NameCensus.

UK surname

Livingstone

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a boundary stone or near a stone with a hollow.

In the 1881 census there were 2,784 people recorded with the Livingstone surname, ranking it #1,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,774, ranked #1,162, up from #1,604 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Benderloch Trail, Whisky Isles and Kilsyth East and Croy.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Livingstone is 5,828 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 107.4%.

1881 census count

2,784

Ranked #1,604

Modern count

5,774

2016, ranked #1,162

Peak year

2010

5,828 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Livingstone had 2,784 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,604 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,774 in 2016, ranked #1,162.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,598 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Livingstone surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Livingstone surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Livingstone 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 950 #2,924
1861 historical 1,134 #2,476
1881 historical 2,784 #1,604
1891 historical 3,655 #1,314
1901 historical 4,598 #1,235
1911 historical 1,522 #3,181
1997 modern 5,296 #1,229
1998 modern 5,496 #1,235
1999 modern 5,594 #1,226
2000 modern 5,626 #1,213
2001 modern 5,463 #1,217
2002 modern 5,622 #1,209
2003 modern 5,483 #1,209
2004 modern 5,472 #1,207
2005 modern 5,449 #1,185
2006 modern 5,504 #1,179
2007 modern 5,564 #1,171
2008 modern 5,622 #1,164
2009 modern 5,719 #1,176
2010 modern 5,828 #1,177
2011 modern 5,749 #1,177
2012 modern 5,615 #1,184
2013 modern 5,721 #1,184
2014 modern 5,787 #1,176
2015 modern 5,773 #1,168
2016 modern 5,774 #1,162

Geography

Back to top

Where Livingstones are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Benderloch Trail, Whisky Isles, Kilsyth East and Croy, Fylde and Paisley North East. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Benderloch Trail Argyll and Bute
2 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute
3 Kilsyth East and Croy North Lanarkshire
4 Fylde 002 Fylde
5 Paisley North East Renfrewshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Livingstone

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Livingstone

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

Livingstone 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

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

Meaning and origin of Livingstone

The surname Livingstone is of Scottish origin, derived from the ancient lands of Livingston near Linlithgow, West Lothian. The name is believed to have originated in the 12th century, with the earliest recorded spelling being "de Lynlythcu" in the Ragman Rolls of 1296.

The name Livingstone is thought to be derived from the Old English words "lēaf" meaning "leaf" and "tūn" meaning "settlement" or "farmstead". This suggests that the original bearers of the name may have lived in a settlement surrounded by leafy trees or woodlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Livingstone appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Levingestune". This entry refers to a place in Somerset, England, which may have been named after an early bearer of the surname.

In the 13th century, Sir Alexander de Livingston was granted lands in West Lothian, Scotland, by King Alexander III. Sir Alexander's descendants continued to hold these lands for several centuries, and the name Livingstone became firmly established in the region.

Notable historical figures with the surname Livingstone include:

1. David Livingstone (1813-1873), a Scottish missionary and explorer famous for his exploration of central Africa and his search for the source of the Nile.

2. Robert Livingston (1654-1728), an American politician and landowner who was the first Lord of Livingston Manor in New York.

3. William Livingston (1723-1790), an American patriot and politician who served as the first Governor of New Jersey.

4. Richard Livingstone (1880-1960), an English classical scholar and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford.

5. Alicia Livingstone (born 1988), a New Zealand actress known for her roles in television series such as "Spartacus" and "Top of the Lake".

