NameCensus.

UK surname

Lethbridge

A surname suggesting someone residing near a bridge over the River Leith.

In the 1881 census there were 873 people recorded with the Lethbridge surname, ranking it #4,346 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 946, ranked #6,062, down from #4,346 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes and Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, West Devon and Isles of Scilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lethbridge is 1,199 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.4%.

1881 census count

873

Ranked #4,346

Modern count

946

2016, ranked #6,062

Peak year

1911

1,199 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lethbridge had 873 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,346 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 946 in 2016, ranked #6,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,199 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lethbridge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lethbridge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lethbridge 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 658 #3,943
1861 historical 600 #4,419
1881 historical 873 #4,346
1891 historical 1,024 #4,071
1901 historical 1,086 #4,452
1911 historical 1,199 #3,920
1997 modern 960 #5,669
1998 modern 1,017 #5,605
1999 modern 1,033 #5,565
2000 modern 1,047 #5,480
2001 modern 1,037 #5,422
2002 modern 1,041 #5,504
2003 modern 997 #5,607
2004 modern 1,000 #5,598
2005 modern 1,007 #5,515
2006 modern 977 #5,654
2007 modern 987 #5,666
2008 modern 982 #5,732
2009 modern 997 #5,775
2010 modern 1,015 #5,816
2011 modern 994 #5,851
2012 modern 991 #5,777
2013 modern 993 #5,861
2014 modern 993 #5,894
2015 modern 965 #5,987
2016 modern 946 #6,062

Geography

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Where Lethbridges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes, Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston and Plymouth St Charles the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, West Devon, Isles of Scilly and Plymouth. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston Devon
5 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 006 South Hams
2 West Devon 003 West Devon
3 South Hams 011 South Hams
4 Isles of Scilly 001 Isles of Scilly
5 Plymouth 013 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lethbridge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lethbridge

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Lethbridge 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

Lethbridge is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lethbridge 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 Lethbridge 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 Lethbridge, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lethbridge

The surname Lethbridge is of English origin, derived from the place name of the town of Lethbridge in Somerset, England. The name is believed to have originated in the Anglo-Saxon period, around the 7th to 11th centuries.

The name Lethbridge comes from the Old English words "læde" meaning a way or path, and "brycg" meaning bridge. It likely referred to a bridge or crossing over a stream or river in the area. The earliest recorded spelling of the place name was "Ledebrigge" in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Robert de Lethbridge, who was mentioned in records from the county of Somerset in 1243. The name also appeared in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census records of landowners in England.

During the Middle Ages, the Lethbridge family held lands and estates in various parts of Somerset and neighboring counties. Roger Lethbridge (1380-1448) was a prominent figure who served as Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset in the early 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Lethbridge family expanded their influence and wealth, with several members holding positions of importance. Sir John Lethbridge (1506-1585) was a Member of Parliament and a prominent landowner in Somerset. His grandson, Sir Thomas Lethbridge (1584-1670), was also a Member of Parliament and served as a colonel in the English Civil War.

Another notable figure with the surname Lethbridge was Sir Christopher Lethbridge (1619-1701), a royalist during the English Civil War who later became Governor of Guernsey. He played a significant role in the defense of the island against the Parliamentarians.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, members of the Lethbridge family continued to be active in politics, the military, and various professions. Some notable individuals include Sir John Lethbridge (1745-1815), a British naval officer, and Sir Wroth Acland Lethbridge (1776-1851), a Member of Parliament and Justice of the Peace for Somerset.

The Lethbridge surname has also been associated with several places in England, such as Lethbridge Park in Somerset and Lethbridge Hundred, an administrative division in the county. The name has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization, but it retains its English origins and rich historical connections to the county of Somerset.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lethbridge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lethbridge 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 482 Lethbridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.97x.

