NameCensus.

UK surname

List

An occupational surname referring to a person who served as a border guard or frontier watchman.

In the 1881 census there were 504 people recorded with the List surname, ranking it #6,740 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 547, ranked #9,323, down from #6,740 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Middlesborough and Debenham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Hinckley and Bosworth and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for List is 690 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.5%.

1881 census count

504

Ranked #6,740

Modern count

547

2016, ranked #9,323

Peak year

1911

690 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • List had 504 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,740 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 547 in 2016, ranked #9,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 690 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

List surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

List surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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List 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 310 #7,434
1861 historical 289 #8,711
1881 historical 504 #6,740
1891 historical 450 #8,074
1901 historical 618 #6,904
1911 historical 690 #6,151
1997 modern 600 #8,140
1998 modern 632 #8,086
1999 modern 645 #8,007
2000 modern 639 #8,042
2001 modern 618 #8,104
2002 modern 625 #8,209
2003 modern 615 #8,169
2004 modern 609 #8,257
2005 modern 598 #8,288
2006 modern 602 #8,269
2007 modern 593 #8,433
2008 modern 597 #8,452
2009 modern 589 #8,713
2010 modern 600 #8,787
2011 modern 581 #8,908
2012 modern 560 #9,050
2013 modern 551 #9,320
2014 modern 557 #9,287
2015 modern 554 #9,252
2016 modern 547 #9,323

Geography

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Where Lists are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Middlesborough, Debenham, Monk Soham and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Hinckley and Bosworth and North Norfolk. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Middlesborough Durham
3 Debenham Suffolk
4 Monk Soham Suffolk
5 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 005 Mid Suffolk
2 Mid Suffolk 010 Mid Suffolk
3 Hinckley and Bosworth 010 Hinckley and Bosworth
4 Hinckley and Bosworth 011 Hinckley and Bosworth
5 North Norfolk 008 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with List

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for List

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, List is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

List is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of List

The surname List originated in Germany, where it is thought to have first appeared in the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old High German word "list", meaning "cunning" or "clever". It is believed to have originally been a nickname given to someone who was particularly intelligent or resourceful.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name List can be found in a document from the city of Mainz, dated 1235, which mentions a person named Henricus List. Another early record is from the town of Erfurt in 1289, which refers to a Conradus List.

During the Middle Ages, the name List began to spread beyond its original region and can be found in various historical records across Germany. For example, a Johannes List is mentioned in a document from the city of Cologne in 1367, while a Petrus List is recorded in a manuscript from Nuremberg in 1428.

As the name List became more widespread, it also began to appear in different spellings and variations, such as Lyste, Lijst, and Lyst. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the individual preferences of scribes and record-keepers.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname List was Johannes List, a German scholar and humanist who lived from around 1435 to 1499. He was a professor of philosophy and theology at the University of Leipzig and was known for his writings on logic and ethics.

Another notable person with the surname List was Friedrich List, a German economist and political philosopher who lived from 1789 to 1846. He is considered one of the founders of the German historical school of economics and is best known for his advocacy of protectionist trade policies to promote industrial development.

In the realm of art, the surname List is associated with Wilhelm List, a German painter who lived from 1864 to 1918. He was a prominent member of the Munich Secession movement and is known for his landscapes and portraiture.

Moving into the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname List was Field Marshal Wilhelm List, a German military commander who lived from 1880 to 1971. He played a significant role in World War II and was convicted of war crimes at the Nuremberg trials.

