UK surname
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Levi's island or water meadow."
In the 1881 census there were 180 people recorded with the Livesay surname, ranking it #13,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #13,735 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newchurch and Kirkheaton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Livesay is 182 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 96.7%.
1881 census count
180
Ranked #13,735
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1901
182 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Livesay surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Livesay surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 90 | #18,317 |
| 1861 | historical | 124 | #17,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 180 | #13,735 |
| 1891 | historical | 163 | #17,300 |
| 1901 | historical | 182 | #16,057 |
| 1911 | historical | 60 | #26,808 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 6 | #37,696 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 6 | #37,837 |
| 2008 | modern | 8 | #37,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newchurch, Kirkheaton, Hove and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Newchurch | Hampshire |
| 3 | Kirkheaton | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Hove | Sussex |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Livesay surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Livesay, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Livesay surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Livesay household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Livesay is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Livesay is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Livesay, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Livesay originates from the Yorkshire region of England, tracing its roots back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "lif," meaning life, and "ey," meaning island or water-meadow, suggesting a connection to a geographic location near a river or stream.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Livesei." This historical document provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames and landholdings in England during the Norman Conquest.
By the 13th century, variations of the spelling emerged, including Livesay, Livesey, and Livisey. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the individual preferences of scribes who transcribed records.
Notable individuals bearing the Livesay surname in history include:
1. William Livesay (1642-1718), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Tenterden in Kent. 2. John Livesay (1733-1811), an American Revolutionary War soldier and early settler in Kentucky. 3. Benjamin Livesay (1765-1843), a prominent Virginia landowner and member of the Virginia House of Delegates. 4. Richard Livesay (1810-1871), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Bath from 1857 to 1865. 5. Alice Livesay (1884-1973), an American educator and author who wrote extensively on the subject of teaching methods.
Historically, the Livesay surname was also associated with certain place names in England, such as Livesey in Lancashire and Livesey Hall, an ancient manor house dating back to the 13th century. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation variations of the surname over time.
While the surname's origins can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who emigrated from their ancestral homelands. The rich history of the Livesay surname reflects the dynamic nature of language and the enduring legacy of names that have spanned centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Livesay surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 51 Livesays recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.39x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 51 | 2.39x |
| Yorkshire | 28 | 1.57x |
| Cheshire | 21 | 5.30x |
| Middlesex | 20 | 1.11x |
| Hampshire | 16 | 4.35x |
| Glamorgan | 9 | 2.88x |
| Lanarkshire | 9 | 1.55x |
| Fife | 8 | 7.53x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 1.78x |
| Channel Islands | 3 | 5.64x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.34x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.33x |
| Dorset | 1 | 0.85x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 0.81x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.41x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 4.68x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 0.64x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.17x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.33x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.22x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.43x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dukinfield in Cheshire leads with 11 Livesays recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.08x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Livesay surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 12 |
| Ann | 7 |
| Alice | 5 |
| Charlotte | 4 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Clara | 3 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Margaret | 3 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Elizabeth | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Frances | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Margret | 2 |
| Sarah | 2 |
| Sophia | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Cecilia | 1 |
| Ceclilia | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Elfie | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Louisia | 1 |
| Lucilla | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Pamela | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
| Rosetta | 1 |
| Ruth | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Livesay surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 180 people were recorded with the Livesay surname. That placed it at #13,735 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Livesay a modern rank of #38,110.
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Levi's island or water meadow."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Livesay bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.