NameCensus.

UK surname

Lipton

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of beer, from the Old English "lēap" meaning basket.

In the 1881 census there were 91 people recorded with the Lipton surname, ranking it #20,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 284, ranked #15,323, up from #20,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Dudley and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Stockton-on-Tees and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lipton is 284 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 212.1%.

1881 census count

91

Ranked #20,843

Modern count

284

2016, ranked #15,323

Peak year

2012

284 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lipton had 91 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016, ranked #15,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 110 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Lipton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lipton surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lipton 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 36 #26,838
1861 historical 95 #21,768
1881 historical 91 #20,843
1891 historical 110 #22,557
1901 historical 86 #24,508
1911 historical 106 #21,948
1997 modern 250 #15,281
1998 modern 256 #15,436
1999 modern 255 #15,599
2000 modern 281 #14,567
2001 modern 264 #14,958
2002 modern 257 #15,523
2003 modern 257 #15,341
2004 modern 256 #15,453
2005 modern 246 #15,802
2006 modern 238 #16,288
2007 modern 244 #16,186
2008 modern 246 #16,247
2009 modern 254 #16,230
2010 modern 280 #15,485
2011 modern 282 #15,233
2012 modern 284 #15,090
2013 modern 279 #15,574
2014 modern 282 #15,537
2015 modern 275 #15,707
2016 modern 284 #15,323

Geography

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Where Liptons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Dudley, Govan Combination, Manchester and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Stockton-on-Tees, Camden, Middlesbrough and Hackney. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 002 Westminster
2 Stockton-on-Tees 008 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Camden 017 Camden
4 Middlesbrough 011 Middlesbrough
5 Hackney 027 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lipton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lipton

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Lipton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Lipton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Lipton is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lipton 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

Lipton falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lipton

The surname Lipton is of English origin, deriving from the place name Lupton, which is found in several locations across England, including Yorkshire, Westmorland, and Lancashire. The name likely originated in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

Lupton itself is derived from the Old English words "luh" meaning a deep valley or ravine, and "tun" meaning a farm or enclosure. Therefore, the name Lipton originally referred to someone who lived near or worked on a farm situated in a deep valley or ravine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lipton can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it is spelled as "de Lupton." This suggests that the name was already in use by the 12th century and likely originated even earlier.

In the 13th century, the name appears in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire from 1246, spelled as "de Lupton." This further confirms the name's long-standing presence in the northern regions of England.

During the 14th century, the name is recorded in the Poll Tax Returns for Yorkshire, where it is spelled as "Luptone" in 1379. This variant spelling provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

One notable bearer of the Lipton surname was Sir Thomas Lipton, a Scottish merchant and yachtsman who lived from 1850 to 1931. He founded the Lipton tea company and was known for his attempts to win the America's Cup in yacht racing.

Another prominent figure was Seymour Lipton, an American sculptor born in 1903 and known for his abstract and geometric works. His sculptures can be found in various public collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

In the literary world, Laurence Lipton was an American poet and writer who lived from 1898 to 1976. He was part of the literary scene in New York City and is known for his works exploring urban life and the human experience.

Additionally, Mervyn Lipton was a British actor born in 1911, who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career in the mid-20th century.

Finally, Lenny Lipton was an American inventor and film producer, born in 1940, who is credited with developing the technology for modern 3D cinema and projection systems.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lipton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lipton 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. Lanarkshire leads with 17 Liptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.92x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 17 5.92x
Kent 15 4.95x
Lancashire 12 1.14x
Cheshire 9 4.59x
Derbyshire 8 5.76x
Dunbartonshire 5 20.96x
Leicestershire 5 5.08x
Middlesex 5 0.56x
Hertfordshire 4 6.54x
Essex 2 1.14x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.67x
Sussex 2 1.34x
Bedfordshire 1 2.18x
Glamorgan 1 0.65x
Shropshire 1 1.30x
Surrey 1 0.23x
Yorkshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 10 Liptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.09x.

Place Total Index
Govan 10 14.09x
Gillingham 8 128.21x
Normanton 7 598.29x
Oxton 7 630.63x
Minster In Sheppey 6 119.52x
Melton Mowbray 5 282.49x
New Kilpatrick 5 220.26x
Cheshunt 4 186.92x
Great Crosby 4 139.37x
Rusholme 4 142.35x
Shettleston 4 155.64x
Cambuslang 3 103.81x
Hackney London 2 4.02x
Standard Hill 2 714.29x
West Ham 2 5.17x
Ardwick 1 10.53x
Birkenhead 1 6.40x
Chester St Peter St 1 476.19x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 18.90x
Everton 1 2.98x
Hove 1 15.22x
Humbleton Flinton 1 833.33x
Kensington London 1 2.03x
Kirkham 1 71.94x
Lewisham 1 6.19x
Luton 1 12.56x
Much Wenlock 1 140.85x
Newington 1 3.05x
Portslade 1 109.89x
Roath 1 14.25x
Spondon 1 188.68x
St Marylebone London 1 2.11x
St Pancras London 1 1.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Mary 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Adelaide 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Burthy 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emiley 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Lizza 1
Lottie 1
Margaret 1
Marria 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 4
John 3
Alfred 2
George 2
James 2
Thomas 2
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Frank 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Milford 1
Orlando 1
Oscar 1
Richard 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Lipton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lipton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 91 people were recorded with the Lipton surname. That placed it at #20,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lipton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016. That gives Lipton a modern rank of #15,323.

What does the Lipton surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of beer, from the Old English "lēap" meaning basket.

What does the Lipton map show?

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