NameCensus.

UK surname

Lillywhite

A descriptive surname referring to someone with pale or fair complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 582 people recorded with the Lillywhite surname, ranking it #5,992 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 863, ranked #6,496, down from #5,992 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Storrington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Arun and Waverley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lillywhite is 897 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.3%.

1881 census count

582

Ranked #5,992

Modern count

863

2016, ranked #6,496

Peak year

2000

897 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lillywhite had 582 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,992 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 863 in 2016, ranked #6,496.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 739 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lillywhite surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lillywhite surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lillywhite 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 318 #7,293
1861 historical 322 #7,911
1881 historical 582 #5,992
1891 historical 587 #6,508
1901 historical 629 #6,809
1911 historical 739 #5,802
1997 modern 871 #6,124
1998 modern 889 #6,218
1999 modern 893 #6,239
2000 modern 897 #6,187
2001 modern 874 #6,202
2002 modern 878 #6,292
2003 modern 832 #6,443
2004 modern 838 #6,414
2005 modern 812 #6,533
2006 modern 811 #6,548
2007 modern 817 #6,578
2008 modern 812 #6,659
2009 modern 837 #6,646
2010 modern 869 #6,577
2011 modern 863 #6,538
2012 modern 838 #6,600
2013 modern 869 #6,520
2014 modern 882 #6,474
2015 modern 866 #6,508
2016 modern 863 #6,496

Geography

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Where Lillywhites are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Storrington and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Arun, Waverley, Chichester and Leeds. 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 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Storrington Sussex
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 041 Wiltshire
2 Arun 003 Arun
3 Waverley 013 Waverley
4 Chichester 006 Chichester
5 Leeds 047 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lillywhite

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lillywhite

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Lillywhite surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lillywhite 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Lillywhite is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lillywhite 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

Lillywhite falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lillywhite

The surname Lillywhite is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from a descriptive nickname or a topographic name, referring to a person with a fair complexion or someone who lived near a place abundant with white lilies.

The earliest known record of the name Lillywhite can be traced back to the 13th century, appearing in various tax rolls and legal documents across different regions of England. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Robert Lillywhite, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275.

The name Lillywhite has gone through various spelling variations throughout history, including Lilywhite, Liliewhite, and Lyliewhyte. These variations reflect the phonetic spelling practices prevalent during different time periods and regions in England.

In the 16th century, the Lillywhite surname appeared in several parish records and manorial documents across counties such as Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Oxfordshire. One notable figure from this era was Thomas Lillywhite, a landowner and farmer from Stratford-upon-Avon, who was born around 1520.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Lillywhite family spread across different parts of England, with some members migrating to the American colonies. Benjamin Lillywhite (1642-1714), a merchant from London, was among the early settlers in Virginia, establishing himself in the Tidewater region.

The 19th century saw several prominent individuals bearing the Lillywhite surname. John Lillywhite (1792-1863), a celebrated English cricketer and cricket administrator, played a significant role in establishing the sport's rules and regulations. His son, James Lillywhite (1818-1876), also made his mark as a renowned cricketer and author of the influential book "The Cricketers' Art."

Another noteworthy figure from this era was Frederick Lillywhite (1829-1904), a British botanist and plant collector who made significant contributions to the study of flora in South Africa and Australia.

As the name spread across different regions, it also gave rise to various place names, such as Lillywhite's End in Hertfordshire and Lillywhite's Lane in Gloucestershire, further cementing the surname's historical roots in the English landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lillywhite families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lillywhite 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. Sussex leads with 156 Lillywhites recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.19x.

County Total Index
Sussex 156 16.19x
Hampshire 128 10.92x
Surrey 111 3.99x
Middlesex 100 1.75x
Kent 20 1.03x
Yorkshire 19 0.34x
Buckinghamshire 14 4.05x
Essex 9 0.80x
Huntingdonshire 8 7.05x
Lancashire 6 0.09x
Cumberland 3 0.61x
Gloucestershire 3 0.27x
Royal Navy 2 2.94x
Berkshire 1 0.23x
Channel Islands 1 0.59x
Cornwall 1 0.15x
Dorset 1 0.27x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 34 Lillywhites recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.81x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 34 14.81x
Broadwater 22 99.50x
Godalming 20 114.09x
Storrington 20 757.58x
Wisborough Green 18 555.56x
Brighton 17 8.74x
Arreton 15 398.94x
Bermondsey 15 8.81x
Paddington London 14 6.66x
Chiddingfold 12 459.77x
Richmond 12 30.75x
Kensington London 11 3.46x
Lambeth 11 2.21x
Brading 10 64.23x
Findon 10 719.42x
Froxfield 10 740.74x
Hackney London 10 3.12x
Hound 10 125.79x
St Pancras London 10 2.17x
Enfield 9 23.99x
Thursley 9 450.00x
Boveney 8 3478.26x
Conington 8 1379.31x
East Meon 8 261.44x
Greenwich 8 8.79x
Islington London 8 1.44x
St Luke London 8 8.73x
Westhampnett 8 784.31x
Droxford 7 156.60x
Neatham 7 3888.89x
Rudgwick 7 318.18x
Sheffield 6 3.33x
Speldhurst 6 60.42x
St George Hanover Square 6 5.96x
Windle 6 15.72x
Battersea 5 2.38x
Blendworth 5 862.07x
Bosham 5 203.25x
Eton 5 63.86x
Hammersmith London 5 3.55x
Ifield 5 124.38x
Leeds 5 1.56x
Southampton St Mary 5 6.79x
Billingshurst 4 126.58x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.96x
East Dean 4 597.01x
East Ham 4 19.10x
Kew 4 246.91x
Leominster 4 128.62x
New Shoreham 4 69.20x
Southcoates 4 12.72x
West Ham 4 1.61x
Wimbledon 4 12.79x
Acton 3 8.95x
Bramdean 3 588.24x
Burpham 3 375.00x
Cheltenham 3 3.47x
Clapham 3 4.20x
Kingston On Thames 3 4.48x
Millom 3 19.89x
New Fishbourne 3 483.87x
Northwood 3 17.99x
Penge 3 8.22x
Ropley 3 175.44x
Sculcoates 3 3.34x
Washington 3 181.82x
Witley 3 153.06x
Arundel 2 37.04x
Catherington 2 77.22x
Chelsea London 2 1.16x
Chislehurst 2 19.12x
Hornsey 2 2.77x
Hove 2 4.73x
Littlington 2 952.38x
Portsmouth 2 7.41x
Royal Navy 2 3.43x
Steep 2 170.94x
Steyning 2 61.16x
Wadhurst 2 31.60x
Wandsworth 2 3.63x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 34
William 33
John 20
Charles 17
Henry 17
James 16
Thomas 16
Edward 10
Alfred 9
Frank 9
Harry 7
Walter 7
Arthur 5
Ernest 5
Stephen 5
Frederick 4
Herbert 4
Albert 3
Geo. 3
H. 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Thos. 3
Edmund 2
Fredrick 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Mark 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
David 1
Earnest 1
Edmond 1
Edw. 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Ewen 1
Fredk. 1
Jessie 1
Leonard 1
Levie 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Moses 1
Reuben 1
Thos.Richard 1
Tom 1
Wilfred 1
Willie 1
Willis 1

FAQ

Lillywhite surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lillywhite surname in 1881?

In 1881, 582 people were recorded with the Lillywhite surname. That placed it at #5,992 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lillywhite surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 863 in 2016. That gives Lillywhite a modern rank of #6,496.

What does the Lillywhite surname mean?

A descriptive surname referring to someone with pale or fair complexion.

What does the Lillywhite map show?

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