NameCensus.

UK surname

Lister

An occupational surname referring to a dyer or one who dyes fabric.

In the 1881 census there were 8,548 people recorded with the Lister surname, ranking it #494 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,573, ranked #669, down from #494 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Batley and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Allerdale and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lister is 10,010 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.0%.

1881 census count

8,548

Ranked #494

Modern count

9,573

2016, ranked #669

Peak year

1999

10,010 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lister had 8,548 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #494 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,573 in 2016, ranked #669.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9,999 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lister surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lister surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lister 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 5,482 #503
1861 historical 5,325 #525
1881 historical 8,548 #494
1891 historical 8,745 #504
1901 historical 9,999 #522
1911 historical 9,596 #513
1997 modern 9,704 #640
1998 modern 9,942 #651
1999 modern 10,010 #653
2000 modern 9,963 #651
2001 modern 9,742 #651
2002 modern 9,918 #656
2003 modern 9,573 #666
2004 modern 9,536 #668
2005 modern 9,345 #671
2006 modern 9,358 #665
2007 modern 9,457 #663
2008 modern 9,485 #667
2009 modern 9,596 #674
2010 modern 9,814 #671
2011 modern 9,698 #671
2012 modern 9,607 #665
2013 modern 9,749 #667
2014 modern 9,813 #664
2015 modern 9,691 #666
2016 modern 9,573 #669

Geography

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Where Listers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Batley, Bradford, Sheffield and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Allerdale, East Riding of Yorkshire and Craven. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 028 Kirklees
2 Allerdale 004 Allerdale
3 Kirklees 002 Kirklees
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 042 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Craven 001 Craven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lister

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lister

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lister 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

Lister is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Lister

The surname Lister is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "lister," meaning a dyer or one who colored cloth. The name is believed to have originated in the Northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where the textile industry flourished.

In the early 13th century, the name Lister appeared in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, indicating the presence of individuals involved in the dyeing trade. One of the earliest recorded instances is from 1219, mentioning a certain Richard le Lister.

The Domesday Book, the great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not explicitly mention the surname Lister. However, it does reference place names like Lister in Yorkshire, which may have contributed to the surname's development.

During the 14th century, the surname Lister began to solidify, with mentions in various historical documents. One notable figure was John Lister (c.1328-1399), a prominent merchant and wool trader from Wakefield, Yorkshire. His successful business dealings contributed to the family's wealth and standing.

In the 16th century, the Lister family gained prominence with the birth of Thomas Lister (1512-1587), a renowned English physician and author. He is best known for his treatise "De Teredine Navali" (On the Ship-Worm), published in 1597, which discussed the wood-boring mollusks that damaged wooden ships.

Another notable figure was Martin Lister (1638-1712), a renowned naturalist and physician. Born in Radcliffe, Lancashire, he made significant contributions to the study of mollusks, fossils, and natural history. His works, such as "Historiae Animalium Angliae" (History of English Animals), were highly influential in the field of taxonomy.

In the 18th century, Joseph Lister (1720-1790), a prominent Quaker and naturalist, gained recognition for his observations and writings on various subjects, including botany, zoology, and geology. He is remembered for his work "Conchylionum Bivalvium" (On Bivalve Shells), published in 1685.

Joseph Lister (1827-1912), a celebrated English surgeon, pioneered antiseptic methods in medical procedures, significantly reducing post-operative infections. His contributions to the field of surgery earned him worldwide recognition and the title of "Father of Modern Surgery."

