NameCensus.

UK surname

Lishman

A habitational surname referring to a person from a town or location called Lishman.

In the 1881 census there were 612 people recorded with the Lishman surname, ranking it #5,741 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 803, ranked #6,890, down from #5,741 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Pickhill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lishman is 817 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.2%.

1881 census count

612

Ranked #5,741

Modern count

803

2016, ranked #6,890

Peak year

2014

817 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lishman had 612 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,741 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 803 in 2016, ranked #6,890.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 787 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Lishman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lishman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lishman 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 346 #6,798
1861 historical 330 #7,721
1881 historical 612 #5,741
1891 historical 562 #6,758
1901 historical 749 #5,949
1911 historical 787 #5,536
1997 modern 777 #6,691
1998 modern 803 #6,731
1999 modern 813 #6,709
2000 modern 789 #6,850
2001 modern 789 #6,715
2002 modern 795 #6,812
2003 modern 769 #6,869
2004 modern 747 #7,040
2005 modern 727 #7,121
2006 modern 747 #7,006
2007 modern 771 #6,899
2008 modern 776 #6,925
2009 modern 792 #6,950
2010 modern 807 #6,976
2011 modern 794 #6,998
2012 modern 774 #7,050
2013 modern 800 #6,954
2014 modern 817 #6,861
2015 modern 802 #6,926
2016 modern 803 #6,890

Geography

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Where Lishmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Pickhill, Bywell St Peter, Bywell St Andrew (Stocksfield Hall), Ovingham (Ovington, Mickley, Prudhoe, Prudhoe and Newcastle St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Pickhill Yorkshire, North Riding
4 Bywell St Peter, Bywell St Andrew (Stocksfield Hall), Ovingham (Ovington, Mickley, Prudhoe, Prudhoe Northumberland
5 Newcastle St John Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 001 South Lakeland
2 South Lakeland 002 South Lakeland
3 South Lakeland 003 South Lakeland
4 County Durham 029 County Durham
5 County Durham 010 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lishman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lishman

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Lishman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lishman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Lishman is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Lishman is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Lishman

The surname Lishman is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "læce," meaning a leech or healer. The name first appeared in historical records in the 13th century, likely referring to individuals who practiced medicine or folk healing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, where a person named William Leche is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

During the medieval period, the Lishman surname was concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. The name was often associated with rural areas, where traditional healing practices were more prevalent.

In the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, a John Leche is listed, suggesting the presence of the name in the region during that era. The Lishman family also had connections to the village of Eccleshill, near Bradford, where records from the 16th century mention individuals with the surname.

One notable historical figure with the Lishman surname was Thomas Lishman (1780-1855), a English Methodist preacher and author from Yorkshire. He wrote several religious works, including "The Covenant with Jehovah" and "The Memoirs of a Methodist Preacher."

Another prominent Lishman was William Lishman (1784-1834), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He played a role in the blockade of the French coast and was commended for his bravery in action.

In the literary realm, John Lishman (1838-1903) was a Scottish poet and writer from Ayrshire. He published several collections of poetry, including "The Crookit Loch" and "Poems and Songs," which celebrated the Scottish countryside and culture.

The Lishman surname also has connections to the world of sports. Francis Lishman (1865-1942) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

Furthermore, the name Lishman has been associated with various place names, such as Lishman's Plantation in Jamaica, which was established by a Lishman family in the 18th century.

While the Lishman surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, carried by individuals who emigrated from Britain in search of new opportunities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lishman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lishman 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. Durham leads with 204 Lishmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.47x.

County Total Index
Durham 204 11.47x
Yorkshire 122 2.06x
Northumberland 112 12.59x
Westmorland 66 50.22x
Lancashire 52 0.73x
Kent 16 0.78x
Gloucestershire 12 1.02x
Middlesex 9 0.15x
Derbyshire 4 0.43x
Hampshire 3 0.24x
Cumberland 2 0.39x
Devon 2 0.16x
Dunbartonshire 2 1.24x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Glamorgan 1 0.10x
Herefordshire 1 0.41x
Hertfordshire 1 0.24x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 1.40x
West Lothian 1 1.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kendal in Westmorland leads with 34 Lishmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 141.31x.

