NameCensus.

UK surname

Liston

Derived from a place name meaning "at the enclosed settlement" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 474 people recorded with the Liston surname, ranking it #7,040 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 768, ranked #7,143, down from #7,040 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Buchanan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Trinity East and The Dudleys and Bonnington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Liston is 831 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.0%.

1881 census count

474

Ranked #7,040

Modern count

768

2016, ranked #7,143

Peak year

1999

831 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Liston had 474 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,040 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 768 in 2016, ranked #7,143.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 515 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Liston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Liston surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Liston 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 359 #6,583
1861 historical 515 #5,083
1881 historical 474 #7,040
1891 historical 401 #8,860
1901 historical 492 #8,149
1911 historical 226 #13,840
1997 modern 782 #6,659
1998 modern 808 #6,703
1999 modern 831 #6,599
2000 modern 808 #6,714
2001 modern 771 #6,835
2002 modern 791 #6,837
2003 modern 784 #6,764
2004 modern 789 #6,752
2005 modern 760 #6,886
2006 modern 757 #6,935
2007 modern 740 #7,134
2008 modern 755 #7,072
2009 modern 778 #7,041
2010 modern 800 #7,029
2011 modern 796 #6,986
2012 modern 771 #7,073
2013 modern 775 #7,152
2014 modern 774 #7,186
2015 modern 767 #7,177
2016 modern 768 #7,143

Geography

Back to top

Where Listons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Buchanan, Glasgow and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Trinity East and The Dudleys, Bonnington, Medway and North Leith and Newhaven. 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 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Buchanan Stirling
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 070 Cornwall
2 Trinity East and The Dudleys City of Edinburgh
3 Bonnington City of Edinburgh
4 Medway 025 Medway
5 North Leith and Newhaven City of Edinburgh

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Liston

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Liston

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Liston is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Liston is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Liston

The surname Liston originates from Scotland and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from a place name, likely originating from the Old English words "hlithe" meaning a slope or hill, and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the records of Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1296, as "Walter de Liston."

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries for places with similar names, such as "Listuna" and "Liston." These entries suggest that the name was already established in England before spreading to Scotland.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Liston was Sir Robert Liston (1742-1836), a British diplomat who served as the ambassador to the United States from 1796 to 1800. Another notable figure was Robert Liston (1794-1847), a Scottish surgeon who is considered one of the pioneers of modern surgery. He is credited with performing the first surgical operation using anesthesia in 1846.

In the 18th century, the Liston family were prominent landowners in Lanarkshire, Scotland. Their ancestral seat was Liston House, a historic estate that dates back to the 16th century. Sir William Liston (1672-1737) was a Scottish politician and judge who served as Lord Justice Clerk, one of the highest judicial offices in Scotland at the time.

During the American Revolutionary War, Sir Robert Liston (1742-1836), mentioned earlier, played a crucial role as a diplomatic envoy for the British government. He helped negotiate the Treaty of Amity, Commerce, and Navigation with the United States in 1794, which established trade relations between the two countries.

Another notable figure was Sir Ralph Liston (1785-1857), a British naval officer and diplomat who served as the Governor of the Ionian Islands (now part of Greece) from 1849 to 1851. He was instrumental in establishing British rule in the region and promoting economic and social reforms.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Liston who have left their mark on history. The name has its roots in Scotland and has been associated with notable figures in diplomacy, medicine, politics, and the military over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Liston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Liston 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. Midlothian leads with 183 Listons recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.12x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 183 30.12x
Middlesex 54 1.19x
Surrey 54 2.44x
Lanarkshire 50 3.41x
Lancashire 30 0.56x
Kent 11 0.71x
Stirlingshire 11 6.58x
East Lothian 9 14.98x
Perthshire 9 4.42x
Staffordshire 7 0.46x
Gloucestershire 5 0.56x
Durham 4 0.30x
Fife 4 1.49x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.65x
Glamorgan 3 0.38x
Monmouthshire 3 0.91x
Northumberland 3 0.44x
Renfrewshire 3 0.85x
Roxburghshire 3 3.65x
Yorkshire 3 0.07x
Oxfordshire 2 0.71x
West Lothian 2 2.93x
Ayrshire 1 0.29x
Buteshire 1 3.64x
Cumberland 1 0.26x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Hertfordshire 1 0.32x
Northamptonshire 1 0.23x
Peeblesshire 1 4.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Leith in Midlothian leads with 153 Listons recorded in 1881 and an index of 544.10x.

Place Total Index
North Leith 153 544.10x
Camberwell 26 8.97x
Barony 15 4.04x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 13 5.32x
Bromley London 9 9.02x
Dunbar 9 106.89x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 9.86x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 9 140.19x
Avondale 8 93.24x
Everton 8 4.66x
Carluke 7 52.55x
Govan 7 1.93x
Minster In Sheppey 7 27.30x
Rotherhithe 7 12.49x
Falkirk 6 15.32x
Glasgow 6 2.30x
Kirkdale 6 6.63x
Logie 6 82.19x
Maryhill 6 20.89x
St Andrew Holborn London 6 30.55x
Wimbledon 6 24.17x
Edinburgh New 5 105.93x
Edinburgh St Andrews 5 99.60x
Hackney London 5 1.97x
Hammersmith London 5 4.47x
Windle 5 16.51x
Alva 4 50.13x
Clerkenwell London 4 3.74x
Elie 4 377.36x
Greasley 4 29.01x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 6.84x
St Pancras London 4 1.10x
West Derby 4 2.54x
Whittington 4 127.80x
Bristol St Stephen 3 129.87x
Melrose 3 42.25x
Putney 3 14.51x
St Marylebone London 3 1.24x
St Woollos 3 8.20x
West Greenock 3 4.75x
Whitchurch 3 70.26x
Wolverhampton 3 2.55x
Battersea 2 1.20x
Byker 2 6.00x
Chadderton 2 7.60x
Dalmeny 2 76.63x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 2 13.92x
Gristhorpe Newbiggin 2 625.00x
Oxford St Aldate 2 67.80x
Stapleton 2 11.85x
Bermondsey 1 0.74x
Blackburn 1 0.70x
Caputh 1 31.25x
Carisbrooke 1 7.75x
Clunie 1 111.11x
Edinburgh Greenside 1 12.45x
Edinburgh New North 1 18.90x
Harrow 1 14.43x
Hougham 1 10.87x
Hulme 1 0.89x
Huyton With Roby 1 15.85x
Kilbucho 1 303.03x
Kinclaven 1 108.70x
Kippen 1 44.44x
Kirknewton 1 57.14x
Lanark 1 8.47x
Liverpool 1 0.31x
Milton In Gravesend 1 4.31x
Mirfield 1 4.05x
Poplar London 1 1.17x
Preston 1 0.69x
Ratcliffe London 1 3.99x
Rothesay 1 7.51x
St George Bloomsbury 1 3.84x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.25x
Standon 1 31.06x
Tonbridge 1 1.79x
Westminster St John 1 1.81x
Willesden 1 2.34x
Wrotham 1 19.49x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Liston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Liston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 474 people were recorded with the Liston surname. That placed it at #7,040 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Liston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 768 in 2016. That gives Liston a modern rank of #7,143.

What does the Liston surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "at the enclosed settlement" in Old English.

What does the Liston map show?

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