NameCensus.

UK surname

Lifford

An English surname derived from the town of Lifford, Ireland.

In the 1881 census there were 88 people recorded with the Lifford surname, ranking it #21,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 131, ranked #26,004, down from #21,211 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lewisham and Kingston-on-Thames. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Daventry, Wychavon and Bournemouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lifford is 170 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.9%.

1881 census count

88

Ranked #21,211

Modern count

131

2016, ranked #26,004

Peak year

1901

170 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lifford had 88 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,211 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 131 in 2016, ranked #26,004.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 170 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Lifford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lifford surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lifford 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 73 #20,581
1861 historical 135 #16,651
1881 historical 88 #21,211
1891 historical 139 #19,311
1901 historical 170 #16,762
1911 historical 168 #16,620
1997 modern 139 #22,132
1998 modern 140 #22,615
1999 modern 146 #22,202
2000 modern 140 #22,752
2001 modern 139 #22,541
2002 modern 135 #23,398
2003 modern 136 #23,045
2004 modern 138 #22,997
2005 modern 133 #23,502
2006 modern 129 #24,165
2007 modern 129 #24,503
2008 modern 130 #24,695
2009 modern 127 #25,564
2010 modern 129 #25,900
2011 modern 132 #25,303
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 136 #25,252
2014 modern 139 #25,093
2015 modern 133 #25,729
2016 modern 131 #26,004

Geography

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Where Liffords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lewisham, Kingston-on-Thames and Banstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Daventry, Wychavon, Bournemouth, Swale and Southampton. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Lewisham London (South Districts)
3 Kingston-on-Thames Surrey
4 London parishes London 3
5 Banstead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Daventry 010 Daventry
2 Wychavon 008 Wychavon
3 Bournemouth 006 Bournemouth
4 Swale 004 Swale
5 Southampton 014 Southampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lifford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lifford

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Lifford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Lifford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Lifford is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lifford is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lifford falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lifford 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 Lifford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lifford

The surname Lifford originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the town of Lifford in Devonshire. The name is thought to have come from the Old English words "leac," meaning "leek," and "ford," meaning "a shallow place where water can be crossed." This suggests that the area where the name originated may have been known for its abundance of leeks growing near a river crossing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Lifford surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Lecheford." This entry indicates that the name was already established in the region during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various records with spellings such as "Lekeford," "Lekford," and "Likford." These variations reflect the evolution of the name's pronunciation and spelling over time.

Notable individuals who bore the Lifford surname include:

1. Sir Richard Lifford (c. 1400-1480), an English politician and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of King Edward IV.

2. John Lifford (c. 1520-1590), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge in 1573.

3. Elizabeth Lifford (c. 1550-1620), an English noblewoman and courtier who was a member of the household of Queen Elizabeth I.

4. William Lifford (c. 1650-1720), an English merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the development of the town of Lifford in Devonshire.

5. Henry Lifford (c. 1780-1860), a British engineer and inventor who pioneered the development of early steam engines and contributed to the Industrial Revolution.

The Lifford surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Lifford Hall, a historic manor house in Devonshire, and Lifford Bridge, a medieval stone bridge that once spanned the River Dart in the same county.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lifford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lifford 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. Surrey leads with 44 Liffords recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.29x.

County Total Index
Surrey 44 10.29x
Kent 22 7.34x
Middlesex 14 1.59x
Essex 2 1.15x
Isle of Man 2 12.27x
Suffolk 2 1.87x
Carmarthenshire 1 2.70x
Hampshire 1 0.56x
Lancashire 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lewisham in Kent leads with 11 Liffords recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.88x.

Place Total Index
Lewisham 11 68.88x
Beckenham 6 153.06x
Camberwell 6 10.70x
Epsom 6 288.46x
Ewell 5 555.56x
Walton On Hill 5 2631.58x
Banstead 4 344.83x
Bethnal Green London 4 10.49x
Leatherhead 4 373.83x
Shoreditch London 4 10.51x
Bermondsey 3 11.48x
Bromley 3 65.65x
St Martin In Fields 3 57.03x
Wandsworth 3 35.50x
East Ham 2 62.11x
Fulham London 2 15.71x
Hythe St Leonard 2 188.68x
Onchan 2 42.55x
Bishops Waltham 1 133.33x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 49.75x
Clapham 1 9.12x
Cobham 1 142.86x
Croydon 1 4.21x
Hackney London 1 2.03x
Hastings St Mary 1 27.17x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 33.33x
Kingston On Thames 1 9.73x
Liverpool 1 1.58x
Llandilo Fawr 1 60.61x
Malden 1 909.09x
Newington 1 3.08x
West Horsley 1 555.56x
Wimbledon 1 20.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Charlotte 5
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Ann 2
Eliza 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Elizt. 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Harriott 1
Leoretta 1
Loretta 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Lifford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lifford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 88 people were recorded with the Lifford surname. That placed it at #21,211 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lifford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 131 in 2016. That gives Lifford a modern rank of #26,004.

What does the Lifford surname mean?

An English surname derived from the town of Lifford, Ireland.

What does the Lifford map show?

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