The surname Lister continues to be prevalent in various parts of the world, with notable individuals bearing this name across different fields, such as science, literature, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lister families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lister 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. Yorkshire leads with 4,537 Listers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.50x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 4,537 5.50x
Lancashire 748 0.76x
Durham 442 1.78x
Fife 291 5.90x
Middlesex 270 0.32x
Cumberland 242 3.37x
Lincolnshire 211 1.58x
Norfolk 165 1.29x
Surrey 115 0.28x
Suffolk 97 0.96x
Derbyshire 93 0.71x
Cambridgeshire 90 1.71x
Staffordshire 87 0.31x
Cheshire 84 0.46x
Northumberland 77 0.62x
Warwickshire 75 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 73 0.65x
Shropshire 68 0.95x
Midlothian 61 0.55x
Essex 58 0.35x
Kent 55 0.19x
Lanarkshire 54 0.20x
Perthshire 46 1.23x
Angus 44 0.57x
Sussex 41 0.29x
Gloucestershire 33 0.20x
Devon 30 0.17x
Hampshire 30 0.18x
Leicestershire 28 0.30x
Monmouthshire 27 0.45x
Dunbartonshire 18 0.80x
Westmorland 18 0.98x
Dumfriesshire 17 0.92x
Somerset 16 0.12x
Huntingdonshire 15 0.91x
Kinross-shire 15 7.12x
Worcestershire 15 0.14x
Northamptonshire 14 0.18x
Dorset 13 0.24x
Ayrshire 12 0.19x
Glamorgan 12 0.08x
Renfrewshire 10 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 9 0.18x
Buteshire 9 1.78x
West Lothian 8 0.64x
Wiltshire 8 0.11x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.09x
Bedfordshire 7 0.16x
Hertfordshire 6 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.23x
Selkirkshire 5 0.66x
Stirlingshire 5 0.16x
Flintshire 4 0.18x
Oxfordshire 4 0.08x
Roxburghshire 4 0.27x
Royal Navy 4 0.40x
East Lothian 2 0.18x
Berkshire 1 0.02x
Inverness-shire 1 0.04x
Wigtownshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 323 Listers recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.93x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 323 6.93x
Horton In Bradford 164 12.72x
Bradford 134 6.71x
Halifax 125 10.32x
Hipperholme Cum 123 33.92x
Batley 122 15.55x
Bridekirk 110 192.04x
Dewsbury 106 12.52x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 93 12.10x
Sheffield 82 3.12x
Liversedge 77 20.96x
Hunslet 72 5.59x
Mirfield 70 15.45x
Heckmondwike 66 24.86x
Holbeck 64 11.70x
Keighley 63 7.16x
Bowling 62 7.58x
Bishopwearmouth 61 2.87x
Armley 60 16.48x
Wortley In Bramley 59 9.03x
Dysart 54 16.26x
Ilkley 54 40.04x
Gateshead 52 2.80x
Addingham 50 81.08x
Ovenden 49 13.34x
Soothill 49 16.44x
Huddersfield 48 3.99x
Holy Trinity 47 2.37x
Wakefield 47 7.42x
Bingley 45 8.56x
Blackburn 45 1.71x
Habergham Eaves 45 4.98x
Idle 44 11.50x
Brightside Bierlow 43 2.66x
Gomersal 43 11.16x
Great Grimsby 43 5.09x
Clayton 42 20.79x
North Bierley 42 9.43x
Manchester 41 0.92x
Birmingham 40 0.57x
Ecclesall Bierlow 39 2.32x
Hulme 39 1.89x
Oldham 38 1.19x
Chorley 37 6.67x
Bramley In Bramley 36 11.39x
Camberwell 36 0.68x
Churwell 36 63.97x
Stainland Cum Old 34 24.07x
Skipton 33 12.71x
Ashton Under Lyne 32 1.48x
Doncaster 32 5.31x
Elland Cum Greetland 32 8.61x
Headingley Cum Burley 32 6.02x
Middlesbrough 32 2.98x
Sculcoates 31 2.37x
Markinch 30 17.92x
Dukinfield 29 3.41x
Skircoat 29 8.91x
Wolverhampton 29 1.34x
Hitcham 28 109.50x
Thorne 28 27.35x
Chorlton On Medlock 27 1.72x
Nether Hallam 27 2.42x
Northowram 27 4.67x
Thornley 27 30.11x
Calverley Cum Farsley 26 11.09x
Broseley 25 19.55x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 25 0.56x
Islington London 25 0.31x
Manningham 25 2.46x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 25 8.48x
Toxteth Park 25 0.75x
Govan 24 0.36x
Kimberworth 24 5.24x
Scoonie 24 22.48x
Yeadon 24 12.88x
York St Mary 24 7.02x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 23 7.67x
Lambeth 23 0.32x
Wath On Dearne 23 13.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 588
Sarah 310
Elizabeth 277
Ann 191
Jane 182
Hannah 133
Emma 131
Annie 128
Martha 114
Margaret 103
Alice 97
Ellen 90
Eliza 81
Harriet 73
Emily 63
Ada 59
Isabella 49
Clara 45
Edith 45
Lucy 43
Fanny 42
Maria 40
Frances 39
Charlotte 38
Florence 36
Louisa 34
Catherine 29
Eleanor 27
Agnes 25
Anne 22
Kate 22
Susannah 22
Ruth 21
Susan 20
Caroline 19
Esther 19
Elizth. 18
Amelia 17
Grace 16
Rachel 16
Betty 15
Nancy 15
Rebecca 15
Sophia 15
Maud 14
Amy 13
Ethel 12
Gertrude 12
Laura 12
Rose 12

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 550
William 399
George 288
Thomas 261
James 242
Joseph 205
Henry 129
Charles 127
Robert 95
Arthur 77
Edward 75
Alfred 72
Samuel 68
Richard 59
Walter 59
Harry 50
Fred 45
Albert 44
Herbert 43
Frederick 42
Tom 35
Benjamin 31
David 23
Frank 23
Ernest 22
Francis 22
Edwin 21
Wm. 21
Thos. 17
Sam 16
Abraham 13
Isaac 13
Joe 12
Willie 12
Geo. 11
Jonathan 11
Joshua 11
Stephen 11
Christopher 9
Ralph 9
Matthew 8
Percy 8
Alexander 7
Ben 7
Daniel 7
Edmund 7
Fredk. 7
Leonard 7
Oswald 7
Peter 7

FAQ

Lister surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lister surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8,548 people were recorded with the Lister surname. That placed it at #494 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lister surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,573 in 2016. That gives Lister a modern rank of #669.

What does the Lister surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a dyer or one who dyes fabric.

What does the Lister map show?

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