NameCensus.

UK surname

Livesey

A locational surname derived from a place called Livesey near Blackburn, Lancashire.

In the 1881 census there were 2,932 people recorded with the Livesey surname, ranking it #1,525 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,698, ranked #1,846, down from #1,525 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Preston and Huddersfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blackburn with Darwen and South Ribble.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Livesey is 4,268 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.1%.

1881 census count

2,932

Ranked #1,525

Modern count

3,698

2016, ranked #1,846

Peak year

1911

4,268 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Livesey had 2,932 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,525 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,698 in 2016, ranked #1,846.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,268 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Livesey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Livesey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Livesey 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 1,346 #2,141
1861 historical 1,299 #2,198
1881 historical 2,932 #1,525
1891 historical 3,247 #1,466
1901 historical 3,948 #1,429
1911 historical 4,268 #1,214
1997 modern 3,824 #1,698
1998 modern 3,955 #1,711
1999 modern 3,968 #1,717
2000 modern 3,999 #1,695
2001 modern 3,910 #1,693
2002 modern 3,936 #1,721
2003 modern 3,805 #1,747
2004 modern 3,742 #1,770
2005 modern 3,690 #1,766
2006 modern 3,683 #1,776
2007 modern 3,729 #1,768
2008 modern 3,753 #1,768
2009 modern 3,879 #1,756
2010 modern 3,985 #1,746
2011 modern 3,893 #1,760
2012 modern 3,772 #1,785
2013 modern 3,816 #1,799
2014 modern 3,792 #1,818
2015 modern 3,735 #1,823
2016 modern 3,698 #1,846

Geography

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Where Liveseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Preston, Huddersfield, Blackburn and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blackburn with Darwen and South Ribble. 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 Wigan Lancashire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blackburn with Darwen 009 Blackburn with Darwen
2 South Ribble 009 South Ribble
3 Blackburn with Darwen 008 Blackburn with Darwen
4 South Ribble 007 South Ribble
5 South Ribble 004 South Ribble

Forenames

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First names often paired with Livesey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Livesey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Livesey, 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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Livesey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Livesey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Livesey is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Livesey 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

Livesey falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Livesey

The surname Livesey is of English origin, originating from the village of Livesey in Lancashire. The name is derived from the Old English words "lēofe" meaning "dear" or "beloved" and "sǣtan" meaning "seat" or "place of residence." The earliest known spelling of the surname dates back to the 13th century, where it appeared as "Leffesoye" in records from the county of Lancashire.

The Livesey family can be traced back to the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century. The Domesday Book of 1086 records several landowners and families with similar surnames, such as Levesay and Leveseye, indicating that the name was already established in the region.

One of the earliest known references to the surname is found in the Lancashire Pipe Rolls of 1201, which mention a Robert de Livesey. In the 13th century, the name appeared as "Leuesay" and "Levesay" in various records from the county.

The Livesey family played a significant role in the history of Lancashire. In the 14th century, Sir Richard Livesey (c. 1320-1390) was a prominent knight and landowner in the region. He served as a member of parliament and held several important positions in the local government.

Another notable figure was James Livesey (1671-1736), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Preston, Lancashire. He donated significant funds to establish a school and charitable institutions in the town.

During the English Civil War, Captain John Livesey (1612-1670) was a prominent Parliamentarian officer who fought for the Roundhead forces. He played a crucial role in several battles, including the siege of Lathom House in 1644.

In the 18th century, the name was associated with the industrial revolution in Lancashire. Benjamin Livesey (1789-1858) was a pioneering reformer and campaigner for temperance and workers' rights. He founded the Preston Temperance Society in 1832 and played a significant role in promoting social and political reform.

Another notable figure was James Livesey (1834-1909), a renowned architect and surveyor from Lancashire. He designed several notable buildings in the region, including the Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston.

These are just a few examples of the historical figures who have carried the surname Livesey, and there are many more who have contributed to the rich history and cultural heritage of Lancashire and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Livesey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Livesey 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. Lancashire leads with 2,430 Liveseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.16x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2,430 7.16x
Yorkshire 275 0.97x
Cheshire 68 1.08x
Middlesex 27 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 24 0.62x
Surrey 22 0.16x
Kent 16 0.16x
Durham 13 0.15x
Staffordshire 12 0.12x
Derbyshire 9 0.20x
Dunbartonshire 9 1.17x
Merionethshire 6 1.15x
Warwickshire 6 0.08x
Cumberland 3 0.12x
Denbighshire 3 0.28x
Hampshire 2 0.03x
Herefordshire 2 0.17x
Lincolnshire 2 0.04x
Bedfordshire 1 0.07x
Dorset 1 0.05x
Isle of Man 1 0.19x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 359 Liveseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.52x.

