NameCensus.

UK surname

Lightowlers

In the 1881 census there were 211 people recorded with the Lightowlers surname, ranking it #12,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 119, ranked #27,704, down from #12,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Birstall and Almondbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale, Bradford and Blackpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lightowlers is 216 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 43.6%.

1881 census count

211

Ranked #12,407

Modern count

119

2016, ranked #27,704

Peak year

1861

216 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lightowlers had 211 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016, ranked #27,704.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 216 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Lightowlers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lightowlers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lightowlers 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 206 #10,183
1861 historical 216 #11,273
1881 historical 211 #12,407
1891 historical 198 #15,033
1901 historical 183 #15,996
1911 historical 185 #15,686
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 115 #25,466
1999 modern 117 #25,362
2000 modern 119 #25,072
2001 modern 116 #25,089
2002 modern 124 #24,616
2003 modern 118 #25,146
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 116 #25,564
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 107 #27,557
2008 modern 106 #28,016
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 111 #28,509
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 117 #27,394
2013 modern 127 #26,452
2014 modern 125 #26,896
2015 modern 119 #27,684
2016 modern 119 #27,704

Geography

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Where Lightowlers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Birstall, Almondbury, Bradford and Huddersfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Calderdale, Bradford, Blackpool and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 025 Calderdale
2 Bradford 059 Bradford
3 Bradford 040 Bradford
4 Blackpool 011 Blackpool
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 029 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lightowlers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lightowlers

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Lightowlers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lightowlers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Lightowlers 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

Lightowlers 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

Lightowlers 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 Lightowlers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Lightowlers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lightowlers 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 209 Lightowlers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.25x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 209 10.25x
Essex 1 0.25x
Lancashire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Bierley in Yorkshire leads with 131 Lightowlers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1189.83x.

Place Total Index
North Bierley 131 1189.83x
Bowling 35 173.27x
Wyke In Bradford 19 520.55x
Slaithwaite 10 471.70x
Hunsworth 7 654.21x
Cleckheaton 6 79.89x
Harpurhey 1 29.50x
Linthwaite 1 23.31x
South Shoebury 1 61.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Sarah 8
Alice 6
Hannah 6
Jane 6
Martha 6
Ann 5
Elizabeth 5
Annie 4
Harriet 4
Ruth 4
Emily 3
Emma 3
Minnie 3
Clara 2
Frances 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Adelaide 1
Amy 1
Cylinda 1
Edna 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Johannah 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Lidia 1
Louise 1
Maranda 1
Maria 1
Nanny 1
Nora 1
Orlinda 1
Peace 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 9
James 7
Joseph 5
Fred 4
Thomas 4
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Dan 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
George 2
Walter 2
Caleb 1
Earby 1
Ephram 1
Ferbin 1
Finnan 1
Freeman 1
Haley 1
Harry 1
Hary 1
Henry 1
Holdsworth 1
Irving 1
Israel 1
J.R.F. 1
Jesse 1
Jonas 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Luther 1
Manasseh 1
Matthew 1
Mildred 1
Mitchael 1
Mitchell 1
Oliver 1
Paul 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Seth 1
Smith 1
Squire 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Lightowlers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lightowlers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 211 people were recorded with the Lightowlers surname. That placed it at #12,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lightowlers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016. That gives Lightowlers a modern rank of #27,704.

What does the Lightowlers map show?

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