NameCensus.

UK surname

Lithgow

A surname of Scottish origin meaning "hollow" or "valley" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 548 people recorded with the Lithgow surname, ranking it #6,297 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 713, ranked #7,611, down from #6,297 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Lanark and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardenden, Copeland and Renfrewshire Rural North and Langbank.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lithgow is 748 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.1%.

1881 census count

548

Ranked #6,297

Modern count

713

2016, ranked #7,611

Peak year

2010

748 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lithgow had 548 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,297 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 713 in 2016, ranked #7,611.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 612 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Lithgow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lithgow surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lithgow 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 373 #6,385
1861 historical 416 #6,176
1881 historical 548 #6,297
1891 historical 554 #6,841
1901 historical 612 #6,963
1911 historical 196 #15,150
1997 modern 621 #7,952
1998 modern 668 #7,753
1999 modern 676 #7,718
2000 modern 663 #7,816
2001 modern 647 #7,824
2002 modern 696 #7,546
2003 modern 664 #7,707
2004 modern 663 #7,722
2005 modern 669 #7,613
2006 modern 669 #7,626
2007 modern 701 #7,414
2008 modern 710 #7,396
2009 modern 721 #7,460
2010 modern 748 #7,387
2011 modern 735 #7,431
2012 modern 729 #7,385
2013 modern 734 #7,466
2014 modern 734 #7,509
2015 modern 713 #7,614
2016 modern 713 #7,611

Geography

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Where Lithgows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Lanark, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cardenden, Copeland, Renfrewshire Rural North and Langbank and Lanark South. 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 New Monkland Lanark
2 Lanark Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cardenden Fife
2 Copeland 003 Copeland
3 Renfrewshire Rural North and Langbank Renfrewshire
4 Lanark South South Lanarkshire
5 Copeland 005 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lithgow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lithgow

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lithgow, 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 Lithgow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lithgow 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, Lithgow 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

Lithgow is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lithgow falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lithgow

The surname "Lithgow" originated in Scotland, likely in the mid-12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "hlið" meaning "hill" and "hoh" meaning "ridge," suggesting the name originally referred to someone who lived near a hill or ridge.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to 1153, when it appeared as "de Lythcuu" in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of homage rolls from Scotland. The name is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, recorded as "Lidchoh" and referring to a settlement in Worcestershire, England.

In the 13th century, the name was spelled various ways, including "Lythgowe," "Lythgow," and "Lythcow." It is believed to be associated with the town of Linlithgow in West Lothian, Scotland, which was once known as "Lithgow."

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname was Sir James Lithgow (1538-1608), a Scottish landowner and member of the Scottish Parliament. Another prominent figure was William Lithgow (1582-1645), a Scottish traveler and writer who published several books about his adventures in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

In the 18th century, James Lithgow (1704-1774) was a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a role in the Scottish Enlightenment. His son, William Lithgow (1737-1814), was a successful businessman and philanthropist in Glasgow.

In the 19th century, Robert Lithgow (1803-1870) was a Scottish shipbuilder and industrialist who founded the Lithgow Shipbuilding Company in Port Glasgow. His son, James Lithgow (1838-1922), later took over the family business and expanded it into one of the largest shipbuilding firms in the world.

Another notable figure was Sir Douglas Lithgow (1862-1952), a Scottish engineer and industrialist who founded the Lithgow Locomotive Works in Lanarkshire. He played a significant role in developing the Scottish railway industry.

Lithgow has remained a prominent surname in Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom, as well as in countries with Scottish heritage, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lithgow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lithgow 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. Lanarkshire leads with 206 Lithgows recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.34x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 206 12.34x
Stirlingshire 40 21.02x
Ayrshire 30 7.77x
Cumberland 29 6.53x
Lancashire 28 0.46x
Midlothian 27 3.91x
Peeblesshire 19 78.29x
Durham 18 1.17x
Dorset 14 4.13x
Yorkshire 13 0.25x
Berwickshire 12 19.20x
Surrey 10 0.40x
Middlesex 9 0.17x
Northumberland 9 1.17x
Sussex 9 1.03x
Wigtownshire 8 11.68x
Angus 6 1.26x
Derbyshire 6 0.74x
Dumfriesshire 6 5.26x
Renfrewshire 6 1.50x
Perthshire 4 1.73x
Dunbartonshire 3 2.16x
West Lothian 3 3.86x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.42x
Hampshire 2 0.19x
Somerset 2 0.24x
Staffordshire 2 0.11x
Argyllshire 1 0.70x
Cornwall 1 0.17x
Fife 1 0.33x
Kent 1 0.06x
Roxburghshire 1 1.07x
Selkirkshire 1 2.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 34 Lithgows recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.05x.

