NameCensus.

UK surname

Lisle

A territorial surname derived from the French place name L'Isle.

In the 1881 census there were 750 people recorded with the Lisle surname, ranking it #4,909 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,273, ranked #4,705, up from #4,909 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, North Tyneside and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lisle is 1,348 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.7%.

1881 census count

750

Ranked #4,909

Modern count

1,273

2016, ranked #4,705

Peak year

2010

1,348 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lisle had 750 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,909 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,273 in 2016, ranked #4,705.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,168 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Lisle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lisle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lisle 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 463 #5,359
1861 historical 504 #5,194
1881 historical 750 #4,909
1891 historical 871 #4,716
1901 historical 987 #4,812
1911 historical 1,168 #3,999
1997 modern 1,237 #4,590
1998 modern 1,258 #4,697
1999 modern 1,271 #4,694
2000 modern 1,286 #4,624
2001 modern 1,260 #4,617
2002 modern 1,278 #4,647
2003 modern 1,238 #4,683
2004 modern 1,239 #4,675
2005 modern 1,212 #4,724
2006 modern 1,218 #4,722
2007 modern 1,219 #4,748
2008 modern 1,222 #4,774
2009 modern 1,283 #4,668
2010 modern 1,348 #4,544
2011 modern 1,323 #4,569
2012 modern 1,289 #4,608
2013 modern 1,289 #4,687
2014 modern 1,283 #4,734
2015 modern 1,271 #4,731
2016 modern 1,273 #4,705

Geography

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Where Lisles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Aberdare. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, North Tyneside 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Aberdare Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 023 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 013 Northumberland
3 North Tyneside 023 North Tyneside
4 Northumberland 012 Northumberland
5 County Durham 010 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lisle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lisle

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Lisle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lisle household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lisle is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lisle is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lisle falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lisle

The surname LISLE originated in Normandy, France, and is thought to have derived from the Old French word "l'isle," meaning "the island." The name likely referred to someone who lived on an island or near a river island.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LISLE can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Insula," the Latin equivalent of "of the island." This suggests that the name was already well-established in Normandy before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the LISLE surname spread across Europe, with various spellings such as Lisle, Lylle, and Lile emerging in different regions. One notable bearer of the name was Sir John de Lisle (c. 1295-1337), an English knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence and the Hundred Years' War.

In the 15th century, the LISLE name gained prominence in England with the rise of the Lisle family of Lincolnshire. This family produced several notable figures, including John Lisle (c. 1610-1664), a prominent English lawyer and regicide who was one of the judges at the trial of King Charles I.

Another significant bearer of the LISLE surname was Arthur Lisle (1615-1685), an English soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. He was also the Governor of Faversham and the Lieutenant of Dover Castle.

In the 18th century, the LISLE name gained recognition in France with the birth of Rouget de Lisle (1760-1836), a French military officer and composer best known for writing the lyrics to "La Marseillaise," the national anthem of France.

Other notable individuals with the LISLE surname include Sir George de Lisle (c. 1370-1428), an English soldier and Member of Parliament during the Hundred Years' War, and Sir John Lisle (c. 1498-1556), an English courtier and diplomat who served as the Governor of Calais.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lisle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lisle 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. Northumberland leads with 226 Lisles recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.79x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 226 20.79x
Yorkshire 99 1.37x
Durham 92 4.23x
Lancashire 40 0.46x
Middlesex 37 0.51x
Devon 33 2.17x
Surrey 30 0.84x
Glamorgan 29 2.28x
Hampshire 29 1.94x
Warwickshire 26 1.41x
Staffordshire 18 0.73x
Berwickshire 17 19.21x
Cheshire 14 0.87x
Kent 11 0.44x
Monmouthshire 9 1.70x
Essex 6 0.42x
Midlothian 6 0.61x
Cumberland 5 0.79x
Lanarkshire 5 0.21x
Cornwall 3 0.36x
Gloucestershire 3 0.21x
Hertfordshire 2 0.40x
Sussex 2 0.16x
Bedfordshire 1 0.26x
Lincolnshire 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.10x
Perthshire 1 0.30x
Somerset 1 0.09x
Suffolk 1 0.11x
Westmorland 1 0.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cullercoates in Northumberland leads with 45 Lisles recorded in 1881 and an index of 1315.79x.

