NameCensus.

UK surname

Lipscomb

An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "Hlipa's valley" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 365 people recorded with the Lipscomb surname, ranking it #8,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 350, ranked #13,152, down from #8,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dorking, London parishes and Havant. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chiltern, Winchester and Surrey Heath.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lipscomb is 481 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.1%.

1881 census count

365

Ranked #8,506

Modern count

350

2016, ranked #13,152

Peak year

1911

481 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lipscomb had 365 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016, ranked #13,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 481 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lipscomb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lipscomb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lipscomb 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 462 #5,372
1861 historical 386 #6,638
1881 historical 365 #8,506
1891 historical 354 #9,741
1901 historical 362 #10,173
1911 historical 481 #8,062
1997 modern 438 #10,282
1998 modern 469 #10,079
1999 modern 462 #10,249
2000 modern 439 #10,650
2001 modern 441 #10,412
2002 modern 441 #10,618
2003 modern 421 #10,844
2004 modern 425 #10,779
2005 modern 413 #10,918
2006 modern 393 #11,398
2007 modern 400 #11,374
2008 modern 390 #11,693
2009 modern 396 #11,815
2010 modern 404 #11,902
2011 modern 398 #11,907
2012 modern 376 #12,262
2013 modern 367 #12,707
2014 modern 373 #12,633
2015 modern 356 #13,009
2016 modern 350 #13,152

Geography

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Where Lipscombs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dorking, London parishes and Havant. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chiltern, Winchester, Surrey Heath, Test Valley and Maidstone. 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 Dorking Surrey
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Havant Hampshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chiltern 010 Chiltern
2 Winchester 003 Winchester
3 Surrey Heath 001 Surrey Heath
4 Test Valley 003 Test Valley
5 Maidstone 019 Maidstone

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lipscomb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lipscomb

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Lipscomb is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lipscomb is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lipscomb 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 Lipscomb 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 Lipscomb, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lipscomb

The surname Lipscomb is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "lið," meaning "joint" or "limb," and "cumb," meaning "valley" or "hollow." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe someone who lived in a valley or hollow region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lipscomb can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Lypescombe." This entry refers to a place name, possibly indicating the origin of the surname from a specific location.

During the 13th century, the name was commonly spelled as "Lypescombe" or "Lypscombe," reflecting the evolution of the English language over time. Records from this period also show variations such as "Lipescombe" and "Lipscomp," further demonstrating the fluidity of surname spellings in those times.

In the 14th century, the name Lipscomb began to appear more frequently in historical records, particularly in the counties of Devon and Somerset in southern England. This region was likely the epicenter of the surname's early development and usage.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Lipscomb, who lived in the late 15th century and served as a member of the English Parliament. Another influential figure was William Lipscomb, born in 1619, who was a prominent English clergyman and author.

In the 17th century, the surname Lipscomb gained recognition through the works of the English philosopher and scientist Robert Lipscomb, born in 1634. He made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and natural philosophy.

As the surname spread across England and eventually to other parts of the world, various spellings emerged, including "Lipscombe," "Lipscome," and "Lipscum." However, the modern spelling of "Lipscomb" became the most widely accepted form.

Other notable individuals with the surname Lipscomb include the American chemist William Nunn Lipscomb Jr. (1919-2011), who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1976, and the English cricketer James Lipscomb (1828-1902), who played for the Surrey County Cricket Club.

Throughout its history, the surname Lipscomb has maintained its connection to its geographical origins, reflecting the significance of place names in the development of English surnames during the medieval period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lipscomb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lipscomb 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. Middlesex leads with 79 Lipscombs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.22x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 79 2.22x
Surrey 67 3.86x
Hampshire 51 6.99x
Kent 30 2.47x
Sussex 30 5.00x
Derbyshire 21 3.77x
Berkshire 15 5.61x
Hertfordshire 12 4.89x
Northamptonshire 12 3.58x
Buckinghamshire 8 3.72x
Essex 8 1.14x
Devon 6 0.81x
Somerset 5 0.87x
Yorkshire 5 0.14x
Suffolk 4 0.92x
Durham 2 0.19x
Gloucestershire 2 0.29x
Oxfordshire 2 0.91x
Warwickshire 2 0.22x
Ayrshire 1 0.38x
Dorset 1 0.43x
Lincolnshire 1 0.18x
Norfolk 1 0.18x

