NameCensus.

UK surname

Lia

Greek surname derived from the phrase "lios helios" meaning sunny place.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Lia surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardiff, Enfield and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lia is 117 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5750.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

2016

117 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lia had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Lia surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lia surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lia 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
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1997 modern 88 #28,611
1998 modern 92 #28,680
1999 modern 85 #29,578
2000 modern 86 #29,484
2001 modern 84 #29,508
2002 modern 88 #29,534
2003 modern 85 #29,877
2004 modern 87 #29,897
2005 modern 89 #29,683
2006 modern 80 #31,149
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 96 #29,654
2009 modern 96 #30,239
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 97 #30,798
2013 modern 103 #30,235
2014 modern 108 #29,658
2015 modern 112 #28,809
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Lias are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cardiff, Enfield and Leicester. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cardiff 038 Cardiff
2 Cardiff 022 Cardiff
3 Cardiff 036 Cardiff
4 Enfield 018 Enfield
5 Leicester 018 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lia

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lia

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Lia surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Lia 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lia is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lia is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lia falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lia is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Lia

The surname "Lia" is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the regions of Piedmont and Liguria. It is thought to have derived from the Latin word "litus," which means "shore" or "coast." This suggests that the name likely originated among people who lived near the coastlines of these regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Lia" can be found in a document from the 12th century, which mentions a nobleman named Guglielmo Lia from the town of Savona in the Ligurian region. This document provides evidence that the surname was already in use by that time.

During the 13th century, the name "Lia" appeared in several historical records from the city of Genoa, which was a major maritime power in the Mediterranean. This further reinforces the connection between the name and coastal areas.

In the 14th century, a renowned scholar and philosopher named Giovanni Lia lived in the city of Turin, which is located in the Piedmont region. He was known for his works on logic and metaphysics, and his legacy contributed to the intellectual reputation of the Lia surname.

Another notable figure with the surname "Lia" was Bartolomeo Lia, a 16th-century artist from Genoa who was renowned for his religious paintings and frescoes. Several of his works can still be found in churches and museums throughout Italy.

In the 17th century, the name "Lia" appeared in records related to the establishment of various noble families in the regions of Piedmont and Liguria. This suggests that the surname had gained a certain level of prestige and recognition by that time.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname "Lia" was Giuseppe Lia, a 19th-century painter and sculptor from the city of Turin. He was known for his neoclassical style and his works can be found in several art galleries and museums throughout Europe.

Throughout its history, the surname "Lia" has also been associated with various place names and locations in Italy, such as the town of Lia in the province of Vercelli, and the village of Lia Inferiore in the province of Alessandria, both of which are located in the Piedmont region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lia families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lia 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. Durham leads with 1 Lias recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.42x.

County Total Index
Durham 1 17.42x
Yorkshire 1 5.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brightside Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 1 Lias recorded in 1881 and an index of 270.27x.

Place Total Index
Brightside Bierlow 1 270.27x
Collierley 1 3333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 1
Margaret 1

FAQ

Lia surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lia surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Lia surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lia surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Lia a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Lia surname mean?

Greek surname derived from the phrase "lios helios" meaning sunny place.

What does the Lia map show?

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