County Total Index
Devon 482 26.97x
Middlesex 123 1.43x
Lancashire 61 0.60x
Surrey 42 1.00x
Somerset 37 2.68x
Cornwall 20 2.06x
Hampshire 15 0.85x
Yorkshire 15 0.18x
Gloucestershire 14 0.83x
Durham 12 0.47x
Kent 11 0.38x
Glamorgan 10 0.67x
Channel Islands 6 2.36x
Essex 5 0.30x
Northamptonshire 5 0.62x
Sussex 5 0.35x
Midlothian 3 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.39x
Staffordshire 2 0.07x
Berkshire 1 0.16x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Northumberland 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.09x
Oxfordshire 1 0.19x
Renfrewshire 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 0.98x
Warwickshire 1 0.05x
West Lothian 1 0.77x
Worcestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 63 Lethbridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.77x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 63 45.77x
Plymouth Charles The 51 64.79x
Ugborough 27 625.00x
Tormoham 23 30.42x
Tedburn St Mary 21 1117.02x
Malborough 19 267.61x
Bedminster 18 13.86x
East Stonehouse 17 48.30x
Churchstow 15 1388.89x
Lambeth 15 2.00x
South Molton 15 152.75x
Ermington 14 215.38x
Paddington London 14 4.44x
St George Hanover Square 14 9.26x
Stoke Damerel 14 11.19x
East Allington 13 844.16x
Exeter Heavitree 13 97.60x
Hulme 13 6.11x
Portsea 13 3.77x
Clerkenwell London 12 5.92x
Dawlish 12 90.02x
Poplar London 12 7.41x
St Pancras London 12 1.74x
Stowford 12 1043.48x
Brixton 11 544.55x
Dolton 11 500.00x
St Marylebone London 11 2.40x
Bovey Tracey 10 160.00x
Chelsea London 10 3.87x
Diptford 10 512.82x
Parr 10 27.44x
Aveton Gifford 9 347.49x
Crediton 8 47.25x
Hornsey 8 7.37x
Laneast 8 1052.63x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 4.33x
Clapham 7 6.52x
Coxhoe 7 96.55x
Hinderwell 7 96.42x
Lofthouse 7 55.12x
Madron Penzance 7 19.81x
South Tawton 7 190.22x
West Derby 7 2.35x
Wolborough 7 30.99x
Wotton St Mary 7 80.18x
Blackburn 6 2.21x
Compton 6 504.20x
Kidbrooke 6 363.64x
Kingston On Thames 6 5.97x
Willesden 6 7.41x
Llantwit Vairdre 5 29.76x
Mile End Old Town London 5 2.74x
Newington 5 1.58x
St Giles In The Wood 5 187.97x
St Helier 5 6.04x
Stockton On Tees 5 4.06x
Taunton St James 5 24.81x
Wellingborough 5 12.32x
West Alvington 5 199.20x
Bishopsteignton 4 118.34x
Colchester Holy Trinity 4 106.38x
Everton 4 1.23x
Exeter St Sidwell 4 9.78x
Guildford St Mary 4 77.67x
Lamerton 4 117.65x
Pendleton In Salford 4 3.30x
Revelstoke 4 246.91x
Toxteth Park 4 1.16x
Bishops Lydeard 3 84.99x
Bristol St Paul In 3 6.69x
Devonport 3 14.61x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 0.65x
Exeter St John 3 234.38x
Exeter St Mary Arches 3 179.64x
Holy Trinity 3 80.00x
Lancaster 3 4.95x
Loughor 3 37.78x
Okehampton 3 44.51x
Preston 3 11.87x
St George In East London 3 3.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 63
William 55
Thomas 28
George 27
Charles 24
James 17
Robert 14
Henry 12
Joseph 12
Richard 12
Walter 11
Albert 8
Alfred 8
Ernest 8
Francis 8
Frederick 7
Samuel 7
Christopher 6
Edward 6
Fred 6
Benjamin 5
Edwin 5
Harry 5
Frank 4
Wm. 4
Arthur 3
Edgar 3
Sidney 3
Alan 2
Allen 2
Bertram 2
Bridgeman 2
Earnest 2
Eli 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Peter 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Wroth 2
Ambrose 1
Anna 1
C.E.W. 1
Chas. 1
Elford 1
Elizabeth 1
Emanuel 1
Jeffrey 1
Jno. 1
Jonn 1

FAQ

Lethbridge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lethbridge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 873 people were recorded with the Lethbridge surname. That placed it at #4,346 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lethbridge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 946 in 2016. That gives Lethbridge a modern rank of #6,062.

What does the Lethbridge surname mean?

A surname suggesting someone residing near a bridge over the River Leith.

What does the Lethbridge map show?

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