NameCensus.

UK surname

Lisk

A Slovakian habitational surname derived from the word "líška", meaning "fox", likely referring to someone living near foxes.

In the 1881 census there were 110 people recorded with the Lisk surname, ranking it #18,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 192, ranked #20,118, down from #18,695 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St George in the East and Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea, Mendip and Isle of Anglesey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lisk is 232 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.5%.

1881 census count

110

Ranked #18,695

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

2002

232 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lisk had 110 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,695 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 161 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lisk surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lisk surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Lisk 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 79 #19,712
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 110 #18,695
1891 historical 113 #22,162
1901 historical 154 #17,775
1911 historical 161 #17,072
1997 modern 199 #17,668
1998 modern 206 #17,796
1999 modern 202 #18,127
2000 modern 219 #17,195
2001 modern 219 #16,967
2002 modern 232 #16,637
2003 modern 218 #17,131
2004 modern 223 #16,965
2005 modern 217 #17,217
2006 modern 207 #17,892
2007 modern 203 #18,303
2008 modern 201 #18,584
2009 modern 207 #18,600
2010 modern 220 #18,265
2011 modern 210 #18,677
2012 modern 196 #19,463
2013 modern 202 #19,389
2014 modern 200 #19,713
2015 modern 194 #19,994
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

Back to top

Where Lisks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St George in the East, Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street, Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swansea, Mendip, Isle of Anglesey, Croydon and Brent. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 St George in the East London (East Districts)
3 Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street Somerset
4 Llandaff (incl. Canton), Leckwith Glamorganshire
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swansea 007 Swansea
2 Mendip 014 Mendip
3 Isle of Anglesey 001 Isle of Anglesey
4 Croydon 019 Croydon
5 Brent 033 Brent

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Lisk

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Lisk

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lisk is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lisk 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

Lisk falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lisk is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lisk

The surname LISK is believed to have originated in Poland during the Middle Ages, derived from the Old Polish word "liska," which means "fox." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname, perhaps referring to a person with fox-like characteristics or someone who lived near a den of foxes.

The earliest recorded instances of the LISK surname can be traced back to the 15th century in various Polish records and documents. One notable example is Jan Lisk, a merchant who lived in the city of Krakow in the late 1400s and was mentioned in several trade records from that time.

As the name spread across Poland, it took on various spellings and regional variations, such as Lisek, Liszka, and Liszek. Some of these variations may have been influenced by local dialects or the adoption of the surname by different families.

In the 17th century, the LISK surname gained prominence when a family of that name owned a significant estate in the village of Liskowo, located in what is now central Poland. This may have contributed to the name's association with that particular region and its subsequent spread.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the LISK surname. One example is Józef Lisk (1822-1892), a Polish painter and art teacher who specialized in portraiture and religious themes. Another is Kazimierz Lisk (1876-1946), a Polish military officer who served in both World Wars and was awarded the Virtuti Militari, Poland's highest military decoration.

Other noteworthy individuals include Jan Lisk (1890-1957), a Polish architect and urban planner responsible for designing several notable buildings in Warsaw during the city's reconstruction after World War II, and Marianna Lisk (1908-1995), a Polish writer and poet known for her works exploring themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

While the surname LISK may not be among the most common in Poland today, it has a rich history that can be traced back several centuries, with connections to various regions, professions, and notable individuals throughout the ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Lisk families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lisk 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. Glamorgan leads with 30 Lisks recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.06x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 30 16.06x
Middlesex 30 2.80x
Somerset 22 12.74x
Lanarkshire 9 2.59x
Devon 5 2.24x
Lancashire 5 0.39x
Yorkshire 3 0.28x
Midlothian 2 1.39x
Durham 1 0.31x
Essex 1 0.47x
Renfrewshire 1 1.20x
Selkirkshire 1 10.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glastonbury in Somerset leads with 21 Lisks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1489.36x.

Place Total Index
Glastonbury 21 1489.36x
Llandaff 14 225.08x
St Pancras London 12 13.89x
St George In East London 9 89.20x
Barony 8 9.11x
Cardiff St Mary 8 77.75x
Swansea Town 6 39.16x
Liverpool 5 6.47x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 29.05x
St Andrew Holborn London 5 107.53x
Kensington London 3 5.03x
Linthorpe 3 47.24x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 11.14x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.73x
Glasgow 1 1.62x
Hackney London 1 1.66x
Leith South 1 500.00x
Selkirk 1 36.63x
Urpeth 1 161.29x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 71.94x
West Greenock 1 6.70x
West Ham 1 2.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 6
Elizabeth 6
Mary 6
Margaret 3
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
C. 1
Caroline 1
Cicel 1
Daniel 1
Ellen 1
Harriet 1
Infant 1
Jessie 1
Lucy 1
M.E. 1
Maria 1
Maude 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 8
Charles 6
James 5
Albert 4
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
George 2
Joseph 2
David 1
Henry 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Reuben 1
Stephen 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Lisk surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lisk surname in 1881?

In 1881, 110 people were recorded with the Lisk surname. That placed it at #18,695 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lisk surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Lisk a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Lisk surname mean?

A Slovakian habitational surname derived from the word "líška", meaning "fox", likely referring to someone living near foxes.

What does the Lisk map show?

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