Place Total Index
Preston 359 39.52x
Blackburn 341 37.75x
Golcar 94 125.40x
Over Darwen 85 31.34x
Walton Le Dale 78 85.50x
Accrington 72 23.33x
Salford 67 6.71x
Livesey 62 104.06x
Chorley 58 30.44x
Great Bolton 48 10.67x
Wigan 47 9.91x
Manchester 45 2.95x
Lower Darwen 43 96.50x
Clayton Le Moors 34 51.62x
Witton 34 79.61x
Huddersfield 32 7.75x
Hoghton 30 350.06x
Oldham 29 2.65x
Wheelton 27 177.75x
Farnworth 25 12.29x
Newton 25 9.55x
Scarisbrick 25 63.44x
Withnell 25 120.02x
Gorton 23 7.21x
Linthwaite 23 38.60x
Whittle Le Woods 22 195.56x
Brindle 21 179.49x
Broughton In Salford 20 6.44x
Liverpool 20 0.97x
Tonge With Haulgh 20 30.26x
Toxteth Park 20 1.74x
Ardwick 19 6.20x
Ashton Under Lyne 19 2.56x
Horwich 19 51.31x
Lepton 19 64.15x
Halliwell 18 14.57x
Church 17 35.46x
Aspull 16 20.04x
Little Bolton 16 3.67x
Barrow In Furness 15 3.25x
Leeds 15 0.94x
Pendleton In Salford 15 3.71x
Chorlton On Medlock 14 2.60x
Dukinfield 14 4.80x
Headingley Cum Burley 14 7.67x
Leyland 14 23.70x
Nottingham St Mary 14 1.40x
Abram 13 49.90x
Aldingham 13 114.64x
Birkdale 13 15.13x
Camberwell 13 0.71x
Darcy Lever 13 66.50x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 12 33.08x
Fishwick 12 57.14x
Haydock 12 20.51x
Macclesfield 12 4.27x
Aighton Bailey 11 67.24x
Clitheroe 11 11.01x
Cuerdon 11 195.73x
Heaton 11 76.82x
Stretford 11 5.89x
Beswick 10 11.52x
Bradford 10 1.46x
Hampstead London 10 2.24x
Oswaldtwistle 10 8.34x
Tottington Higher End 10 25.87x
Ulverston 10 10.11x
Atherton 9 7.28x
Billington 9 64.94x
Blackley 9 15.12x
Bradford 9 5.66x
Chatham 9 3.35x
Dalton In Huddersfield 9 14.17x
Great Harwood 9 14.67x
Raby Keverstone 9 328.47x
Tockholes 9 186.34x
Wallasey 9 41.86x
Walsall Foreign 9 1.80x
Cardross 8 8.67x
Woodplumpton 8 65.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 242
Elizabeth 134
Alice 103
Sarah 86
Jane 83
Margaret 83
Ann 82
Ellen 60
Hannah 40
Eliza 33
Annie 32
Martha 30
Emma 24
Isabella 23
Betty 18
Agnes 17
Betsy 17
Nancy 17
Catherine 14
Ada 13
Esther 13
Clara 11
Florence 10
Harriet 10
Emily 9
Margt. 9
Frances 8
Maria 8
May 8
Rachel 8
Betsey 7
Amelia 6
Anne 6
Edith 6
Lucy 6
Caroline 5
Elizth. 5
Rebecca 5
Rose 5
Ruth 5
Amy 4
Eliz. 4
Grace 4
Louisa 4
Phoebe 4
Sophia 4
Susannah 4
Dorothy 3
Eleanor 3
Jessie 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 214
William 159
James 157
Thomas 118
Joseph 69
Richard 59
Robert 54
George 49
Henry 49
Edward 30
Charles 29
Peter 25
Alfred 19
Samuel 14
Walter 13
Wm. 12
Albert 11
Arthur 10
Benjamin 10
Matthew 10
Edwin 9
Ralph 9
Frederick 8
Thos. 8
Francis 7
Fred 7
Herbert 7
David 6
Lawrence 6
Anthony 5
Ben 5
Daniel 5
Ernest 5
Geo. 5
Harry 5
Jesse 5
Lewis 5
Richd. 5
Alexander 4
Andrew 4
Christopher 4
Edmund 4
Harold 4
Isaac 4
Saml. 4
Buckley 3
Jno. 3
Jonathan 3
Joshua 3
Robt. 3

FAQ

Livesey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Livesey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,932 people were recorded with the Livesey surname. That placed it at #1,525 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Livesey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,698 in 2016. That gives Livesey a modern rank of #1,846.

What does the Livesey surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place called Livesey near Blackburn, Lancashire.

What does the Livesey map show?

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