NameCensus.

UK surname

Lillico

A locational surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 171 people recorded with the Lillico surname, ranking it #14,212 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 326, ranked #13,896, up from #14,212 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melrose, Hawick and Wilton and Warkworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lillico is 331 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 90.6%.

1881 census count

171

Ranked #14,212

Modern count

326

2016, ranked #13,896

Peak year

2014

331 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lillico had 171 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,212 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016, ranked #13,896.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 316 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Lillico surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lillico surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lillico 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 90 #18,317
1861 historical 105 #20,298
1881 historical 171 #14,212
1891 historical 202 #14,808
1901 historical 316 #11,242
1911 historical 294 #11,622
1997 modern 299 #13,563
1998 modern 311 #13,550
1999 modern 299 #14,000
2000 modern 292 #14,165
2001 modern 291 #14,000
2002 modern 298 #14,048
2003 modern 286 #14,259
2004 modern 299 #13,904
2005 modern 297 #13,916
2006 modern 297 #14,004
2007 modern 301 #14,022
2008 modern 302 #14,069
2009 modern 311 #14,069
2010 modern 326 #13,918
2011 modern 323 #13,868
2012 modern 312 #14,131
2013 modern 327 #13,868
2014 modern 331 #13,851
2015 modern 331 #13,739
2016 modern 326 #13,896

Geography

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Where Lillicos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Melrose, Hawick and Wilton, Warkworth, Woodhorn and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland. 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 Melrose Roxburgh
2 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
3 Warkworth Northumberland
4 Woodhorn Northumberland
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 022 Northumberland
3 Northumberland 013 Northumberland
4 Northumberland 006 Northumberland
5 Northumberland 010 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lillico

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lillico

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

Lillico is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lillico 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 Lillico is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lillico

The surname Lillico is believed to have originated in England, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "lil," meaning "little," and the Old Norse word "vikr," meaning "inlet" or "creek." This suggests that the name was likely borne by someone who resided near a small creek or inlet.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lillico can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This historical document mentions a landowner named Lillico in the county of Suffolk.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records and documents, including the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire from 1230, which referenced a John de Lillico. The use of the prefix "de" in this instance suggests a connection to a specific place or location.

In the 14th century, the name Lillico was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, which listed a Thomas Lillikowe among the taxpayers. This variation in spelling highlights the fluidity of surnames during that era, as they were often adapted to local dialects and pronunciations.

One notable individual bearing the surname Lillico was Sir Robert Lillico (1558-1624), a prominent English merchant and philanthropist. He made significant contributions to the development of trade and commerce in London and was a benefactor to various charitable causes.

Another individual of historical significance was Thomas Lillico (1678-1746), a renowned architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London, including St. Paul's Cathedral and the Old Bailey.

In the 18th century, the name Lillico appeared in the parish records of Cumbria, where a family bearing this surname had settled in the village of Lillico, likely deriving its name from the same linguistic roots as the surname itself.

Across the Atlantic, the Lillico surname also found its way to the American colonies, with records indicating that a family by that name had settled in Virginia by the late 17th century. One notable member of this branch was William Lillico (1745-1821), a decorated soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

Throughout its history, the surname Lillico has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Lillicoe in Cheshire, Lillikoe in Yorkshire, and Lillicoebank in Cumbria, all of which share similar linguistic origins and connections to the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lillico families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lillico 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. Northumberland leads with 82 Lillicos recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.85x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 82 32.85x
Roxburghshire 49 161.24x
Durham 21 4.21x
Berwickshire 13 63.98x
Selkirkshire 5 32.94x
Lanarkshire 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 5.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedlington in Northumberland leads with 21 Lillicos recorded in 1881 and an index of 251.80x.

Place Total Index
Bedlington 21 251.80x
Westoe 15 53.00x
Coldstream 13 884.35x
Alnwick 10 233.10x
Milfield 10 10000.00x
Wilton 9 270.27x
Berwick Upon Tweed 8 151.23x
Castleton 7 534.35x
Cramlington 7 212.12x
Melrose 7 266.16x
Eckford 6 1132.08x
Roxburgh 6 1034.48x
Ford 5 549.45x
Melrose 5 130.89x
Morpeth 5 170.07x
Byker 4 32.41x
Linton 4 1250.00x
Oxnam 4 1025.64x
Ancroft 3 340.91x
Ancrum 3 379.75x
Harton 3 152.28x
Tweedmouth 3 96.46x
Corsenside 2 512.82x
Crailing 2 540.54x
Gateshead 2 5.35x
Wallsend 2 25.25x
Bishopwearmouth 1 2.33x
Lilliesleaf 1 243.90x
Royal Navy 1 5.85x
Symington 1 370.37x
Throckley 1 144.93x
West Chevington 1 344.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 7
Margaret 7
Mary 7
Elizabeth 5
Eleanor 3
Isabella 3
Annie 2
Barbara 2
Elizebeth 2
Alice 1
Anna 1
Ellen 1
Francis 1
Grace 1
Jemmima 1
Matilda 1
Phillis 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 9
James 6
Thomas 6
Robert 5
George 4
Peter 4
Richard 3
Jonathen 2
Adam 1
Andrew 1
David 1
Jacob 1
Ralph 1
Richd. 1
Swinburn 1

FAQ

Lillico surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lillico surname in 1881?

In 1881, 171 people were recorded with the Lillico surname. That placed it at #14,212 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lillico surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016. That gives Lillico a modern rank of #13,896.

What does the Lillico surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Lillico map show?

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