NameCensus.

UK surname

Lethaby

In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Lethaby surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 173, ranked #21,561, down from #20,127 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Molton, Highbray, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Sherwill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lethaby is 184 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.4%.

1881 census count

97

Ranked #20,127

Modern count

173

2016, ranked #21,561

Peak year

2014

184 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lethaby had 97 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,127 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 173 in 2016, ranked #21,561.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 119 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Lethaby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lethaby surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lethaby 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 53 #23,739
1861 historical 52 #27,369
1881 historical 97 #20,127
1891 historical 119 #21,415
1901 historical 112 #21,382
1911 historical 111 #21,392
1997 modern 156 #20,593
1998 modern 163 #20,582
1999 modern 170 #20,153
2000 modern 170 #20,120
2001 modern 168 #19,986
2002 modern 174 #19,971
2003 modern 164 #20,483
2004 modern 167 #20,367
2005 modern 165 #20,468
2006 modern 169 #20,294
2007 modern 172 #20,321
2008 modern 180 #19,946
2009 modern 179 #20,418
2010 modern 182 #20,662
2011 modern 178 #20,809
2012 modern 181 #20,531
2013 modern 182 #20,795
2014 modern 184 #20,809
2015 modern 178 #21,149
2016 modern 173 #21,561

Geography

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Where Lethabys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Molton, Highbray, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Sherwill, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and Ilfracombe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon and South Gloucestershire. 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 North Molton, Highbray Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Sherwill Devon
4 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
5 Ilfracombe Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 002 North Devon
2 North Devon 013 North Devon
3 South Gloucestershire 032 South Gloucestershire
4 North Devon 006 North Devon
5 North Devon 012 North Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lethaby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lethaby

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lethaby is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Lethaby 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

Lethaby falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Lethaby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lethaby 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 65 Lethabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.01x.

County Total Index
Devon 65 33.01x
Gloucestershire 15 8.08x
Surrey 8 1.74x
Middlesex 5 0.53x
Somerset 2 1.31x
Glamorgan 1 0.61x
Kent 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barnstaple in Devon leads with 14 Lethabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 453.07x.

Place Total Index
Barnstaple 14 453.07x
Bristol St Augustine 10 334.45x
Sherwill 9 6923.08x
Brendon 6 7500.00x
Ilfracombe 6 295.57x
Clifton 5 53.30x
Exeter Holy Trinity 5 649.35x
Lambeth 5 6.06x
Pilton 5 769.23x
Sidmouth 5 442.48x
Bromley London 3 14.42x
North Molton 3 789.47x
South Molton 3 277.78x
Woking 3 107.91x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 44.35x
Frome 2 54.95x
Ilsington 2 588.24x
Witheridge 2 606.06x
Exeter St Thomas The 1 49.75x
Exminster 1 140.85x
Kentisbury 1 909.09x
Paddington London 1 2.88x
Roath 1 13.37x
St Pancras London 1 1.31x
Tonbridge 1 8.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Ann 5
Elizabeth 4
Jane 3
Susan 3
Anne 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Lydia 2
Betsey 1
Celia 1
Eliza 1
Elizabet 1
Elsie 1
Emy 1
Eugenie 1
Fanny 1
Florce. 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Harrt. 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Ida 1
Jessie 1
Johanah 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
James 4
John 3
Robert 3
Edward 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Charles 1
Douglas 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Hubert 1
Louis 1
Phillip 1
Richd.Pile 1
Robt. 1
Roger 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Lethaby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lethaby surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Lethaby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 173 in 2016. That gives Lethaby a modern rank of #21,561.

What does the Lethaby map show?

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