UK surname
Of uncertain origin, possibly a variant of the surname Lindsay from the lands near a village so named in East Lothian, Scotland.
In the 1881 census there were 69 people recorded with the Linsay surname, ranking it #23,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 20, ranked #36,679, down from #23,816 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Melrose, Hilperton, Whaddon and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Linsay is 117 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.0%.
1881 census count
69
Ranked #23,816
Modern count
20
2016, ranked #36,679
Peak year
1861
117 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Linsay surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Linsay surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 96 | #17,594 |
| 1861 | historical | 117 | #18,635 |
| 1881 | historical | 69 | #23,816 |
| 1891 | historical | 52 | #30,061 |
| 1901 | historical | 17 | #32,146 |
| 1911 | historical | 17 | #31,675 |
| 1997 | modern | 36 | #34,071 |
| 1998 | modern | 37 | #34,149 |
| 1999 | modern | 31 | #34,821 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 20 | #35,894 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 24 | #35,827 |
| 2006 | modern | 25 | #35,903 |
| 2007 | modern | 25 | #36,006 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 22 | #36,462 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 19 | #36,736 |
| 2016 | modern | 20 | #36,679 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Melrose, Hilperton, Whaddon, Edinburgh, Manchester and Wigan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melrose | Roxburgh |
| 2 | Hilperton, Whaddon | Wiltshire |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Linsay surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Linsay, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Linsay surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Linsay household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Linsay is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Linsay is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Linsay, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Linsay originated in Scotland, where it was first recorded in the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "lin" meaning "linden tree" and "ey" meaning "island." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived on an island where linden trees grew.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of written submissions of feudal homage to King Edward I of England. The name is spelled "Linsay" in this record, indicating its Scottish origins.
In the 13th century, there are references to a place called "Linsayis" in Fife, Scotland, which may have been the ancestral home of the Linsay family. The name is also found in various Scottish charters and records throughout the Middle Ages, with spellings such as "Lindesay" and "Lyndsay."
One of the most notable historical figures with the surname Linsay was Sir David Linsay (c. 1490-1555), a Scottish poet and courtier during the reigns of James IV and James V. He is best known for his satirical work "The Dreme," which criticized the Scottish nobility and clergy.
Another prominent Linsay was John Linsay (1686-1768), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer who served as the Savilian Professor of Geometry at Oxford University. He made significant contributions to the study of planetary orbits and the theory of gravitation.
In the 17th century, the Linsay family held lands in Fife and Angus, Scotland. One member of this family, Patrick Linsay (1633-1703), was a Scottish clergyman and bishop of Ross.
During the Scottish Reformation, the Linsays were supporters of the Protestant cause. Alexander Linsay (1500-1565), the 4th Earl of Crawford, was a prominent Protestant reformer and a member of the Lords of the Congregation, a group that opposed the Catholic policies of Mary, Queen of Scots.
The Linsay surname also has a long-standing association with the peerage in Scotland. The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres is a prominent Scottish noble title that has been held by the Linsay family since the late 14th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Linsay surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 14 Linsays recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.75x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 14 | 1.75x |
| Lanarkshire | 12 | 5.51x |
| Midlothian | 10 | 11.09x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 0.89x |
| Glamorgan | 5 | 4.27x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 3.79x |
| Berkshire | 4 | 7.92x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.91x |
| Renfrewshire | 2 | 3.83x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 1.99x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 2.87x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.73x |
| East Lothian | 1 | 11.21x |
| Kinross-shire | 1 | 58.82x |
| Roxburghshire | 1 | 8.20x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 6.76x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 10 Linsays recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.56x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 10 | 27.56x |
| Barrow In Furness | 6 | 55.25x |
| Manchester | 6 | 16.70x |
| Govan | 5 | 9.29x |
| Hamilton | 5 | 82.37x |
| Llandaff | 5 | 128.21x |
| West Shefford | 4 | 3636.36x |
| Bitton | 3 | 260.87x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 8.02x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 2 | 16.09x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 4.65x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 8.08x |
| Paisley High Church | 2 | 48.19x |
| Applethwaite | 1 | 227.27x |
| Barony | 1 | 1.82x |
| Croydon | 1 | 5.49x |
| Dunbar | 1 | 80.00x |
| East Kilbride | 1 | 107.53x |
| Kilbirnie | 1 | 82.64x |
| Kinross | 1 | 172.41x |
| Melchbourne | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Parr | 1 | 34.97x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 3.43x |
| Upton Warren | 1 | 1250.00x |
| West Derby | 1 | 4.28x |
| Whitehaven | 1 | 32.36x |
| Wilton | 1 | 74.63x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Linsay surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Linsay surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 69 people were recorded with the Linsay surname. That placed it at #23,816 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 20 in 2016. That gives Linsay a modern rank of #36,679.
Of uncertain origin, possibly a variant of the surname Lindsay from the lands near a village so named in East Lothian, Scotland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Linsay bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.