Place Total Index
Cullercoates 45 1315.79x
Elswick 29 33.43x
Southampton St Mary 23 24.42x
Birmingham 21 3.42x
Oldham 21 7.50x
Bishopwearmouth 19 10.18x
Lambeth 19 2.98x
Westgate 17 25.25x
Wolverhampton 16 8.44x
Aberdare 15 17.18x
Huddersfield 15 14.22x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 15 23.10x
Hexham 14 83.23x
Ackworth 12 215.83x
Heworth 11 25.68x
Holsworthy 11 256.41x
Bedlington 10 27.55x
Bow London 10 10.75x
Cowpen 10 39.95x
Aberystruth 9 19.33x
Benfieldside 9 62.94x
Coldstream 9 140.63x
Exeter St Thomas The 9 58.06x
Horncliffe 9 1034.48x
Monkwearmouth Shore 9 21.21x
Billingham 8 213.90x
Chirton 8 32.52x
Newington 8 2.96x
Penarth 8 64.36x
Wombwell 8 37.90x
Berwick Upon Tweed 7 30.40x
Byker 7 13.03x
Chadderton 7 16.52x
Ingleby Barwick 7 2121.21x
Westoe 7 5.68x
Woodside 7 2800.00x
York St Mary 7 23.34x
Castleford 6 22.75x
Edinburgh St Stephens 6 31.14x
Leemailing 6 1276.60x
Sunderland 6 15.63x
Upsall In Thirsk 6 1935.48x
Usworth 6 51.99x
Aston 5 0.99x
Audlem 5 131.58x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 7.66x
Bickerton 5 1428.57x
Bromley London 5 3.11x
Coldingham 5 62.89x
Gateshead 5 3.07x
Lockwood 5 19.19x
Mile End Old Town London 5 3.22x
Nantwich 5 26.68x
Northowram 5 9.85x
Stoke Damerel 5 4.70x
Whalton 5 609.76x
Conisbrough 4 58.91x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.08x
Dukinfield 4 5.37x
Exeter St Edmund 4 121.95x
Govan 4 0.68x
Holywell 4 71.56x
Kirkleatham 4 40.90x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 4 27.99x
Tonbridge 4 4.45x
Wakefield 4 7.20x
Ystradyfodwg 4 3.58x
Heaton 3 83.10x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 3.19x
Jesmond 3 19.61x
Kilkhampton 3 122.95x
Ratchwood 3 15000.00x
South Stoneham 3 9.23x
West Ham 3 0.94x
Whitley 3 85.47x
Brighton 2 0.80x
Cheslyn Hay 2 44.44x
Croydon 2 1.01x
Framwellgate 2 15.53x
St Pancras London 2 0.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 49
Elizabeth 33
Jane 23
Sarah 22
Annie 19
Alice 15
Margaret 14
Ann 13
Ellen 11
Isabella 10
Catherine 7
Emma 7
Hannah 7
Dorothy 6
Emily 5
Martha 5
Agnes 4
Eleanor 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Charlotte 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Susan 3
Barbara 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Elizth. 2
Harriot 2
Henrietta 2
Jessie 2
Lois 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Margt. 2
Phoebe 2
Rachel 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Anne 1
Cathn. 1
Cathrine 1
Elizth.R. 1
Katie 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 60
John 58
George 32
Thomas 23
James 21
Robert 21
Joseph 12
Henry 11
Richard 11
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Alfred 5
Andrew 5
Charles 5
Edwin 5
Harry 5
Ralph 5
Fred 4
Frederick 4
Stephen 4
Adam 3
Albert 3
David 3
Matthew 3
Wm. 3
Aaron 2
Alexander 2
Claud 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
J. 2
Jobson 2
Mark 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Allan 1
Boaz 1
Chas. 1
Ephram 1
Ernest 1
Farrow 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Jasper 1
Jonah 1
Lowdy 1
Nicholas 1
Wm.Jno. 1

FAQ

Lisle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lisle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 750 people were recorded with the Lisle surname. That placed it at #4,909 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lisle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,273 in 2016. That gives Lisle a modern rank of #4,705.

What does the Lisle surname mean?

A territorial surname derived from the French place name L'Isle.

What does the Lisle map show?

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