notable figure with the surname Letchford was John Letchford, a landowner and farmer in the village of Letchworth. He was mentioned in several legal documents related to property disputes and land transactions.

Another notable person with this surname was William Letchford, who lived in the late 16th century. He was a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in London.

In the 17th century, Thomas Letchford, born in 1620, was a Puritan minister who emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638. He became an influential figure in the early colonial settlements, serving as a minister and teacher in several towns.

During the 18th century, the surname Letchford appeared in various parish records and baptismal registers across England, particularly in the counties of Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, and Essex.

In the 19th century, a notable figure was Sir Letchford Wager, born in 1815, who was a British diplomat and served as the British Ambassador to Austria from 1872 to 1877.

Throughout its history, the surname Letchford has maintained its strong association with the English county of Hertfordshire and the village of Letchworth, where it originated. While the spelling may have varied over time, the name's connection to this geographical location has remained a defining characteristic.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Letchford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Letchford 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. Kent leads with 198 Letchfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.36x.

County Total Index
Kent 198 18.36x
Middlesex 43 1.36x
Surrey 34 2.21x
Sussex 15 2.82x
Essex 10 1.60x
Buckinghamshire 8 4.19x
Hampshire 7 1.08x
Derbyshire 3 0.61x
Lancashire 3 0.08x
Glamorgan 1 0.18x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.00x
Somerset 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lewisham in Kent leads with 15 Letchfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.09x.

Place Total Index
Lewisham 15 26.09x
Milton In Gravesend 15 92.76x
Northfleet 15 157.89x
Chatham 10 33.72x
Clapham 9 22.78x
Gillingham 9 40.49x
Gravesend 9 98.58x
St George In East London 9 30.27x
Strood 9 146.34x
Ash Next Sandwich 8 334.73x
Bradwell 8 297.40x
Dovercourt 8 365.30x
Greenwich 7 13.91x
Preston 7 75.27x
Sevenoaks 7 80.09x
Southfleet 7 700.00x
Wilmington 7 466.67x
Battersea 6 5.16x
Halling 6 425.53x
Kensington London 6 3.41x
Lambeth 6 2.18x
Ryde 6 43.10x
St George Hanover Square 6 10.78x
Carshalton 5 84.89x
Dartford 5 45.33x
Farningham 5 520.83x
Hove 5 21.39x
Rochester St Margaret 5 43.98x
St Mary Cray 5 242.72x
Stone In Dartford 5 180.51x
Tonbridge 5 12.86x
Westminster St John 5 12.99x
Cobham 4 400.00x
East Malling 4 155.04x
Hartley 4 1481.48x
Horton Kirby 4 239.52x
Kingsdown In Dartford 4 888.89x
Pembury 4 261.44x
Poplar London 4 6.71x
Sturry 4 312.50x
Beswick 3 31.28x
Camberwell 3 1.49x
Dover St James 3 63.42x
Eltham 3 47.47x
Litchurch 3 15.07x
Shoreditch London 3 2.19x
Sutton 3 26.93x
Sutton At Hone 3 133.93x
Brighton 2 1.86x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.68x
Limehouse London 2 5.77x
Maidstone 2 6.23x
Snodland 2 65.36x
St Pancras London 2 0.79x
Acton 1 5.40x
Bermondsey 1 1.06x
Cardiff St John 1 5.56x
Chigwell 1 16.98x
Croydon 1 1.17x
Hackney London 1 0.56x
Herbrandston 1 256.41x
Islington London 1 0.33x
Lee 1 6.39x
Leyton 1 9.30x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.49x
Patcham 1 104.17x
Pitminster 1 66.67x
Wateringbury 1 70.92x
West Malling 1 41.15x
West Meon 1 114.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 11
Eliza 8
Elizabeth 8
Alice 6
Emma 5
Fanny 5
Ada 4
Ann 4
Caroline 4
Harriet 4
Jane 4
Martha 4
Edith 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Rose 2
Rosetta 2
Agatha 1
Bertha 1
Blance 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Ellen 1
Harry 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Katharine 1
Laura 1
Leva 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Mabel 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
George 13
Charles 12
James 11
Henry 10
John 8
Thomas 8
Alfred 6
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Richard 5
Albert 4
Alexander 4
Edward 3
Herbert 3
Stephen 3
Elias 2
Frank 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Philip 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Benj. 1
Bernard 1
Chas. 1
D. 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Elvin 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
G. 1
Infant 1
Jeremia 1
Jeremiah 1
Joseph 1
Lawrence 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Rowland 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Letchford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Letchford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 324 people were recorded with the Letchford surname. That placed it at #9,214 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Letchford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 570 in 2016. That gives Letchford a modern rank of #9,038.

What does the Letchford surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place in England.

What does the Letchford map show?

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