NameCensus.

UK surname

Lias

A topographic surname potentially referring to a person living near open meadows or plains.

In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Lias surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 173, ranked #21,561, up from #27,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bury, Bristol and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lias is 187 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 268.1%.

1881 census count

47

Ranked #27,019

Modern count

173

2016, ranked #21,561

Peak year

2010

187 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lias had 47 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,019 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 96 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Lias surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lias surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lias 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 42 #25,706
1861 historical 33 #29,814
1881 historical 47 #27,019
1891 historical 60 #29,204
1901 historical 83 #24,900
1911 historical 96 #23,193
1997 modern 151 #21,034
1998 modern 161 #20,754
1999 modern 157 #21,201
2000 modern 156 #21,235
2001 modern 151 #21,375
2002 modern 161 #20,925
2003 modern 157 #21,026
2004 modern 151 #21,720
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 167 #20,447
2007 modern 166 #20,811
2008 modern 169 #20,745
2009 modern 180 #20,341
2010 modern 187 #20,309
2011 modern 182 #20,495
2012 modern 179 #20,679
2013 modern 173 #21,486
2014 modern 171 #21,812
2015 modern 167 #22,066
2016 modern 173 #21,561

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 Bury, Bristol, Cornwall, Blaenau Gwent and Hackney. 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 Bury 016 Bury
2 Bristol 050 Bristol, City of
3 Cornwall 003 Cornwall
4 Blaenau Gwent 009 Blaenau Gwent
5 Hackney 004 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lias

These lists show first names that appear often with the Lias 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 Lias

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Lias surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lias household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Lias is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Lias is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lias falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lias is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lias

The surname "Lias" has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "leah," which means a meadow or a clearing in a forest. This suggests that the name may have originated among families living in rural areas or settlements located in such clearings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Lias" appears in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1332, where it is spelled as "Lyas." This document mentions a person named Richard Lyas, indicating that the name was already in use during that time.

In the 15th century, the surname is found in various records with variations in spelling, such as "Lias," "Lyas," and "Lyes." These variations likely reflect regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

The name "Lias" is also associated with several place names in England, such as Lias Green in Staffordshire and Lias Farm in Worcestershire. These place names may have contributed to the development and establishment of the surname in those areas.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname "Lias" include:

1. John Lias (c. 1500 - unknown), a landowner and farmer from Gloucestershire, mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524. 2. William Lias (c. 1580 - 1652), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, known for his involvement in the local government and trade. 3. Elizabeth Lias (c. 1620 - 1685), a Puritan writer and religious activist from Dorset, whose works advocated for religious tolerance and women's education. 4. Thomas Lias (1755 - 1828), a renowned clockmaker from Worcestershire, credited with the invention of the lever escapement in clocks, which significantly improved their accuracy. 5. Mary Lias (1821 - 1902), a philanthropist and social reformer from Somerset, who established several schools and charitable organizations for the underprivileged.

While the surname "Lias" may not be among the most common names today, its historical roots and associations with various places and individuals in England provide a rich tapestry of stories and contributions to the cultural and social fabric of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lias families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lias 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 22 Lias' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.06x.

County Total Index
Devon 22 23.06x
Cornwall 7 13.49x
Cambridgeshire 4 13.78x
Hampshire 3 3.19x
Surrey 3 1.34x
Kent 2 1.28x
Sussex 2 2.59x
Berkshire 1 2.91x
Middlesex 1 0.22x
Northamptonshire 1 2.32x
Wiltshire 1 2.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hatherleigh in Devon leads with 9 Lias' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3750.00x.

Place Total Index
Hatherleigh 9 3750.00x
Tywardreath 6 1818.18x
Exeter St George The 5 4545.45x
St Marythe Great 4 4444.44x
Croydon 3 24.19x
Itchen Stoke 3 7500.00x
Hastings St Mary 2 104.17x
Tonbridge 2 35.46x
Bow 1 769.23x
Bray 1 99.01x
Exeter Allhallows On The 1 625.00x
Exeter St Kerrian 1 1428.57x
Exeter St Mary Major 1 172.41x
Exminster 1 294.12x
Hittisleigh 1 2500.00x
Marlborough 1 1428.57x
Peterborough 1 32.05x
St Austell 1 56.50x
St Pancras London 1 2.71x
Throwleigh 1 2000.00x
Zeal Monachorum 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Harriet 2
Mary 2
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Susanna 1
Tauphine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
Samuel 4
George 3
John 3
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Paul 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Lias surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lias surname in 1881?

In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Lias surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lias surname today?

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

What does the Lias surname mean?

A topographic surname potentially referring to a person living near open meadows or plains.

What does the Lias map show?

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