NameCensus.

UK surname

Lieu

A French topographic surname referring to someone living near a prominent place, such as a wood or clearing.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Greenwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lieu is 186 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

176

2016, ranked #21,298

Peak year

2014

186 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016, ranked #21,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Lieu surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lieu surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lieu 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
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1997 modern 87 #28,749
1998 modern 101 #27,479
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 115 #25,591
2001 modern 120 #24,615
2002 modern 127 #24,267
2003 modern 133 #23,359
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 144 #22,367
2006 modern 148 #22,111
2007 modern 151 #22,120
2008 modern 154 #22,034
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 176 #21,101
2011 modern 181 #20,579
2012 modern 174 #21,065
2013 modern 182 #20,795
2014 modern 186 #20,664
2015 modern 183 #20,786
2016 modern 176 #21,298

Geography

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Where Lieus 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 Southwark, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Greenwich. 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 Southwark 014 Southwark
2 Southwark 024 Southwark
3 Newcastle-under-Lyme 005 Newcastle-under-Lyme
4 Greenwich 005 Greenwich
5 Southwark 015 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lieu

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

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Lieu surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Lieu 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lieu 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

Lieu 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

Lieu 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 Lieu is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Lieu

The surname LIEU is of French origin, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "lieu," meaning "place" or "location." The name was likely given to someone who lived in a particular place or was associated with a specific location.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname LIEU can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries in various regions of France, such as Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France. During this period, surnames were becoming more common as a way to distinguish individuals and families.

In the Domesday Book, a medieval census conducted in England in 1086, there are no direct references to the surname LIEU. However, the book does mention several place names that may have been the origins of the surname, such as Lieuvin in Normandy.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname LIEU was Jean de Lieu, a French nobleman who lived in the 14th century. He was recorded as owning land in the Champagne region of France.

Another notable figure with the surname LIEU was Pierre de Lieu, a French merchant and explorer who lived in the 15th century. He is known for his travels to West Africa and his accounts of the region.

In the 16th century, Nicolas de Lieu was a French Huguenot (Protestant) who fled religious persecution and settled in England. He is considered one of the earliest LIEU family members to emigrate from France.

During the 17th century, Jacques de Lieu was a French military officer who served under King Louis XIV. He is known for his participation in the Franco-Dutch War and the Nine Years' War.

In the 18th century, Marie-Anne de Lieu was a French novelist and playwright. She was born in 1737 and is known for her works exploring themes of love and courtship in French society.

Over time, the surname LIEU has evolved and taken on various spellings, such as Lieux, Lelieu, and Delieu. These variations may have been influenced by regional dialects or scribal errors in historical records.

While the surname LIEU has its origins in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and intermarriage. However, the earliest recorded examples and historical references remain rooted in the French heritage and language of the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Lieu surname: questions and answers

How common is the Lieu surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016. That gives Lieu a modern rank of #21,298.

What does the Lieu surname mean?

A French topographic surname referring to someone living near a prominent place, such as a wood or clearing.

What does the Lieu map show?

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