NameCensus.

UK surname

Lipscombe

A locational surname derived from a place name in Devon, England.

In the 1881 census there were 799 people recorded with the Lipscombe surname, ranking it #4,661 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,238, ranked #4,818, down from #4,661 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Staines. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Spelthorne, Granton and Royston Mains and Eastleigh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lipscombe is 1,396 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.9%.

1881 census count

799

Ranked #4,661

Modern count

1,238

2016, ranked #4,818

Peak year

1998

1,396 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lipscombe had 799 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,661 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,238 in 2016, ranked #4,818.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,096 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lipscombe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lipscombe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lipscombe 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 295 #7,737
1861 historical 426 #6,032
1881 historical 799 #4,661
1891 historical 978 #4,232
1901 historical 1,077 #4,485
1911 historical 1,096 #4,233
1997 modern 1,334 #4,312
1998 modern 1,396 #4,291
1999 modern 1,379 #4,357
2000 modern 1,351 #4,424
2001 modern 1,297 #4,495
2002 modern 1,341 #4,463
2003 modern 1,305 #4,472
2004 modern 1,278 #4,553
2005 modern 1,251 #4,602
2006 modern 1,257 #4,578
2007 modern 1,273 #4,563
2008 modern 1,258 #4,650
2009 modern 1,283 #4,668
2010 modern 1,297 #4,712
2011 modern 1,270 #4,749
2012 modern 1,244 #4,765
2013 modern 1,242 #4,845
2014 modern 1,260 #4,821
2015 modern 1,249 #4,808
2016 modern 1,238 #4,818

Geography

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Where Lipscombes are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Spelthorne, Granton and Royston Mains, Eastleigh, Teignbridge and Monmouthshire. 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 Staines Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Spelthorne 013 Spelthorne
2 Granton and Royston Mains City of Edinburgh
3 Eastleigh 005 Eastleigh
4 Teignbridge 005 Teignbridge
5 Monmouthshire 003 Monmouthshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lipscombe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lipscombe

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

Lipscombe is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Lipscombe

The surname Lipscombe originated in England during the late medieval period, likely in the 11th or 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "lipa" meaning "lip" and "cumb" meaning "valley" or "hollow." The name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a valley with a distinctive lip-shaped ridge or outcrop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Rotuli Hundredorum, a record of landholders in England compiled in 1273. Here, the name appears as "Lypescumbe." This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

The Lipscombe surname is strongly associated with the county of Dorset in southwest England, where many early bearers of the name were concentrated. In the 13th century, a John de Lypescumbe was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Dorset, suggesting the name's long-standing presence in the region.

During the 14th century, the Lipscombe family gained prominence in the nearby county of Somerset. Records from this period mention a William Lypescombe, who served as a member of parliament for Somerset in 1332.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in the will of John Lypescombe, a wealthy landowner from the village of Broadwindsor in Dorset. His will, dated 1547, provides insights into the family's holdings and social standing during the Tudor era.

Notable individuals with the Lipscombe surname include:

1. Thomas Lipscombe (1772-1843), an English clergyman and author known for his works on the history of Buckinghamshire. 2. George Lipscombe (1833-1917), a British architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas. 3. William Lipscombe (1839-1913), a British artist and illustrator renowned for his watercolor paintings of landscapes and architectural subjects. 4. Edith Lipscombe (1885-1972), a British actress and theater director who played a significant role in the development of amateur theater in the early 20th century. 5. Peter Lipscombe (born 1946), a British politician and member of parliament who represented the constituency of Wellingborough from 1979 to 1997.

While the Lipscombe surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, when it emerged as a locational surname reflecting the distinctive geography of the areas where early bearers of the name resided.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lipscombe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lipscombe 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 182 Lipscombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.32x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 182 2.32x
Surrey 123 3.22x
Hampshire 92 5.72x
Sussex 91 6.88x
Berkshire 72 12.23x
Devon 51 3.12x
Kent 41 1.53x
Essex 38 2.45x
Buckinghamshire 19 4.01x
Yorkshire 17 0.22x
Glamorgan 16 1.17x
Warwickshire 10 0.51x
Durham 8 0.34x
Monmouthshire 7 1.23x
Derbyshire 5 0.41x
Dorset 5 0.97x
Channel Islands 4 1.72x
Worcestershire 4 0.39x
Hertfordshire 3 0.55x
Norfolk 3 0.25x
Lancashire 2 0.02x
Oxfordshire 2 0.41x
Suffolk 2 0.21x
Ayrshire 1 0.17x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Lincolnshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 1.07x
Somerset 1 0.08x
Wiltshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Harmondsworth in Middlesex leads with 28 Lipscombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 574.95x.