Place Total Index
Barony 34 8.05x
Govan 32 7.75x
Shotts 28 140.21x
Lanark 24 178.70x
Falkirk 18 40.40x
Arlecdon 16 135.36x
New Monkland 16 32.43x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 13 4.67x
Cambuslang 11 65.40x
Gateshead 11 9.57x
Glasgow 10 3.37x
Stirling 10 41.67x
Caldewgate 9 36.98x
Preston 9 59.25x
West Linton 9 454.55x
Dundonald 8 56.18x
Manchester 8 2.91x
Sorn 8 105.40x
St Ninians 8 42.40x
Croydon 7 5.02x
Culter 7 693.07x
Kirknewton East 7 242.21x
Linthorpe 7 22.94x
Westgate 7 14.72x
Canonbie 6 123.97x
Dundee 6 3.36x
Hayfield 6 120.97x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 18.23x
Innerleithen 6 93.17x
Mauchline 6 135.14x
Stranraer 6 95.69x
West Derby 6 3.35x
Dunse 5 84.32x
Hamilton 5 10.74x
Langton Long Blandford 5 1020.41x
Pettinain 5 781.25x
Carnwath 4 38.76x
Covington 4 512.82x
Everton 4 2.05x
Glassford 4 155.64x
Greenlaw 4 181.00x
Melcombe Regis 4 28.49x
Morden 4 279.72x
Old Monkland 4 6.04x
South Leith 4 5.14x
Toxteth Park 4 1.93x
Auckinleck 3 25.10x
Biggar 3 79.58x
Broughton 3 750.00x
Kinnoull 3 49.26x
Lesmahagow 3 17.00x
Middleton St George 3 156.25x
Paisley High Church 3 9.42x
Stevenston 3 29.79x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 2.00x
Bathgate 2 11.86x
Cambusnethan 2 5.40x
Chelsea London 2 1.29x
Chiswick 2 7.09x
Denny 2 19.76x
Dunipace 2 60.06x
Elvet 2 18.05x
Hume 2 277.78x
Islington London 2 0.40x
Kilmalcolm 2 41.75x
Kirkintilloch 2 10.62x
Layton With Warbreck 2 8.90x
Newington 2 1.05x
Portpatrick 2 86.96x
Shoreditch London 2 0.89x
Stone 2 8.98x
Stretford 2 5.94x
Symington 2 243.90x
Weston Super Mare 2 9.54x
Ainstable 1 125.00x
Blandford Forum 1 14.97x
Carmunnock 1 78.13x
Galashiels 1 5.79x
Hartley Wintney 1 31.45x
Kilmore Kilbride 1 10.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 10
Jane 6
Charlotte 4
Hannah 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Margaret 3
Ann 2
Florence 2
Isabella 2
Janet 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Bell 1
Caroline 1
Cicely 1
E.M.D. 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Francis 1
Grace 1
Helen 1
Ida 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Leah 1
Lucy 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Marth.H. 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 11
William 10
John 9
Thomas 6
Joseph 3
Daniel 2
George 2
Henry 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Amos 1
Andrew 1
Aurther 1
Charles 1
Ebenezer 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Hector 1
Hugh 1
Jas.A. 1
Matthew 1
R. 1
Samuel 1
Stewart 1
Thos. 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Lithgow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lithgow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 548 people were recorded with the Lithgow surname. That placed it at #6,297 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lithgow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 713 in 2016. That gives Lithgow a modern rank of #7,611.

What does the Lithgow surname mean?

A surname of Scottish origin meaning "hollow" or "valley" in Old English.

What does the Lithgow map show?

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