NameCensus.

UK surname

Litchfield

From the Old English words "lēac" meaning leek and "feld" meaning field, referring to a leek field.

In the 1881 census there were 1,229 people recorded with the Litchfield surname, ranking it #3,295 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,810, ranked #3,496, down from #3,295 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bedford St Mary, Duffield and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Amber Valley, East Staffordshire and Bedford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Litchfield is 1,911 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.3%.

1881 census count

1,229

Ranked #3,295

Modern count

1,810

2016, ranked #3,496

Peak year

1998

1,911 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Litchfield had 1,229 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,295 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,810 in 2016, ranked #3,496.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,798 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Litchfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Litchfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Litchfield 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 896 #3,070
1861 historical 847 #3,265
1881 historical 1,229 #3,295
1891 historical 1,314 #3,306
1901 historical 1,575 #3,275
1911 historical 1,798 #2,727
1997 modern 1,841 #3,270
1998 modern 1,911 #3,276
1999 modern 1,899 #3,319
2000 modern 1,895 #3,309
2001 modern 1,855 #3,308
2002 modern 1,881 #3,330
2003 modern 1,836 #3,342
2004 modern 1,845 #3,328
2005 modern 1,783 #3,396
2006 modern 1,769 #3,425
2007 modern 1,768 #3,460
2008 modern 1,781 #3,463
2009 modern 1,821 #3,470
2010 modern 1,869 #3,462
2011 modern 1,841 #3,460
2012 modern 1,816 #3,448
2013 modern 1,843 #3,465
2014 modern 1,826 #3,511
2015 modern 1,816 #3,500
2016 modern 1,810 #3,496

Geography

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Where Litchfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bedford St Mary, Duffield, London parishes, Bedford St Paul and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Amber Valley, East Staffordshire, Bedford and Rushcliffe. 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 Bedford St Mary Bedfordshire
2 Duffield Derbyshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Bedford St Paul Bedfordshire
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Amber Valley 007 Amber Valley
2 East Staffordshire 006 East Staffordshire
3 Bedford 007 Bedford
4 Bedford 012 Bedford
5 Rushcliffe 014 Rushcliffe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Litchfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Litchfield

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Litchfield is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Litchfield 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

Litchfield falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Litchfield

The surname Litchfield originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the town of Litchfield, located in Staffordshire. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "líc" meaning body or corpse, and "feld" meaning field or open land.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Lecfelde." This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. The spelling variations over time include Lychfeld, Lichfelde, and Lychfyld.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the name was Sir John Litchfield (c. 1300 - 1376), a knight and landowner from Staffordshire. He served as the High Sheriff of Staffordshire in 1342 and was a prominent figure in the local community.

Another historical figure was Richard Litchfield (c. 1480 - 1542), a clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Middlesex. He was known for his work in translating and publishing several religious texts.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Litchfield family settled in Oxfordshire, where they became prominent landowners. Sir William Litchfield (1537 - 1608) was a notable member of this branch, serving as a Member of Parliament and holding various positions within the local government.

During the English Civil War, Colonel Ralph Litchfield (1610 - 1675) fought on the Parliamentarian side and was known for his role in the siege of Oxford in 1646.

In the 18th century, Samuel Litchfield (1712 - 1782) was a prominent merchant and philanthropist in London. He made significant contributions to various charitable organizations and was a benefactor of several schools and universities.