Finally, a more recent figure with the surname List is Eva List, an Austrian actress who was born in 1939. She has appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career and is known for her work in both German and English-language productions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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List families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the List 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. Suffolk leads with 141 Lists recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.50x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 141 23.50x
Middlesex 86 1.75x
Norfolk 64 8.45x
Essex 55 5.66x
Surrey 44 1.83x
Nottinghamshire 15 2.26x
Cambridgeshire 11 3.53x
Devon 10 0.98x
Kent 10 0.60x
Lancashire 8 0.14x
Staffordshire 8 0.48x
Durham 7 0.48x
Midlothian 7 1.06x
Yorkshire 7 0.14x
Dunbartonshire 6 4.53x
East Lothian 6 9.20x
Gloucestershire 6 0.62x
Warwickshire 5 0.40x
Hampshire 4 0.40x
Somerset 2 0.25x
Glamorgan 1 0.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.29x
Sussex 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 21 Lists recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.78x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 21 9.78x
Basford 15 49.02x
Saffron Walden 15 146.06x
Monk Soham 14 2058.82x
Needham 13 2407.41x
Horningtoft 12 3333.33x
Crowfield 11 1833.33x
Hackney London 11 3.98x
Rishangles 11 3666.67x
Chesterton 10 103.95x
Horley 10 248.76x
Ipswich St Mathew 9 53.54x
Debenham 8 402.01x
Handsworth 8 19.52x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 8 210.53x
Tottenham 8 10.20x
Bethnal Green London 7 3.27x
Eastdown 7 1147.54x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 2.64x
Great Yarmouth 7 11.16x
Hampstead London 7 9.12x
Ipswich St Helen 7 98.45x
Lambeth 7 1.63x
Salford 7 4.07x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 7.06x
Spitalfields London 7 18.89x
St George Bloomsbury 7 24.77x
Walberswick 7 1428.57x
Wenhaston 7 472.97x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 6.60x
Clerkenwell London 6 5.16x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 9.45x
Newport 6 355.03x
Occold 6 674.16x
Old Kilpatrick 6 38.36x
Pettaugh 6 1764.71x
Plumstead 6 10.71x
Purleigh 6 413.79x
Skinningrove 6 200.67x
Thelveton 6 2222.22x
Thorndon All Sts 6 555.56x
Twickenham 6 28.41x
Westminster St Margaret 6 25.25x
Whitton 6 566.04x
Bermondsey 5 3.41x
Edgbaston 5 12.98x
Framsden 5 375.94x
Mendlesham 5 263.16x
Mile End Old Town London 5 4.77x
Rattlesden 5 284.09x
Willesden 5 10.77x
Battersea 4 2.21x
Haddington 4 41.54x
Islington London 4 0.84x
Rickinghall Inferior 4 645.16x
Shelton 4 1666.67x
Woodbridge 4 52.15x
Carisbrooke 3 21.40x
Erith 3 18.12x
Heigham 3 7.38x
Holkham 3 329.67x
Reigate Foreign 3 11.54x
Stonham Aspall 3 245.90x
Thaxted 3 92.88x
Ashfield 2 526.32x
Barnstaple 2 12.43x
Berwick North 2 43.76x
Diss 2 30.82x
Kingston On Thames 2 3.47x
Newington 2 1.10x
Sandon 2 253.16x
Shotley 2 188.68x
Southwark St Saviour 2 7.90x
St Faith Under St Pauls 2 500.00x
St Pancras London 2 0.50x
Starston 2 232.56x
Great Givendale Cum 1 714.29x
Reigate Borough 1 18.05x
Sibton 1 120.48x
St Marylebone London 1 0.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 31
John 25
George 23
Charles 16
James 14
Alfred 12
Henry 10
Walter 10
Robert 9
Joseph 8
Arthur 7
Thomas 6
Benjamin 5
Edward 5
Frederick 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Frank 3
Horace 3
Richard 3
Christopher 2
Ernest 2
Frederic 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Percy 2
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Archibald 1
Chas. 1
Clement 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Isaac 1
Israel 1
Jas. 1
Josiah 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Phillip 1
Rd. 1
Sam. 1
Sawdoh 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

List surname: questions and answers

How common was the List surname in 1881?

In 1881, 504 people were recorded with the List surname. That placed it at #6,740 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the List surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 547 in 2016. That gives List a modern rank of #9,323.

What does the List surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who served as a border guard or frontier watchman.

What does the List map show?

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