NameCensus.

UK surname

Littlefield

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a small pasture or open field.

In the 1881 census there were 407 people recorded with the Littlefield surname, ranking it #7,868 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 498, ranked #10,010, down from #7,868 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Twyford, London parishes and All Saints Poplar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Portsmouth, West Somerset and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Littlefield is 547 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.4%.

1881 census count

407

Ranked #7,868

Modern count

498

2016, ranked #10,010

Peak year

2002

547 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Littlefield had 407 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,868 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 498 in 2016, ranked #10,010.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 539 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Littlefield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Littlefield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Littlefield 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 293 #7,783
1861 historical 337 #7,564
1881 historical 407 #7,868
1891 historical 407 #8,750
1901 historical 499 #8,065
1911 historical 539 #7,400
1997 modern 522 #9,015
1998 modern 536 #9,099
1999 modern 544 #9,055
2000 modern 543 #9,044
2001 modern 540 #8,919
2002 modern 547 #9,017
2003 modern 541 #8,955
2004 modern 528 #9,144
2005 modern 507 #9,351
2006 modern 503 #9,451
2007 modern 512 #9,412
2008 modern 519 #9,372
2009 modern 526 #9,487
2010 modern 529 #9,640
2011 modern 503 #9,908
2012 modern 510 #9,722
2013 modern 508 #9,902
2014 modern 512 #9,911
2015 modern 506 #9,916
2016 modern 498 #10,010

Geography

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Where Littlefields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Twyford, London parishes, All Saints Poplar, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford and Hambledon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Portsmouth, West Somerset, East Riding of Yorkshire and Cornwall. 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 Twyford Hampshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)
4 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)
5 Hambledon Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Portsmouth 001 Portsmouth
2 Portsmouth 004 Portsmouth
3 West Somerset 002 West Somerset
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 016 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Cornwall 008 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Littlefield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Littlefield

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

Littlefield is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Littlefield falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Littlefield

The surname Littlefield originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "lyttel" meaning small or little, and "feld" meaning field or open land. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a small field or a small area of cultivated land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Littlefield can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Litelfelde in the county of Essex.

By the 13th century, the name had evolved into various spellings such as Littlefeld, Lytelfelde, and Littelfeld. These variations were common during the Middle Ages due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name was Sir John Littlefield, a knight who fought alongside Edward III during the Hundred Years' War against France. He was born in 1320 and died in 1385.

During the 16th century, the Littlefield family established themselves as prominent landowners in the county of Sussex. One member, Richard Littlefield, was a wealthy merchant who served as a sheriff of Sussex in 1567.

In the 17th century, several Littlefields emigrated to the American colonies. One of the earliest arrivals was Edmund Littlefield, who settled in Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1637. He later became a prominent figure in the local community and served as a selectman and a deputy to the General Court.

Another notable bearer of the name was Nathaniel Littlefield, a soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He was born in 1746 in Newbury, Massachusetts, and served as a private in the Continental Army.

In the 19th century, Humphrey Littlefield, born in 1824 in England, was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Old City Hall in Toronto, Canada.

Throughout history, the Littlefield surname has been associated with various professions, including farming, military service, merchanting, and architecture. While the name originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly North America, due to immigration and family migrations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Littlefield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Littlefield 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. Hampshire leads with 167 Littlefields recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.98x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 167 19.98x
Middlesex 71 1.74x
Surrey 51 2.57x
Kent 29 2.08x
Essex 25 3.11x
Yorkshire 19 0.47x
Sussex 14 2.04x
Channel Islands 11 9.10x
Lancashire 11 0.23x
Warwickshire 7 0.68x
Northumberland 5 0.82x
Berkshire 2 0.65x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.81x
Wiltshire 2 0.55x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.39x
Leicestershire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 75 Littlefields recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.79x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 75 45.79x
Deptford St Paul 21 19.57x
Poplar London 19 24.69x
West Ham 16 9.00x
Lambeth 14 3.94x
Bromley London 13 14.49x
Hampstead London 12 18.90x
Hambledon 11 390.07x
Battersea 10 6.67x
Barking 9 38.22x
Clapham 9 17.66x
Bootle Cum Linacre 8 20.82x
Hound 8 141.09x
Millbrook 8 38.00x
Aston 7 2.47x
Bishopstoke 7 325.58x
Horsham 7 52.43x
Kingston 7 598.29x
Rotherhithe 7 13.89x
St Maryde Castro 7 235.69x
Ventnor 7 88.05x
Charlton Next Woolwich 6 41.35x
Skelton In Guisbrough 6 54.89x
Tichborne 6 1276.60x
Chirton 5 36.42x
Fawley 5 188.68x
Newington 5 3.32x
South Stoneham 5 27.58x
Twyford 5 250.00x
West Thorney 5 2777.78x
Alverstoke 4 13.22x
Enfield 4 14.95x
Halifax 4 6.74x
Hornsea 4 156.25x
St Peter Port 4 17.90x
Botley 3 200.00x
Catherington 3 162.16x
Holy Trinity 3 3.09x
Kensington London 3 1.32x
Portsmouth 3 15.59x
Southampton St Mary 3 5.71x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 17.00x
St Pancras London 3 0.91x
Streatham 3 9.92x
Chelsea London 2 1.63x
Exton 2 500.00x
Gravesend 2 16.98x
Newdigate 2 215.05x
Old Windsor 2 56.50x
St Bartholomew Great 2 53.91x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.78x
Toxteth Park 2 1.22x
Westminster St John 2 4.03x
Whitechapel London 2 4.98x
Aylesbury 1 9.16x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.04x
Esher 1 35.97x
Etchilhampton 1 434.78x
Harrow On The Hill 1 12.27x
Hinderwell 1 28.99x
Kirkdale 1 1.23x
New Alresford 1 46.08x
Newport Pagnell 1 19.42x
Paddington London 1 0.67x
Skeffington 1 476.19x
South Bersted 1 17.09x
Southampton All Sts 1 6.97x
Southhampton St Mary Extra 1 109.89x
St Marylebone London 1 0.46x
Stanghow 1 61.35x
Subdeanary 1 54.05x
Widley 1 67.11x
Winterbourne Stoke 1 238.10x
Wisbech St Peter 1 7.72x
Wymering 1 72.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 22
James 21
George 15
John 15
Joseph 11
Charles 9
Albert 7
Arthur 7
Harry 7
Alfred 6
Frank 6
Frederick 6
Robert 6
Thomas 6
Edward 5
Henry 4
Benjamin 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Augustus 2
Edwin 2
Samuell 2
Ben 1
Benj. 1
C. 1
Edwd. 1
Edwd.Chas. 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Hector 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Hy.Robt. 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Jessie 1
Job 1
Josh. 1
Richard 1
Saul 1
Solomon 1
Thos. 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Littlefield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Littlefield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 407 people were recorded with the Littlefield surname. That placed it at #7,868 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Littlefield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 498 in 2016. That gives Littlefield a modern rank of #10,010.

What does the Littlefield surname mean?

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived near a small pasture or open field.

What does the Littlefield map show?

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