Place Total Index
Harmondsworth 28 574.95x
Camberwell 24 4.79x
West Ham 23 6.73x
Hackney London 21 4.78x
Kensington London 21 4.82x
Horsham 20 77.85x
Droxford 19 309.95x
Worplesdon 19 412.15x
Portsea 18 5.71x
Brighton 17 6.37x
Chelsea London 17 7.19x
Lambeth 17 2.49x
Newbury 16 84.84x
Plumpton 16 1280.00x
Tormoham 16 23.16x
St Pancras London 15 2.38x
Warnham 13 454.55x
Rudgwick 12 397.35x
St Marylebone London 11 2.63x
Baughurst 10 763.36x
Birmingham 10 1.52x
Dorking 10 38.97x
Havant 10 122.85x
Deptford St Paul 9 4.36x
Halling 9 256.41x
Mattingley 9 656.93x
Wargrave 9 177.87x
Bray 8 46.24x
East Budleigh 8 104.03x
Exeter St Sidwell 8 21.40x
Harrow On The Hill 8 51.05x
Reading St Giles 8 13.85x
Stockton On Tees 8 7.11x
Wycombe 8 22.63x
Exeter St Thomas The 7 42.07x
Littlebury 7 327.10x
Stoke 7 38.82x
Wales 7 114.01x
Cardiff St John 6 13.45x
Chertsey 6 24.30x
Clewer 6 24.88x
Cumnor 6 221.40x
Ditchling 6 166.67x
Islington London 6 0.79x
Roath 6 9.67x
Tadley 6 218.98x
Walthamstow 6 10.77x
Wath On Dearne 6 38.68x
Westminster St James 6 7.44x
Harlington 5 121.07x
Mile End Old Town London 5 3.00x
Ryde 5 14.48x
Silverton 5 147.06x
South Stoneham 5 14.34x
St George Hanover Square 5 3.62x
St Woollos 5 7.90x
Sutton Courtney 5 205.76x
Wimbledon 5 11.65x
Wraysbury 5 282.49x
Chobham 4 59.26x
Croydon 4 1.89x
Eton 4 37.21x
Lewisham 4 2.80x
Merthyr Tydfil 4 3.05x
Putney 4 11.19x
St Helier 4 5.29x
Swanscombe 4 33.28x
Teddington London 4 22.51x
Weymouth 4 41.03x
Bermondsey 3 1.28x
Clayton 3 60.24x
Kingston On Thames 3 3.27x
Litchurch 3 6.07x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 2.39x
St Anne Soho London 3 6.70x
St Botolph Aldgate London 3 18.58x
Staines 3 24.15x
Streatham 3 5.16x
Tottenham 3 2.40x
Wytham 3 566.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 57
John 34
George 32
Henry 30
James 23
Charles 22
Alfred 15
Arthur 13
Harry 13
Thomas 9
Robert 8
Walter 8
Frederick 7
Richard 7
David 6
Edward 6
Matthew 6
Albert 5
Ernest 4
Geo. 4
Joseph 4
Herbert 3
Mark 3
Owen 3
Robt. 3
Samuel 3
Willm. 3
Wm. 3
Fred 2
Gilbert 2
Joshua 2
Louis 2
Peter 2
Sidney 2
Amos 1
Benjamin 1
Charlie 1
Christopher 1
Cristopher 1
Daniel 1
Edmond 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Rogers 1
Harvey 1
Jas. 1
Leonard 1
Lionel 1
Percival 1
R. 1

FAQ

Lipscombe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lipscombe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 799 people were recorded with the Lipscombe surname. That placed it at #4,661 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lipscombe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,238 in 2016. That gives Lipscombe a modern rank of #4,818.

What does the Lipscombe surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Devon, England.

What does the Lipscombe map show?

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