While the name Litchfield has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration to North America and other English-speaking countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Litchfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Litchfield 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. Bedfordshire leads with 163 Litchfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.28x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 163 26.28x
Northamptonshire 159 14.11x
Middlesex 144 1.20x
Nottinghamshire 102 6.32x
Derbyshire 87 4.64x
Lancashire 84 0.59x
Surrey 75 1.28x
Cambridgeshire 57 7.51x
Yorkshire 40 0.34x
Hampshire 35 1.43x
Kent 35 0.86x
Buckinghamshire 31 4.28x
Warwickshire 30 0.99x
Hertfordshire 27 3.27x
Worcestershire 27 1.73x
Leicestershire 25 1.88x
Staffordshire 24 0.59x
Essex 23 0.97x
Huntingdonshire 9 3.78x
Cheshire 7 0.26x
Gloucestershire 5 0.21x
Norfolk 5 0.27x
Angus 4 0.36x
Berkshire 4 0.44x
Devon 4 0.16x
Flintshire 4 1.24x
Cumberland 3 0.29x
Glamorgan 3 0.14x
Monmouthshire 3 0.35x
Somerset 3 0.16x
Sussex 2 0.10x
Dorset 1 0.13x
Northumberland 1 0.06x
Rutland 1 1.14x
Wiltshire 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. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 51 Litchfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.21x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 51 12.21x
Bedford St Mary 31 193.99x
Bedford St Paul 28 65.82x
Heage 25 252.02x
Bourn 23 690.69x
Ravensthorpe 23 1133.00x
Radford 22 26.82x
Walgrave 21 850.20x
Riseley 20 508.91x
Kensington London 19 2.85x
St Pancras London 18 1.87x
Wellingborough 18 31.77x
Bedford St Peter 17 105.52x
Belper 17 46.75x
Bermondsey 17 4.77x
Twickenham 17 33.10x
Lambeth 16 1.53x
Southill 15 298.21x
Northampton Priory St 14 20.71x
Laverstoke 13 1733.33x
Luton 13 12.11x
Hoyland Nether 12 41.22x
Islington London 12 1.03x
Gorton 11 8.23x
Guilsborough 11 367.89x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 2.57x
Birmingham 10 0.99x
Buckland In Dover 10 73.86x
Kidderminster Borough 10 10.92x
Leicester St Margaret 10 3.09x
Northampton St Giles 10 23.30x
Aspley Guise 9 151.52x
Blackley 9 36.12x
Brassington 9 318.02x
Chelsea London 9 2.49x
Elmdon 9 357.14x
Norton 9 538.92x
Wolverley 9 65.55x
Bradley 8 701.75x
Bromley 8 12.84x
Burton Upon Trent 8 8.46x
Chatteris 8 41.32x
Didsbury 8 42.40x
East Farndon 8 879.12x
Hitchin 8 21.47x
Newington 8 1.81x
Paddington London 8 1.82x
Portsea 8 1.66x
Rushden 8 53.09x
Stourbridge 8 19.88x
Ashby De La Zouch 7 22.73x
Aston 7 0.84x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.35x
Brampton Ash 7 1428.57x
Camberwell 7 0.91x
Chesterton 7 29.93x
Hackney London 7 1.04x
Hardmead 7 1842.11x
Nottingham St Peter 7 38.89x
St Luke London 7 3.64x
Wimbledon 7 10.68x
Alfreton 6 10.53x
Cheetham 6 5.66x
Coventry St Michael 6 6.18x
Kimberworth 6 9.11x
Newport Pagnell 6 39.63x
Pemberton 6 10.59x
Penge 6 7.84x
Pinxton 6 62.96x
St Albans 6 35.46x
Wath On Dearne 6 25.34x
Woodford 6 22.41x
Bradford 5 1.74x
Caton 5 112.36x
Cheshunt 5 17.33x
Litherland 5 16.82x
Raunds 5 43.59x
Stockport 5 3.67x
Sutton In Ashfield 5 14.27x
Tempsford 5 228.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 83
John 68
Thomas 48
George 36
James 35
Charles 32
Henry 25
Joseph 21
Edward 20
Frederick 18
Arthur 17
Alfred 11
Samuel 11
Albert 10
Ernest 9
Walter 9
Harry 8
Richard 5
Benjamin 4
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Isaac 4
Lewis 4
Wm. 4
Ebenezer 3
Frederic 3
Fredk. 3
Herbert 3
Percy 3
Robert 3
Anthony 2
Chas. 2
Curtis 2
David 2
Francis 2
Jasper 2
Jeremiah 2
Martin 2
Noah 2
Randolph 2
Sydney 2
Bertram 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Egbert 1
Eli 1
Emily 1
Getrauid 1
Godfrey 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Litchfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Litchfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,229 people were recorded with the Litchfield surname. That placed it at #3,295 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Litchfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,810 in 2016. That gives Litchfield a modern rank of #3,496.

What does the Litchfield surname mean?

From the Old English words "lēac" meaning leek and "feld" meaning field, referring to a leek field.

What does the Litchfield map show?

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