NameCensus.

UK surname

Lickiss

A surname derived from the physical characteristic of one who licks or kisses.

In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Lickiss surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 106, ranked #29,927, down from #22,225 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Holy Trinity, King's Court, Drypool and Heydon or Hedon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include York, Kingston upon Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lickiss is 111 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.5%.

1881 census count

80

Ranked #22,225

Modern count

106

2016, ranked #29,927

Peak year

1911

111 bearers

Map years

4

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lickiss had 80 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,225 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016, ranked #29,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 111 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lickiss surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lickiss surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Lickiss 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 22 #31,140
1881 historical 80 #22,225
1891 historical 104 #23,388
1901 historical 100 #22,863
1911 historical 111 #21,392
1997 modern 96 #27,490
1998 modern 94 #28,435
1999 modern 92 #28,833
2000 modern 97 #28,142
2001 modern 95 #28,101
2002 modern 95 #28,666
2003 modern 92 #28,974
2004 modern 90 #29,481
2005 modern 97 #28,485
2006 modern 94 #29,264
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 101 #28,825
2009 modern 101 #29,445
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 100 #30,258
2013 modern 105 #29,916
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 106 #29,927

Geography

Back to top

Where Lickiss' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Holy Trinity, King's Court, Drypool, Heydon or Hedon, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles and Swine. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to York, Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and Amber Valley. 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 Holy Trinity, King's Court Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Drypool Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Heydon or Hedon Yorkshire, East Riding
4 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Swine Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 York 008 York
2 Kingston upon Hull 011 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 033 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Amber Valley 001 Amber Valley
5 Kingston upon Hull 027 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Lickiss

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Lickiss

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lickiss 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

Lickiss is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lickiss falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lickiss is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 15-20 mbit/s.

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

3
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lickiss

The surname Lickiss is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "leccan," which means "to lick" or "to lap up," suggesting that the name may have initially been given as a nickname to someone with a peculiar habit or occupation related to licking.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lickiss can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, a collection of financial records from the late 12th century. In these rolls, a person named Willelmus Lickis is mentioned, indicating the presence of the name in the region during that time.

The Lickiss surname has also been linked to various place names in England, particularly those containing the word "lick," such as Lickhill in Worcestershire or Lickfold in Surrey. It is possible that the name originated as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near or was associated with these places.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the Lickiss name was John Lickiss, a merchant and trader who was active in the city of Bristol. Records from that era show his involvement in importing and exporting goods, suggesting that he played a significant role in the local economy.

During the Renaissance period, the Lickiss surname gained prominence through the work of William Lickiss, an accomplished playwright and poet born in 1542. His literary contributions, though not widely known today, earned him recognition among his contemporaries in London's literary circles.

Another prominent individual with the Lickiss surname was Elizabeth Lickiss, born in 1678, who became a renowned herbalist and apothecary in the city of York. Her expertise in medicinal plants and remedies was highly sought after, and she left a lasting legacy in the field of traditional medicine.

In the 19th century, the Lickiss name was associated with the industrial revolution, as evidenced by the career of Thomas Lickiss, born in 1819. He was a renowned engineer and inventor, known for his contributions to the development of early steam engines and machinery used in factories.

While the Lickiss surname may not be among the most common today, its historical roots and unique etymology make it a fascinating example of how surnames can reflect aspects of language, occupations, and geographical locations from centuries past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Lickiss families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lickiss 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. Yorkshire leads with 73 Lickiss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.44x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 73 9.44x
Lancashire 7 0.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hedon in Yorkshire leads with 17 Lickiss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6538.46x.

Place Total Index
Hedon 17 6538.46x
South Skirlaugh 14 17500.00x
Drypool 8 677.97x
York St Maurice 8 547.95x
Kirkleatham 7 673.08x
Walton On Hill 7 139.44x
York St Mary 7 218.75x
Hessle In Sculcoates 6 882.35x
Acomb 1 250.00x
Clifton In York 1 61.73x
Holy Trinity 1 5.38x
Scarborough 1 14.22x
Sculcoates 1 8.16x
Southcoates 1 23.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 4
Emma 3
Mary 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Frances 2
Grace 2
Margaret 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Bethia 1
Eleanor 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Marget 1
Miriam 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
William 5
George 4
Charles 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
David 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
James 2
Matthew 2
Robert 2
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Thos.Dring 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Lickiss surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lickiss surname in 1881?

In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Lickiss surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lickiss surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016. That gives Lickiss a modern rank of #29,927.

What does the Lickiss surname mean?

A surname derived from the physical characteristic of one who licks or kisses.

What does the Lickiss map show?

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