NameCensus.

UK surname

Lindow

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a linden tree grove.

In the 1881 census there were 138 people recorded with the Lindow surname, ranking it #16,292 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 89, ranked #32,297, down from #16,292 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, London parishes and Egremont. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barrow-in-Furness, South Lakeland and New Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lindow is 190 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.5%.

1881 census count

138

Ranked #16,292

Modern count

89

2016, ranked #32,297

Peak year

1911

190 bearers

Map years

4

1881 to 1911

Key insights

  • Lindow had 138 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,292 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016, ranked #32,297.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 190 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Lindow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lindow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lindow 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 72 #20,720
1861 historical 63 #25,901
1881 historical 138 #16,292
1891 historical 140 #19,193
1901 historical 166 #17,011
1911 historical 190 #15,438
1997 modern 95 #27,638
1998 modern 96 #28,188
1999 modern 100 #27,757
2000 modern 102 #27,425
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 104 #27,303
2003 modern 93 #28,829
2004 modern 96 #28,605
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 94 #29,264
2007 modern 94 #29,650
2008 modern 91 #30,431
2009 modern 95 #30,393
2010 modern 90 #31,621
2011 modern 87 #31,905
2012 modern 81 #32,796
2013 modern 85 #32,658
2014 modern 84 #32,823
2015 modern 89 #32,325
2016 modern 89 #32,297

Geography

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Where Lindows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, London parishes, Egremont, Dalton-in-Furness and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barrow-in-Furness, South Lakeland, New Forest and Tandridge. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 London parishes London 3
3 Egremont Cumberland
4 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barrow-in-Furness 001 Barrow-in-Furness
2 South Lakeland 014 South Lakeland
3 South Lakeland 012 South Lakeland
4 New Forest 016 New Forest
5 Tandridge 003 Tandridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lindow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lindow

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Lindow 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

Lindow is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lindow 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 Lindow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lindow

The surname Lindow is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "lind" meaning a lime tree, and "hoh" meaning a hill or ridge, suggesting that the earliest bearers of the name lived near a prominent lime tree or in a place abundant with lime trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lindow can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from the year 1332, which mentions a Richard de Lyndhowe. The name also appears in various medieval records, such as the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1370, where a John Lyndhowe is mentioned.

The surname Lindow is believed to have originated in the county of Cheshire, particularly in the area around the village of Lindow, which was recorded as "Lyndehouwe" in the Domesday Book of 1086. This place name is thought to have influenced the development of the surname.

Notable historical figures with the surname Lindow include Sir John Lindow (1515-1582), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent bearer of the name was Thomas Lindow (1672-1748), a renowned clockmaker from Warrington, Cheshire, who was responsible for creating several intricate and highly regarded timepieces during his lifetime.

In the 16th century, the Lindow family established themselves as landowners and gentry in the county of Lancashire. One member of this family, Richard Lindow (1540-1611), served as the High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1597.

Another individual of note was Sir Henry Lindow (1688-1761), an English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1745 until his death. He was highly respected for his legal expertise and impartial judgments.

During the 18th century, the Lindow surname also gained recognition in the field of literature with the writer and poet, Elizabeth Lindow (1720-1792), whose works explored themes of nature and the English countryside.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lindow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lindow 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. Lancashire leads with 54 Lindows recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.46x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 54 3.46x
Cumberland 27 23.82x
Middlesex 25 1.90x
Surrey 9 1.40x
Buckinghamshire 6 7.54x
Cheshire 5 1.72x
Sussex 5 2.25x
Westmorland 3 10.37x
Yorkshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Bolton in Lancashire leads with 23 Lindows recorded in 1881 and an index of 114.48x.

Place Total Index
Little Bolton 23 114.48x
Whitehaven 15 248.34x
Islington London 13 10.19x
St Pancras London 12 11.32x
Battersea 9 18.58x
Egremont 8 296.30x
Lowick 8 4705.88x
Colton 7 864.20x
Leyland 6 220.59x
Wolverton 6 363.64x
Monks Coppenhall 5 45.58x
Dalton In Furness 3 49.75x
Upper Holker 3 810.81x
Barrow In Furness 2 9.41x
Brighton 2 4.47x
Cleator 2 42.37x
Hastings St Leonards 2 61.35x
Beckermet St John 1 357.14x
Broadwater 1 19.65x
Broughton In Salford 1 7.00x
Catterick 1 344.83x
Kendal 1 18.87x
Manchester 1 1.42x
Millom 1 28.82x
Nether Graveship 1 357.14x
Strickland Kettle 1 357.14x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Lindow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lindow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 138 people were recorded with the Lindow surname. That placed it at #16,292 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lindow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016. That gives Lindow a modern rank of #32,297.

What does the Lindow surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a linden tree grove.

What does the Lindow map show?

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