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 21 Lipscombs recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.68x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 21 14.68x
Stanwell 16 608.37x
Derby St Werburgh 13 40.40x
Leatherhead 13 299.54x
Bermondsey 11 10.38x
Camberwell 10 4.40x
Shoreditch London 9 5.83x
Twickenham 9 58.94x
Lambeth 8 2.58x
Oving 8 394.09x
Basingstoke 7 83.43x
Brighton 7 5.78x
Maidstone 7 19.35x
St George In East London 7 20.90x
Stamford Baron St Martin 7 391.06x
Bow London 6 13.24x
Clewer 6 54.79x
Fulham London 6 11.62x
Mile End Old Town London 6 7.92x
Northfleet 6 56.07x
St Albans 6 119.28x
Tonbridge 6 13.70x
West Hoathly 6 317.46x
Chertsey 5 44.60x
Longford 5 980.39x
Tudeley 5 746.27x
Woking 5 47.80x
Wycombe 5 31.15x
Great Torrington 4 95.24x
Hastings St Mary In The 4 31.23x
Heveningham 4 1025.64x
Lewes St Michael 4 336.13x
Reading St Mary 4 18.68x
Springfield 4 129.87x
Catherington 3 186.34x
Dorking 3 25.75x
Hackney London 3 1.50x
Havant 3 81.08x
Holdenhurst 3 15.67x
Horsell 3 272.73x
Newington 3 2.28x
Peterborough 3 12.38x
Sawbridgeworth 3 80.65x
Southampton St Mary 3 6.54x
Southwark St Saviour 3 16.39x
Speen 3 68.65x
St Albans St Stephen 3 140.19x
St Luke London 3 5.25x
St Pancras London 3 1.05x
Warmfield Cum Heath 3 252.10x
Weeke 3 135.75x
Westminster St James 3 8.20x
Yalding 3 97.72x
Alverstoke 2 7.57x
Bath St James 2 33.44x
Beaconsfield 2 100.50x
Birmingham 2 0.67x
Blendworth 2 555.56x
Derby St Alkmund 2 11.98x
Islington London 2 0.58x
Moulton 2 107.53x
Shipton In Great 2 384.62x
Staindrop 2 124.22x
Walcot 2 6.55x
Walthamstow 2 7.91x
Bedhampton 1 116.28x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 4.30x
Cowley 1 14.58x
Cranford 1 163.93x
Deddington 1 41.84x
Hurley 1 71.94x
Ightham 1 65.36x
Litchurch 1 4.46x
Littleham 1 18.45x
Newnham 1 227.27x
Norwich St Mary In Marsh 1 163.93x
Reigate Foreign 1 5.32x
St Mary Cray 1 43.10x
St Marylebone London 1 0.53x
Tottenham 1 1.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 13
Ellen 10
Eliza 8
Ann 7
Emma 7
Charlotte 6
Louisa 6
Susan 6
Margaret 5
Sarah 5
Alice 4
Jane 4
Anne 3
Annie 3
Emily 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Amy 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Henrietta 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lilian 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Rhoda 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Augusta 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Cissy 1
Clara 1
E.F. 1
E.M.C. 1
Edith 1
Eirene 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Henry 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Jennett 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
George 16
John 13
Henry 12
Charles 8
James 8
Robert 8
Arthur 6
Frederick 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Thomas 6
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Harry 5
Albert 4
Walter 4
Sidney 3
Edwin 2
Francis 2
H. 2
Basil 1
Benjamin 1
Clement 1
Cyril 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Eustace 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frede. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Godfrey 1
Herbert 1
Hezekiah 1
Jane 1
Lancelot 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Nathan 1
Neil 1
Paul 1
Sarah 1
Silas 1
Stephen 1
W. 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Lipscomb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lipscomb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 365 people were recorded with the Lipscomb surname. That placed it at #8,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lipscomb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 350 in 2016. That gives Lipscomb a modern rank of #13,152.

What does the Lipscomb surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "Hlipa's valley" in Old English.

What does the Lipscomb map show?

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