NameCensus.

UK surname

Lincoln

An English habitational surname derived from places named Lincoln, meaning "settlement by the pool" from Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 2,258 people recorded with the Lincoln surname, ranking it #1,972 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,576, ranked #1,896, up from #1,972 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Attleburgh, London parishes and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Central Bedfordshire and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lincoln is 3,803 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.4%.

1881 census count

2,258

Ranked #1,972

Modern count

3,576

2016, ranked #1,896

Peak year

1998

3,803 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lincoln had 2,258 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,972 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,576 in 2016, ranked #1,896.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,459 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lincoln surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lincoln surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lincoln 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 1,433 #2,003
1861 historical 1,505 #1,878
1881 historical 2,258 #1,972
1891 historical 2,480 #1,910
1901 historical 2,826 #1,970
1911 historical 3,459 #1,512
1997 modern 3,641 #1,783
1998 modern 3,803 #1,776
1999 modern 3,796 #1,787
2000 modern 3,772 #1,787
2001 modern 3,716 #1,775
2002 modern 3,784 #1,792
2003 modern 3,636 #1,822
2004 modern 3,570 #1,850
2005 modern 3,498 #1,865
2006 modern 3,509 #1,863
2007 modern 3,482 #1,891
2008 modern 3,473 #1,912
2009 modern 3,565 #1,913
2010 modern 3,668 #1,901
2011 modern 3,588 #1,922
2012 modern 3,571 #1,883
2013 modern 3,637 #1,888
2014 modern 3,643 #1,893
2015 modern 3,605 #1,889
2016 modern 3,576 #1,896

Geography

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Where Lincolns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Attleburgh, London parishes, St Marylebone and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Central Bedfordshire, Waveney, South Norfolk and Sunderland. 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 Attleburgh Norfolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 029 County Durham
2 Central Bedfordshire 005 Central Bedfordshire
3 Waveney 012 Waveney
4 South Norfolk 009 South Norfolk
5 Sunderland 016 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lincoln

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lincoln

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lincoln, 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 Lincoln surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lincoln 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, Lincoln 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

Lincoln 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

Lincoln falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lincoln

The surname Lincoln originates from England, tracing its roots back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon era, around the 5th to 11th centuries AD. It is derived from the Old English words "linca" and "coll," meaning "links" or "heather" and "hill" respectively. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a heather-covered hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lincoln appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror. This document mentions several individuals with variations of the name, such as Lincolne, Lincholne, and Lincholn, indicating its presence in various regions of England during the late 11th century.

The surname Lincoln has a strong connection to the historic city of Lincoln, located in Lincolnshire, England. This city was an important settlement during the Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods, and its name is believed to be derived from the Old English "Lindon Colonia," meaning "Colony on the Hill." It is possible that some early bearers of the Lincoln surname may have originated from or had ties to this area.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Lincoln surname was Robert de Lincoln, a prominent English knight and landowner who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Another notable figure was John Lincoln, a 14th-century English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Ely from 1367 to 1370.

In the 15th century, the surname Lincoln gained further prominence with Abraham Lincoln, a renowned English scholar and theologian who lived from 1408 to 1491. He was known for his writings on religious subjects and his involvement in the early humanist movement.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the Lincoln surname is Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, who lived from 1809 to 1865. Born in Kentucky to a family of English descent, he went on to lead the nation during the Civil War and is remembered for his pivotal role in abolishing slavery and preserving the Union.

Other notable individuals with the Lincoln surname include Benjamin Lincoln, an American revolutionary war general (1733-1810), Levi Lincoln Sr., an American statesman and lawyer (1749-1820), and Robert Todd Lincoln, the eldest son of Abraham Lincoln and a prominent businessman and lawyer (1843-1926).

In summary, the surname Lincoln has a rich history spanning centuries, originating from the Anglo-Saxon era in England and carrying connections to various regions, historical figures, and notable events throughout its evolution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lincoln families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lincoln 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. Norfolk leads with 586 Lincolns recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.31x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 586 17.31x
Middlesex 412 1.87x
Yorkshire 202 0.93x
Essex 126 2.90x
Durham 121 1.85x
Lincolnshire 116 3.30x
Suffolk 111 4.14x
Bedfordshire 102 8.95x
Surrey 80 0.75x
Lancashire 62 0.24x
Kent 60 0.80x
Huntingdonshire 39 8.92x
Hertfordshire 31 2.04x
Derbyshire 28 0.81x
Cambridgeshire 22 1.58x
Northamptonshire 21 1.01x
Warwickshire 19 0.34x
Hampshire 18 0.40x
Devon 13 0.28x
Glamorgan 11 0.29x
Northumberland 11 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.37x
Sussex 9 0.24x
Somerset 7 0.20x
Berkshire 5 0.30x
Dorset 4 0.28x
Wigtownshire 4 1.37x
Cornwall 3 0.12x
Flintshire 3 0.51x
Leicestershire 3 0.12x
Oxfordshire 3 0.22x
Cumberland 2 0.11x
Gloucestershire 2 0.05x
Midlothian 2 0.07x
Monmouthshire 2 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.08x
Cheshire 1 0.02x
Herefordshire 1 0.11x
Perthshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 0.38x
Shropshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Attleborough in Norfolk leads with 61 Lincolns recorded in 1881 and an index of 356.73x.

