NameCensus.

UK surname

Lisa

A feminine surname likely derived from the biblical Elisabeth.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barking and Dagenham and Tower Hamlets.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lisa is 142 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

2016

142 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Lisa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lisa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Lisa 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
1861 historical 7 #33,053
1997 modern 20 #35,809
1998 modern 18 #36,135
1999 modern 20 #35,923
2000 modern 16 #36,316
2001 modern 17 #36,053
2002 modern 24 #35,520
2003 modern 24 #35,552
2004 modern 30 #35,186
2005 modern 34 #35,056
2006 modern 46 #34,415
2007 modern 46 #34,634
2008 modern 51 #34,439
2009 modern 50 #34,663
2010 modern 52 #34,726
2011 modern 59 #34,265
2012 modern 92 #31,528
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 108 #29,658
2015 modern 118 #27,833
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

Back to top

Where Lisas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barking and Dagenham and Tower Hamlets. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barking and Dagenham 021 Barking and Dagenham
2 Tower Hamlets 021 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Lisa

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Lisa

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Lisa surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Lisa 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Lisa is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Lisa 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

Lisa falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lisa 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Lisa

The surname LISA is believed to have originated in Italy during the Middle Ages, possibly derived from the Late Latin word "licia," meaning "thread" or "string." It is thought to have been an occupational surname initially given to those involved in the textile industry, such as weavers or spinners.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname LISA can be found in the city of Pisa, Italy, dating back to the 13th century. The name was likely influenced by the name of the city itself, which was derived from the ancient Greek word "Pisae."

LISA is also closely linked to the Italian place name "Lesa," a small town located on the western shores of Lake Maggiore in the Piedmont region. This connection suggests that the surname may have originated in or around this area before spreading to other parts of Italy.

In the 14th century, records indicate that a prominent family bearing the name LISA existed in the city of Florence. Notably, a member of this family, Giovanni di Berto LISA (c. 1370-1456), was a renowned architect and sculptor who contributed to the construction of several notable buildings in Florence, including the Basilica of Santa Croce.

Another notable figure with the surname LISA was Girolamo LISA (c. 1530-1593), an Italian Renaissance painter from the city of Treviso in the Veneto region. He is best known for his religious artworks and frescoes adorning churches throughout northern Italy.

During the 16th century, the LISA surname also appeared in the records of the Republic of Venice, where a family of merchants and traders bearing this name was influential in the city's economy and international trade networks.

Other individuals of historical significance with the surname LISA include Giuseppe LISA (1808-1867), an Italian physician and politician who served as a member of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and Carlo LISA (1872-1945), an Italian sculptor and painter known for his monumental works and participation in the Futurist movement.

Throughout its history, the surname LISA has maintained a strong presence in various regions of Italy, reflecting the country's rich cultural heritage and the diverse origins of its family names.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Lisa families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lisa 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. Channel Islands leads with 1 Lisas recorded in 1881 and an index of 344.83x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 1 344.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helier in Channel Islands leads with 1 Lisas recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.

Place Total Index
St Helier 1 1111.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Virginie 1

FAQ

Lisa surname: questions and answers

How common is the Lisa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Lisa a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Lisa surname mean?

A feminine surname likely derived from the biblical Elisabeth.

What does the Lisa map show?

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