Place Total Index
Kendal 34 141.31x
Gateshead 20 15.02x
Westgate 20 36.30x
Darlington 16 23.29x
Shildon 16 111.89x
Benfieldside 14 119.66x
Elswick 14 19.72x
Ryton Woodside 14 630.63x
Brandon Byshottles 13 58.32x
Tynemouth 13 27.28x
Leeds 12 3.59x
Winchcomb 12 206.19x
Nether Hallam 11 13.72x
Hexham 10 72.62x
Houghton Le Spring 10 81.30x
Guisbrough Tocketts 9 1232.88x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 11.68x
Pickhill With Roxby 9 1551.72x
Wylam 9 459.18x
Dalton In Furness 8 29.21x
Deptford St Paul 8 5.08x
Middlesbrough 8 10.37x
Ovingham Whittle Spital 8 592.59x
Urpeth 8 230.55x
Corbridge 7 214.72x
Manningham 7 9.59x
Newcastle On Tyne St 7 15.18x
Wingate 7 57.38x
Great Musgrave 6 1621.62x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 6 189.87x
Ryton 6 96.00x
Sedburgh 6 242.92x
Ulverston 6 29.03x
Upper Holker 6 359.28x
York St Margaret 6 163.49x
Cartmel Fell 5 819.67x
Eltringham 5 526.32x
Longton 5 167.79x
Newbottle 5 51.49x
Oldham 5 2.18x
Pelton 5 59.10x
Sinnington 5 781.25x
St Giles 5 45.05x
Toxteth Park 5 2.08x
Undermilbeck 5 115.47x
Witherslack 5 446.43x
Aismunderby Cum 4 239.52x
Auckland St Andrew 4 85.11x
Danby Wiske 4 677.97x
Durham St Nicholas 4 91.53x
Fockerby 4 2352.94x
Helmsley 4 125.79x
Holmside 4 91.32x
Ingerthorpe 4 4000.00x
Jesmond 4 31.95x
Litchurch 4 10.62x
Potto 4 930.23x
Prudhoe 4 64.62x
Spitalfields London 4 8.89x
Stockton On Tees 4 4.66x
Stranton 4 6.68x
Tanfield 4 18.91x
Washington 4 53.62x
Witton Le Wear 4 79.21x
Wolviston 4 322.58x
Bishop Auckland 3 12.57x
Chollerton 3 120.00x
Crawcrook 3 326.09x
Falsgrave 3 34.36x
Little Eppleton 3 3750.00x
North Cowton 3 517.24x
Portsea 3 1.25x
Preston Patrick 3 270.27x
Sunderland 3 9.55x
Topcliffe 3 238.10x
Walworth 3 810.81x
West Derby 3 1.45x
Wortley In Bramley 3 6.39x
Bethnal Green London 2 0.77x
Mickley 2 71.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 66
William 54
Thomas 41
George 20
James 17
Richard 10
Joseph 9
Robert 9
Matthew 7
Alfred 6
Hugh 6
Frederick 5
Thos. 4
Tom 4
Arthur 3
Christopher 3
David 3
Edward 3
Francis 3
Wm. 3
Fred 2
Henry 2
Isaac 2
Miles 2
Ralph 2
A.J. 1
Albert 1
Archibald 1
Bailey 1
Benjamin 1
Birket 1
Charles 1
Dale 1
Frank 1
Hockworth 1
Jamieson 1
Laurence 1
Leopold 1
Margaret 1
Norman 1
Philip 1
Robinson 1
Rowland 1
Sarah 1
Tobias 1
Walker 1
Walter 1
Wm.C. 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Lishman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lishman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 612 people were recorded with the Lishman surname. That placed it at #5,741 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lishman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 803 in 2016. That gives Lishman a modern rank of #6,890.

What does the Lishman surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to a person from a town or location called Lishman.

What does the Lishman map show?

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