Place Total Index
Attleborough 61 356.73x
St Marylebone London 47 4.00x
Heigham 44 24.22x
Hackney London 35 2.84x
Mile End Old Town London 31 6.62x
West Ham 31 3.23x
Islington London 29 1.36x
Pakefield 27 405.41x
Biggleswade 26 69.63x
Middlesbrough 26 9.15x
Tivetshall St Margaret 26 1007.75x
Westoe 26 7.00x
St Luke London 25 7.08x
Bethnal Green London 22 2.30x
Great Yarmouth 22 7.85x
Limehouse London 21 8.69x
Campton 20 478.47x
Hammersmith London 20 3.69x
Saxlingham Nethergate 20 497.51x
Tottenham 20 5.70x
Great Ellingham 19 380.76x
Clophill 18 215.31x
Shoreditch London 18 1.89x
Norwich St Clement 17 43.32x
Sunderland 17 14.70x
Camberwell 16 1.14x
Clerkenwell London 16 3.08x
Lambeth 16 0.83x
Monkwearmouth Shore 16 12.51x
Willesden 16 7.71x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 15 88.29x
Westminster St James 15 6.63x
Eston 14 29.46x
Lakenham 14 29.11x
Ludham 14 233.33x
Newington 14 1.72x
Writtle 14 78.83x
Bromley London 13 2.68x
Peterborough 13 8.67x
Barnard Castle 12 37.06x
Bishopwearmouth 12 2.13x
Lowestoft 12 9.47x
Norwich St George Tombland 12 201.68x
St Pancras London 12 0.68x
Bexley 11 16.56x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 11 44.19x
Liverpool 11 0.69x
Poplar London 11 2.65x
Sculcoates 11 3.18x
St Gilesin Fields London 11 59.04x
Yaxham 11 298.10x
Abbotsley 10 288.18x
Aston 10 0.65x
Brightside Bierlow 10 2.34x
Harlow 10 53.39x
Norwich St Helen 10 237.53x
Rayleigh 10 99.90x
Bawdeswell 9 267.06x
Cardiff St John 9 7.19x
Cawkwell 9 2647.06x
Dagenham 9 34.80x
Great Staughton 9 106.13x
Holbeach 9 22.96x
Leeds 9 0.73x
Maidstone 9 4.02x
Meppershall 9 153.58x
Navestock 9 143.08x
South Lynn 9 23.56x
Thorpe Next Norwich 9 25.08x
Clifton 8 72.73x
Deopham 8 249.22x
Edmonton 8 4.51x
Elswick 8 3.06x
Long Bennington 8 116.79x
Manthorpe Cum Little 8 29.73x
Norwich St Stephen 8 25.75x
Potton 8 52.88x
Sprowston 8 53.55x
St Lawrence 8 15.49x
Wandsworth 8 3.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 153
John 126
James 94
George 93
Thomas 59
Robert 56
Henry 53
Charles 43
Edward 39
Alfred 35
Frederick 34
Arthur 23
Richard 20
Walter 20
Albert 19
Harry 16
Joseph 16
David 12
Fred 10
Samuel 10
Ernest 9
Daniel 8
Robt. 6
Geo. 5
Herbert 5
Thos. 5
Edmund 4
Elijah 4
Frank 4
Joshua 4
Andrew 3
Benjamin 3
Frederic 3
Fredk. 3
Gilbert 3
Isaac 3
Leonard 3
Levi 3
Percy 3
Ralph 3
Alfread 2
Fredrick 2
Johnson 2
Lionel 2
Llewellyn 2
Morris 2
Nathaniel 2
Noah 2
Philip 2
Phillip 2

FAQ

Lincoln surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lincoln surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,258 people were recorded with the Lincoln surname. That placed it at #1,972 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lincoln surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,576 in 2016. That gives Lincoln a modern rank of #1,896.

What does the Lincoln surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from places named Lincoln, meaning "settlement by the pool" from Old English.

What does the Lincoln map show?

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