NameCensus.

UK surname

Livingston

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Livingston, derived from the Old English "Leving" and "tun."

In the 1881 census there were 2,709 people recorded with the Livingston surname, ranking it #1,644 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,941, ranked #3,297, down from #1,644 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lismore and Appin, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Castle Douglas, Coupar Angus and Meigle and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Livingston is 2,882 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.3%.

1881 census count

2,709

Ranked #1,644

Modern count

1,941

2016, ranked #3,297

Peak year

1851

2,882 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Livingston had 2,709 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,644 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,941 in 2016, ranked #3,297.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,882 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Livingston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Livingston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Livingston 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 2,882 #1,009
1861 historical 2,801 #1,042
1881 historical 2,709 #1,644
1891 historical 2,249 #2,077
1901 historical 2,084 #2,574
1911 historical 541 #7,378
1997 modern 1,740 #3,431
1998 modern 1,839 #3,393
1999 modern 1,860 #3,380
2000 modern 1,829 #3,416
2001 modern 1,821 #3,359
2002 modern 1,863 #3,362
2003 modern 1,846 #3,319
2004 modern 1,848 #3,320
2005 modern 1,884 #3,233
2006 modern 1,908 #3,219
2007 modern 1,909 #3,245
2008 modern 1,925 #3,236
2009 modern 1,972 #3,249
2010 modern 2,017 #3,251
2011 modern 1,956 #3,296
2012 modern 1,934 #3,275
2013 modern 1,964 #3,295
2014 modern 1,977 #3,294
2015 modern 1,955 #3,289
2016 modern 1,941 #3,297

Geography

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Where Livingstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lismore and Appin, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Kilmore and Kilbride and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Castle Douglas, Coupar Angus and Meigle, Stockton-on-Tees, Carntyne West and Haghill and Glenwood 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 Lismore and Appin Argyll
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Kilmore and Kilbride Argyll
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Castle Douglas Dumfries and Galloway
2 Coupar Angus and Meigle Perth and Kinross
3 Stockton-on-Tees 020 Stockton-on-Tees
4 Carntyne West and Haghill Glasgow City
5 Glenwood South Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Livingston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Livingston

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Livingston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Livingston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Livingston 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

Livingston 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

Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Livingston

The surname Livingston has its origins in Scotland and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is a territorial name derived from the lands of Livingston near Bathgate in West Lothian. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "leofing" meaning "dear one" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "enclosure."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Livingston can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of parchment rolls recording the names of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Lefyngeston" in these rolls.

In the 14th century, Sir Robert Livingston was granted the lands of Livingston by King Robert the Bruce. This early member of the Livingston family played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence. Sir Alexander Livingston, born around 1454, was another notable figure from this lineage and served as the Lord Chamberlain of Scotland.

The Livingston family continued to hold influence and prominence throughout Scottish history. James Livingston, born in 1561, was a Scottish nobleman and statesman who served as the Lord Chancellor of Scotland during the reign of King James VI. William Livingston, born in 1723, was a prominent American politician and jurist, serving as the first Governor of New Jersey after the American Revolutionary War.

Another famous bearer of the Livingston name was Edward Livingston, born in 1764, who was an American jurist and statesman. He served as the United States Secretary of State under President Andrew Jackson and played a crucial role in the drafting of the Louisiana Civil Code.

Robert R. Livingston, born in 1746, was an American diplomat and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence and later served as the first United States Minister to France.

Over the centuries, the Livingston name has also been associated with various place names, such as Livingston County in New York and Livingston Parish in Louisiana, reflecting the influence and legacy of this prominent family.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Livingston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Livingston 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 650 Livingstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.66x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 650 7.66x
Argyllshire 553 75.70x
Renfrewshire 202 9.93x
Midlothian 177 5.04x
Lancashire 138 0.44x
Fife 117 7.53x
Perthshire 87 7.39x
Ayrshire 77 3.92x
Aberdeenshire 76 3.13x
Stirlingshire 60 6.20x
Dunbartonshire 54 7.66x
Durham 45 0.58x
East Lothian 45 12.95x
Yorkshire 44 0.17x
Angus 43 1.77x
Cumberland 31 1.37x
Northumberland 31 0.79x
West Lothian 31 7.84x
Middlesex 29 0.11x
Buteshire 22 13.84x
Kent 19 0.21x
Cheshire 14 0.24x
Kirkcudbrightshire 13 3.42x
Peeblesshire 13 10.53x
Kinross-shire 9 13.57x
Staffordshire 9 0.10x
Glamorgan 8 0.18x
Essex 7 0.14x
Hampshire 7 0.13x
Inverness-shire 7 0.89x
Sussex 7 0.16x
Warwickshire 7 0.11x
Banffshire 6 1.10x
Hertfordshire 6 0.33x
Surrey 6 0.05x
Berkshire 5 0.25x
Devon 4 0.07x
Selkirkshire 4 1.68x
Berwickshire 3 0.94x
Clackmannanshire 3 1.38x
Derbyshire 3 0.07x
Norfolk 3 0.07x
Wigtownshire 3 0.86x
Gloucestershire 2 0.04x
Lincolnshire 2 0.05x
Royal Navy 2 0.64x
Brecknockshire 1 0.19x
Cornwall 1 0.03x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.17x
Ross-shire 1 0.14x
Roxburghshire 1 0.21x
Shropshire 1 0.04x

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 230 Livingstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.71x.

