UK surname
A habitational surname referring to someone from Liechtenstein or various places named Lichtenstein, meaning "bright stone" in German.
In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Lichtenstein surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 69, ranked #33,762, down from #29,911 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Christ Church Spitalfields, Hull Holy Trinity and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lichtenstein is 115 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 165.4%.
1881 census count
26
Ranked #29,911
Modern count
69
2016, ranked #33,762
Peak year
1911
115 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lichtenstein surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lichtenstein surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 3 | #32,890 |
| 1861 | historical | 11 | #32,452 |
| 1881 | historical | 26 | #29,911 |
| 1891 | historical | 66 | #28,541 |
| 1901 | historical | 90 | #24,021 |
| 1911 | historical | 115 | #20,951 |
| 1997 | modern | 29 | #34,795 |
| 1998 | modern | 37 | #34,149 |
| 1999 | modern | 42 | #33,778 |
| 2000 | modern | 38 | #34,146 |
| 2001 | modern | 35 | #34,261 |
| 2002 | modern | 36 | #34,480 |
| 2003 | modern | 37 | #34,432 |
| 2004 | modern | 45 | #33,957 |
| 2005 | modern | 44 | #34,255 |
| 2006 | modern | 45 | #34,491 |
| 2007 | modern | 49 | #34,422 |
| 2008 | modern | 44 | #34,865 |
| 2009 | modern | 49 | #34,728 |
| 2010 | modern | 45 | #35,130 |
| 2011 | modern | 48 | #34,926 |
| 2012 | modern | 56 | #34,510 |
| 2013 | modern | 63 | #34,193 |
| 2014 | modern | 63 | #34,212 |
| 2015 | modern | 67 | #33,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 69 | #33,762 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Christ Church Spitalfields, Hull Holy Trinity, Paddington, Manchester and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christ Church Spitalfields | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 3 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lichtenstein surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lichtenstein, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Lichtenstein surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lichtenstein household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Lichtenstein is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lichtenstein is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lichtenstein, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Lichtenstein originated in the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely in the late Middle Ages or early modern period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Lichtenstein, which means "bright stone" or "shining rock" in German.
The name Lichtenstein was initially associated with various locations bearing that name, such as the municipality of Lichtenstein in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, or the village of Lichtenstein in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. These places were often named after prominent rock formations or castles situated on hilltops, which appeared bright or shining from a distance.
One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Lichtenstein can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, dating back to the 13th century. In this codex, a person named Henricus de Lychtenstein is mentioned in a document from 1290.
Another notable early bearer of the name was Johann von Lichtenstein, a 14th-century Bohemian knight and poet, known for his participation in the Crusades and his autobiographical work "Frauendienst" (Service to Ladies). He was born around 1310 and died in 1390.
In the 15th century, the Lichtenstein family rose to prominence as a noble dynasty in the Holy Roman Empire. They acquired various territories and played a significant role in the political and cultural life of Central Europe. Notable members include Hartmann von Lichtenstein (1415-1486), a German nobleman and military leader, and Maximilian von Lichtenstein (1578-1631), a Bavarian count and military commander during the Thirty Years' War.
The name Lichtenstein also has a connection to the Principality of Liechtenstein, a German-speaking microstate in Central Europe. While the ruling House of Liechtenstein traces its origins to the Castle of Liechtenstein in Lower Austria, some scholars suggest a possible link between the family name and the surname Lichtenstein.
Other notable individuals with the surname Lichtenstein include Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997), an American pop artist known for his comic book-inspired paintings, and Walter Lichtenstein (1880-1939), an Austrian-American jurist and legal scholar.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lichtenstein surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 19 Lichtensteins recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.49x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 19 | 7.49x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 1.00x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 5.13x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.16x |
| Sussex | 1 | 2.34x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 7 Lichtensteins recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.11x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Paddington London | 7 | 75.11x |
| St Marylebone London | 7 | 51.70x |
| Fulham London | 5 | 135.87x |
| Cheetham | 2 | 89.29x |
| Norwich St Peter Mancroft | 2 | 1000.00x |
| Charlton Next Woolwich | 1 | 111.11x |
| Hastings St Leonards | 1 | 158.73x |
| Whittle Le Woods | 1 | 1000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Lichtenstein surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Lichtenstein surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Lichtenstein surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 69 in 2016. That gives Lichtenstein a modern rank of #33,762.
A habitational surname referring to someone from Liechtenstein or various places named Lichtenstein, meaning "bright stone" in German.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lichtenstein bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.