NameCensus.

UK surname

Liggins

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Liggin, a medieval diminutive of Ligg, meaning "god" or "idol."

In the 1881 census there were 523 people recorded with the Liggins surname, ranking it #6,537 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 825, ranked #6,734, down from #6,537 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bedworth, Foleshill and Nuneaton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Nuneaton and Bedworth, Blaby and Sevenoaks.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Liggins is 912 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.7%.

1881 census count

523

Ranked #6,537

Modern count

825

2016, ranked #6,734

Peak year

2002

912 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Liggins had 523 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,537 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 825 in 2016, ranked #6,734.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 858 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Liggins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Liggins surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Liggins 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 320 #7,250
1861 historical 275 #9,082
1881 historical 523 #6,537
1891 historical 593 #6,444
1901 historical 712 #6,199
1911 historical 858 #5,172
1997 modern 887 #6,030
1998 modern 886 #6,237
1999 modern 876 #6,336
2000 modern 870 #6,333
2001 modern 862 #6,264
2002 modern 912 #6,139
2003 modern 906 #6,055
2004 modern 898 #6,097
2005 modern 877 #6,139
2006 modern 858 #6,271
2007 modern 862 #6,305
2008 modern 859 #6,365
2009 modern 882 #6,367
2010 modern 883 #6,496
2011 modern 886 #6,393
2012 modern 858 #6,478
2013 modern 870 #6,516
2014 modern 865 #6,575
2015 modern 849 #6,608
2016 modern 825 #6,734

Geography

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Where Liggins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bedworth, Foleshill, Nuneaton, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Nuneaton and Bedworth, Blaby, Sevenoaks and Harborough. 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 Bedworth Warwickshire
2 Foleshill Warwickshire
3 Nuneaton Warwickshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Nuneaton and Bedworth 018 Nuneaton and Bedworth
2 Blaby 007 Blaby
3 Nuneaton and Bedworth 009 Nuneaton and Bedworth
4 Sevenoaks 014 Sevenoaks
5 Harborough 010 Harborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Liggins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Liggins

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Liggins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Liggins household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Liggins is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Liggins is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Liggins

The surname Liggins originated in England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "lig" meaning "flame" or "fire" and "ing" meaning "meadow" or "enclosure." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a burning or cleared area of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire in 1196, where a Willelmus de Ligginge is mentioned. The "de" prefix in this entry indicates that the name was originally a locational surname, referring to a specific place called Liggins or Ligginge.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a Richard de Lyggynges, further solidifying the name's presence in medieval England. The variant spelling with a "y" was common during this period.

The Liggins surname can also be traced back to the village of Ligginshaugh, which was located in County Durham. This place name, which means "the meadow of the burning," lends credence to the theory of the name's origin being related to fire or clearing of land.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname was John Liggins, who was born in Gloucestershire in 1540. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the area.

In the 17th century, Richard Liggins (1585-1637) was a renowned English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Comberton in Cambridgeshire.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Liggins (1670-1744), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, who was influential in the development of the city's infrastructure and charitable institutions.

During the 18th century, the Liggins family was well-established in various parts of England, with members residing in counties such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Staffordshire.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname was Sir John Liggins (1819-1899), a British politician and industrialist who served as a Member of Parliament and played a significant role in the growth of the coal mining industry in South Yorkshire.

Throughout its history, the Liggins surname has maintained a strong presence in England, with pockets of the family also found in other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Liggins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Liggins 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. Warwickshire leads with 263 Liggins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.56x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 263 20.56x
Leicestershire 55 9.78x
Middlesex 34 0.67x
Yorkshire 34 0.68x
Northamptonshire 32 6.71x
Staffordshire 26 1.52x
Derbyshire 13 1.64x
Lancashire 12 0.20x
Surrey 10 0.40x
Worcestershire 9 1.36x
Kent 8 0.46x
Anglesey 6 6.67x
Huntingdonshire 6 5.96x
Cheshire 5 0.45x
Gloucestershire 3 0.30x
Norfolk 3 0.38x
Berkshire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Foleshill in Warwickshire leads with 39 Liggins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 289.75x.

Place Total Index
Foleshill 39 289.75x
Sowe 33 1434.78x
Bedworth 26 278.67x
Aston 21 5.96x
Finedon 21 502.39x
Coventry St Michael 18 43.81x
Bulkington 14 507.25x
Birmingham 12 2.81x
Leicester St Margaret 11 8.02x
Coventry Holy Trinity 9 23.56x
Rugby 9 51.99x
Wolvey 9 661.76x
Arnesby 8 1095.89x
Burton Extra 8 81.47x
Glossop Dale 8 21.51x
Leamington Priors 8 25.41x
Lewisham 8 8.67x
Southcoates 8 28.67x
Coundon 7 1458.33x
Drypool 7 90.91x
Dunchurch 7 400.00x
Hackney London 7 2.46x
Horton In Bradford 7 8.92x
Islington London 7 1.42x
Kenilworth 7 97.09x
Leek Wootten 7 1000.00x
Pitsford 7 721.65x
Walsall Foreign 7 7.92x
Wednesbury 7 16.36x
Aylestone 6 135.44x
Brinklow 6 441.18x
Great Glenn 6 402.68x
Hammersmith London 6 4.80x
Hinckley 6 44.98x
Holyhead 6 35.80x
Seals 6 303.03x
Upperswinford 6 107.14x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 10.68x
Berkswell 5 197.63x
Croydon 5 3.64x
Leicester St Mary 5 11.00x
Shoreditch London 5 2.27x
Werneth 5 142.45x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 8.83x
Denton 4 3076.92x
Gorton 4 7.07x
Wellingborough 4 16.67x
Ashby De La Zouch 3 23.01x
Bermondsey 3 1.99x
Blaisdon 3 833.33x
Chilvers Coton 3 57.03x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 3.14x
Churchover 3 535.71x
Dalton In Huddersfield 3 26.64x
Easenhall 3 681.82x
Kensington London 3 1.06x
Measham 3 102.74x
Nuneaton 3 20.24x
Thurlaston 3 526.32x
Wolston Marston 3 312.50x
Balsall 2 100.00x
Burton Upon Trent 2 4.99x
Cakemore 2 183.49x
Hampstead London 2 2.53x
Heeley 2 13.10x
Scarborough 2 4.38x
South Lynn 2 22.73x
Staveley 2 14.18x
Westminster St John 2 3.24x
Anstey 1 400.00x
Battersea 1 0.54x
Broughton Astley 1 81.30x
Glatton 1 103.09x
Hornsey 1 1.56x
Lambeth 1 0.23x
Newton Regis 1 128.21x
Norwich St Peter 1 19.53x
Old Stratford 1 13.81x
Sibson 1 151.52x
Stilton 1 88.50x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
John 33
Joseph 32
Thomas 26
George 13
Arthur 11
Henry 8
Charles 6
Herbert 6
James 6
Samuel 6
Alfred 5
Harry 5
Walter 5
Wm. 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Mark 4
Basil 3
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Isaac 3
Amos 2
Daniel 2
Ephraim 2
Fredk. 2
Josiah 2
Percy 2
Robert 2
Tom 2
Bazzel 1
Chas. 1
Chas.B. 1
David 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Felix 1
Fred 1
Jessie 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Luke 1
Nathaniel 1
Reuben 1
Thos. 1
W. 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Liggins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Liggins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 523 people were recorded with the Liggins surname. That placed it at #6,537 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Liggins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 825 in 2016. That gives Liggins a modern rank of #6,734.

What does the Liggins surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Liggin, a medieval diminutive of Ligg, meaning "god" or "idol."

What does the Liggins map show?

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