NameCensus.

UK surname

Lidster

Old English surname derived from a place meaning "person from the hilly place".

In the 1881 census there were 326 people recorded with the Lidster surname, ranking it #9,167 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 634, ranked #8,340, up from #9,167 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Seamer, Sheffield and Anston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Rhondda Cynon Taf and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lidster is 640 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 94.5%.

1881 census count

326

Ranked #9,167

Modern count

634

2016, ranked #8,340

Peak year

1998

640 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lidster had 326 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,167 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 634 in 2016, ranked #8,340.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 456 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Lidster surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lidster surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lidster 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 256 #8,629
1861 historical 286 #8,793
1881 historical 326 #9,167
1891 historical 355 #9,721
1901 historical 393 #9,606
1911 historical 456 #8,409
1997 modern 621 #7,952
1998 modern 640 #7,999
1999 modern 631 #8,152
2000 modern 627 #8,163
2001 modern 606 #8,237
2002 modern 620 #8,256
2003 modern 631 #8,001
2004 modern 608 #8,270
2005 modern 596 #8,313
2006 modern 610 #8,182
2007 modern 609 #8,251
2008 modern 604 #8,367
2009 modern 611 #8,478
2010 modern 624 #8,522
2011 modern 621 #8,458
2012 modern 613 #8,463
2013 modern 622 #8,501
2014 modern 627 #8,500
2015 modern 633 #8,366
2016 modern 634 #8,340

Geography

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Where Lidsters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Seamer, Sheffield, Anston, Rotherham and Merrington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Rhondda Cynon Taf and County Durham. 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 Seamer Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Anston Nottinghamshire
4 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Merrington Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 009 Rotherham
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 012 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Rotherham 020 Rotherham
4 County Durham 004 County Durham
5 Rotherham 003 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lidster

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lidster

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lidster, 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 Lidster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lidster 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Lidster is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Lidster is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Lidster

The surname Lidster originates from the northern region of England, particularly in Northumberland and County Durham, dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hlid," which means a gate or entrance, and "steor," meaning a keeper or guardian. Thus, the name Lidster likely referred to someone who was responsible for guarding or maintaining a gate or entryway.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lidster can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1230, where a person named Richard Lidster is mentioned. The name also appears in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries, such as the Hundred Rolls of Northumberland (1273) and the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire (1301).

In the 16th century, the name Lidster was particularly prevalent in the village of Lidster, located in the parish of Bamburgh, Northumberland. This village likely took its name from the same Old English roots as the surname, indicating a connection between the place and the family name.

One notable individual bearing the name Lidster was Sir John Lidster (c. 1520-1588), a prominent English politician and landowner from Northumberland. He served as a Member of Parliament for Northumberland and played a significant role in the local administration during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another historical figure with the surname Lidster was Thomas Lidster (1770-1843), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He participated in several battles and was recognized for his bravery and leadership.

In the 19th century, the Lidster family continued to have a presence in Northumberland, with several members becoming successful farmers and landowners. One such individual was William Lidster (1832-1912), who owned a substantial estate in the village of Bamburgh.

Other notable individuals with the surname Lidster include Robert Lidster (1855-1927), a Scottish architect known for his work in Glasgow, and Margaret Lidster (1890-1972), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights in the early 20th century.

While the name Lidster has its roots in northern England, it has since spread to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, with descendants of the original Lidster families found in various countries around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lidster families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lidster 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 192 Lidsters recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.11x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 192 6.11x
Durham 77 8.16x
Devon 21 3.18x
Midlothian 7 1.65x
Nottinghamshire 7 1.64x
Lanarkshire 5 0.49x
Lincolnshire 5 0.99x
Monmouthshire 3 1.31x
Lancashire 2 0.05x
Middlesex 2 0.06x
Northumberland 2 0.42x
Derbyshire 1 0.20x
Dorset 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ferryhill in Durham leads with 31 Lidsters recorded in 1881 and an index of 939.39x.

Place Total Index
Ferryhill 31 939.39x
North South Anston 18 1313.87x
Ecclesall Bierlow 16 25.04x
Brightside Bierlow 15 24.34x
Sheffield 15 15.00x
Sculcoates 11 22.08x
Durham St Nicholas 9 387.93x
Tudhoe 9 109.09x
Dartmouth St Savior 8 1012.66x
Kimberworth 8 45.87x
Seamer In Scarborough 8 792.08x
Wath On Dearne 8 127.59x
Crossgate 7 169.90x
Exeter St Sidwell 7 46.33x
Merrington 7 384.62x
West Calder 7 83.63x
Willerby In Scarborough 7 1555.56x
Brandon Byshottles 6 50.76x
Doncaster 6 26.14x
Esh 6 87.46x
Great Driffield 6 93.02x
Huddersfield 6 13.11x
Southcoates 6 34.40x
Upper Hallam 6 219.78x
Cambusnethan 5 21.96x
Hambleton 5 862.07x
Haxey 5 232.56x
Heeley 5 52.36x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 9.83x
Bridlington 4 55.63x
Conisbrough 4 135.59x
Holy Trinity 4 5.29x
Worksop 4 31.57x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 10.25x
Barnsley 3 9.26x
Handsworth 3 36.10x
Leeds 3 1.69x
Mynyddyslwyn 3 33.19x
Bradford 2 2.63x
Halifax 2 4.34x
Healeyfield 2 512.82x
Lenton 2 19.86x
Newby Wiske 2 869.57x
Rotherham 2 11.29x
Terrington With 2 327.87x
Thorne 2 51.28x
Thurnscoe 2 740.74x
Birkdale 1 10.50x
Cheetham 1 3.56x
Clayton Cum Frickley 1 285.71x
Cloughton 1 169.49x
Copt Hewick 1 384.62x
Doddington 1 303.03x
Ford 1 58.14x
Garforth 1 41.67x
Hook 1 14.47x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.90x
Ollersett 1 103.09x
Paignton 1 19.92x
Portland 1 8.94x
Sewerby Cum Marton 1 166.67x
Sherburn 1 38.76x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.79x
St Mary 1 47.62x
St Marylebone London 1 0.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 17
Ann 13
Jane 7
Margaret 7
Annie 6
Eliza 5
Ada 4
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Ellen 3
Louisa 3
Rosina 3
Adelaide 2
Alice 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Emly 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Francess 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Isabel 1
Jemmy 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
Nellie 1
Norah 1
Rachel 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1
Tamar 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Lidster surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lidster surname in 1881?

In 1881, 326 people were recorded with the Lidster surname. That placed it at #9,167 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lidster surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 634 in 2016. That gives Lidster a modern rank of #8,340.

What does the Lidster surname mean?

Old English surname derived from a place meaning "person from the hilly place".

What does the Lidster map show?

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