Place Total Index
Barony 230 10.71x
Govan 166 7.91x
Glasgow 116 7.70x
Lismore Appin 77 316.74x
Kilmore Kilbride 73 157.43x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 60 4.24x
Kilbrandon 60 493.02x
West Greenock 58 15.89x
Torosay 46 624.15x
Abbey 45 14.50x
Lismore 37 555.56x
Gladsmuir 33 213.04x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 30 6.60x
Eastwood 30 23.95x
Falkland 30 122.80x
Ardnamurchan 26 70.18x
Dundee 26 2.86x
Riccarton 26 87.78x
Ardchattan Muckairn 25 138.43x
Kilchattan 24 487.80x
South Leith 24 6.07x
Dunfermline 23 9.63x
Dysart 23 21.99x
Old Kilpatrick 22 26.40x
Whitburn 22 38.54x
Kilfinan 20 102.62x
Glassary 19 48.28x
Neilston 18 17.63x
Old Monkland 18 5.34x
Cathcart 17 15.45x
Kidbrooke 16 316.21x
Kilarrow 16 204.87x
Campbeltown 15 17.02x
Everton 15 1.51x
New Monkland 15 5.98x
Kildalton 14 72.61x
Perth Middle Church 14 31.61x
Cambusnethan 13 6.90x
Manchester 13 0.93x
North Leith 13 7.99x
Penicuik 13 27.21x
Knapdale North 12 144.23x
Maryhill 12 7.22x
Sculcoates 12 2.91x
Bothwell 11 4.78x
Culross 11 107.95x
Kilmadock 11 40.62x
Kinghorn 11 33.36x
Rothesay 11 14.29x
Baldernock 10 194.55x
Blantyre 10 11.32x
Cranston 10 111.61x
Dumbarton 10 10.19x
Dunoon Kilmun 10 17.55x
Killin 10 86.96x
Kirkcudbright 10 31.81x
Rutherglen 10 8.03x
Aberdeen Old Machar 9 1.77x
Borthwick 9 57.29x
Edinburgh St Marys 9 13.17x
Gorbals 9 17.87x
Lamesley 9 21.42x
Lanark 9 13.18x
Liverpool 9 0.48x
Poulton Barre 9 25.40x
Scarborough 9 3.81x
Toxteth Park 9 0.85x
Alva 8 17.33x
Bowmore 8 47.59x
East Greenock 8 4.17x
Elswick 8 2.57x
Fowlis Easter 8 286.74x
Girvan 8 16.23x
Kilninver Kilmelford 8 219.78x
Leslie 8 20.34x
Ormesby 8 11.45x
Paisley Middle Church 8 6.76x
Rayne 8 69.32x
Stafford St Mary 8 6.38x
Stranton 8 3.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 18
Jane 15
Margaret 12
Sarah 11
Ann 9
Agnes 8
Annie 7
Alice 5
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Isabella 5
Martha 5
Hannah 4
Catherine 3
Christina 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Ada 2
Elspet 2
Harriett 2
Janet 2
Kate 2
Maggie 2
Margret 2
Maud 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Violet 2
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Cecelia 1
Cecilia 1
Charlote 1
Charlotte 1
Elea 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Ella 1
Ellena 1
Elleonor 1
Graham 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Ida 1
Isabel 1
Janneth 1
W... 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 39
William 23
James 20
Robert 11
Thomas 10
George 9
Alexander 7
Edward 7
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Andrew 5
Richard 5
Charles 4
David 4
Duncan 4
Alfred 3
Peter 3
Walter 3
Archibald 2
Daniel 2
Hugh 2
Isaac 2
Samuel 2
Ar. 1
Dick 1
Donald 1
Edwin 1
Elxander 1
Elxender 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Jasper 1
L. 1
Lancelot 1
Malcolm 1
Matthew 1
Morris 1
Nathan 1
Newton 1
Percy 1
Stanley 1
Thos 1
Thos. 1
Ths. 1
W. 1
Willaim 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Livingston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Livingston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,709 people were recorded with the Livingston surname. That placed it at #1,644 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Livingston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,941 in 2016. That gives Livingston a modern rank of #3,297.

What does the Livingston surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Livingston, derived from the Old English "Leving" and "tun."

What does the Livingston map show?

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