UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name in Devon, England.
In the 1881 census there were 89 people recorded with the Liscombe surname, ranking it #21,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 86, ranked #32,570, down from #21,091 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dulverton, Brompton Regis and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Liscombe is 130 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.4%.
1881 census count
89
Ranked #21,091
Modern count
86
2016, ranked #32,570
Peak year
1891
130 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Liscombe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Liscombe surname density by area, 1911 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 | 98 | #17,383 |
| 1861 | historical | 97 | #21,503 |
| 1881 | historical | 89 | #21,091 |
| 1891 | historical | 130 | #20,173 |
| 1901 | historical | 125 | #20,061 |
| 1911 | historical | 103 | #22,328 |
| 1997 | modern | 79 | #29,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 83 | #29,638 |
| 1999 | modern | 85 | #29,578 |
| 2000 | modern | 87 | #29,377 |
| 2001 | modern | 84 | #29,508 |
| 2002 | modern | 86 | #29,771 |
| 2003 | modern | 84 | #29,978 |
| 2004 | modern | 92 | #29,197 |
| 2005 | modern | 85 | #30,219 |
| 2006 | modern | 79 | #31,263 |
| 2007 | modern | 87 | #30,666 |
| 2008 | modern | 86 | #31,114 |
| 2009 | modern | 84 | #31,842 |
| 2010 | modern | 91 | #31,497 |
| 2011 | modern | 91 | #31,442 |
| 2012 | modern | 87 | #32,180 |
| 2013 | modern | 90 | #32,146 |
| 2014 | modern | 90 | #32,309 |
| 2015 | modern | 87 | #32,514 |
| 2016 | modern | 86 | #32,570 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Dulverton, Brompton Regis, Gateshead, Somerton and St John near Swansea. 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 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Dulverton, Brompton Regis | Devon |
| 3 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 4 | Somerton | Somerset |
| 5 | St John near Swansea | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Liscombe 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 Liscombe, 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 Liscombe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Liscombe 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, Liscombe 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 Liscombe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Liscombe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Liscombe is an English locational name derived from the place called Liscombe in Buckinghamshire. It is believed to have originated in the 12th century from the Old English words "lysu" meaning "meadow" and "cumb" meaning "valley". This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived in or near the meadow valley area known as Liscombe.
The earliest known record of the surname Liscombe dates back to 1273 when a Robert de Liscombe was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. This medieval document recorded the names of landowners and their holdings across various counties in England.
In the 14th century, a William Liscombe was recorded in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, indicating the spread of the surname to other parts of England during this period.
One of the earliest known bearers of the Liscombe surname was John Liscombe, born in 1498 in Buckinghamshire. He was a prominent landowner and served as a magistrate in the county.
Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Liscombe (1585-1658), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Buckingham during the reign of King Charles I. He played a role in the English Civil War, initially siding with the Parliamentarians but later switching allegiance to the Royalists.
In the 18th century, Reverend William Liscombe (1725-1799) was a Church of England clergyman and author. He served as the rector of Radnage in Buckinghamshire and published several religious works.
A famous bearer of the Liscombe name in more recent times was the English architect and designer Clement Liscombe (1854-1923). He was known for his work on several notable buildings in London, including the prestigious Royal Automobile Club.
The surname Liscombe is also associated with the village of Liscombe in Somerset, which may have been an alternative place of origin for some families bearing this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Liscombe 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. Glamorgan leads with 19 Liscombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.43x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Glamorgan | 19 | 12.43x |
| Durham | 14 | 5.36x |
| Middlesex | 12 | 1.37x |
| Somerset | 12 | 8.49x |
| Dorset | 10 | 17.36x |
| Hampshire | 7 | 3.89x |
| Devon | 5 | 2.74x |
| Channel Islands | 2 | 7.69x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 1.16x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.67x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.47x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.58x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.45x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westoe in Durham leads with 13 Liscombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.78x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Westoe | 13 | 87.78x |
| Bridport | 10 | 840.34x |
| Portsea | 7 | 19.85x |
| Spitalfields London | 7 | 106.06x |
| St John Near Swansea | 6 | 317.46x |
| Llanvythin | 5 | 50000.00x |
| Penmark | 4 | 2857.14x |
| Somerton | 4 | 689.66x |
| St Athan | 4 | 3636.36x |
| Taunton St James | 4 | 194.17x |
| Dulverton | 3 | 731.71x |
| Ashford | 2 | 68.49x |
| Clerkenwell London | 2 | 9.65x |
| Pennycross | 2 | 1333.33x |
| St Brelade | 2 | 298.51x |
| Stoke Damerel | 2 | 15.64x |
| Teddington London | 2 | 100.50x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.36x |
| Bristol St James In | 1 | 39.53x |
| Clifton | 1 | 11.49x |
| Exton | 1 | 833.33x |
| Isleworth | 1 | 25.64x |
| Leeds | 1 | 2.04x |
| Monkwearmouth Shore | 1 | 19.61x |
| Newington | 1 | 3.08x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 7.10x |
| Sutton | 1 | 32.36x |
| Woodford St Mary | 1 | 500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Liscombe 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 Liscombe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 89 people were recorded with the Liscombe surname. That placed it at #21,091 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 86 in 2016. That gives Liscombe a modern rank of #32,570.
A locational surname derived from a place name in Devon, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Liscombe 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.