The name Livingstone has also been associated with various place names throughout history, including Livingston in West Lothian, Scotland, and Livingston Manor in New York, USA.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Livingstone families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Livingstone 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 599 Livingstones recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.80x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 599 6.80x
Lancashire 252 0.78x
Argyllshire 244 32.18x
Renfrewshire 160 7.58x
Ayrshire 153 7.51x
Stirlingshire 109 10.85x
Middlesex 107 0.39x
Midlothian 105 2.88x
Angus 99 3.92x
Yorkshire 88 0.33x
Aberdeenshire 69 2.74x
Northumberland 67 1.65x
Dunbartonshire 58 7.92x
Cheshire 53 0.88x
Kent 53 0.57x
Durham 52 0.64x
Perthshire 51 4.17x
Warwickshire 49 0.71x
Fife 48 2.98x
Surrey 34 0.26x
Hampshire 25 0.45x
Staffordshire 25 0.27x
Ross-shire 23 3.08x
West Lothian 23 5.61x
Buteshire 20 12.12x
Cumberland 18 0.77x
East Lothian 16 4.44x
Glamorgan 16 0.34x
Inverness-shire 15 1.84x
Essex 12 0.22x
Devon 11 0.19x
Kirkcudbrightshire 10 2.54x
Royal Navy 10 3.08x
Worcestershire 10 0.28x
Lincolnshire 9 0.21x
Wigtownshire 9 2.49x
Derbyshire 7 0.16x
Gloucestershire 7 0.13x
Nairnshire 7 8.42x
Isle of Man 6 1.19x
Selkirkshire 6 2.44x
Leicestershire 5 0.17x
Clackmannanshire 4 1.78x
Peeblesshire 4 3.12x
Somerset 4 0.09x
Suffolk 4 0.12x
Sussex 4 0.09x
Westmorland 4 0.67x
Denbighshire 3 0.29x
Dorset 3 0.17x
Northamptonshire 3 0.12x
Berkshire 2 0.10x
Cornwall 2 0.06x
Hertfordshire 2 0.11x
Kincardineshire 2 0.60x
Norfolk 2 0.05x
Oxfordshire 2 0.12x
Banffshire 1 0.18x
Berwickshire 1 0.30x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.06x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.17x
Herefordshire 1 0.09x
Orkney 1 0.33x
Wiltshire 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. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 198 Livingstones recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.09x.

Place Total Index
Govan 198 9.09x
Barony 138 6.19x
Glasgow 103 6.59x
Dundee 56 5.95x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 55 3.75x
Kilsyth 44 68.70x
Ardnamurchan 41 106.60x
Eastwood 36 27.69x
Glassary 36 88.15x
Kilmore Kilbride 36 74.81x
Liverpool 34 1.73x
Cambusnethan 33 16.87x
West Greenock 33 8.71x
Birmingham 29 1.27x
Kilninian Kilmore 27 116.18x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 26 5.51x
Chorlton On Medlock 24 4.67x
Dailly 22 105.82x
Whitburn 22 37.12x
Longbenton 21 12.24x
Manchester 21 1.44x
Row 21 22.18x
Aston 20 1.06x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 20 5.70x
Dalry 19 19.81x
Halliwell 19 16.15x
Old Cumnock 19 41.87x
Abbey 18 5.59x
Paisley High Church 18 10.71x
Stoke Upon Trent 18 1.85x
Bonhill 17 14.47x
Maryhill 17 9.86x
New Monkland 17 6.53x
Rothesay 17 21.27x
Maybole 16 25.78x
Islington London 15 0.57x
Lewisham 15 3.03x
Worsley 14 7.03x
Applecross 13 61.85x
Falkirk 13 5.53x
Fraserburgh 13 18.31x
Old Kilpatrick 13 15.03x
Perth East Church 13 11.28x
Stirling 13 10.26x
Arbroath 12 14.35x
Paisley Low Church 12 17.96x
Preston 12 1.39x
Tranmere 12 5.43x
Blantyre 11 12.00x
Cathcart 11 9.63x
Dunoon Kilmun 11 18.60x
Great Bolton 11 2.57x
Knapdale South 11 42.23x
Shettleston 11 13.95x
Toxteth Park 11 1.01x
Westgate 11 4.38x
Bromley London 10 1.67x
Carluke 10 12.50x
Kirkdale 10 1.84x
Liff Benvie 10 2.61x
Saddell Skipness 10 92.59x
Stockport 10 3.23x
Barrow In Furness 9 2.05x
Bredbury 9 25.87x
Headingley Cum Burley 9 5.18x
Kilcalmonell 9 52.45x
Largs 9 18.74x
Lochalsh 9 46.83x
Loudoun 9 18.36x
Lydd 9 45.23x
Morven 9 114.50x
Shoreditch London 9 0.76x
Thornaby 9 8.92x
Carisbrooke 8 10.32x
Kirkcaldy 8 10.01x
Llanwonno 8 4.70x
Newton In Ashton Under 8 13.49x
Port Of Monteith 8 72.79x
Salford 8 0.84x
Sculcoates 8 1.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 74
Ann 25
Jane 24
Margaret 24
Elizabeth 21
Annie 19
Ellen 18
Catherine 14
Sarah 14
Alice 12
Emily 8
Harriet 8
Martha 8
Agnes 7
Eliza 7
Margt. 7
Emma 6
Hannah 6
Helen 6
Isabella 6
Louisa 6
Flora 5
Florence 5
Jessie 5
Rose 5
Anne 4
Bridget 4
Fanny 4
Kate 4
Lucy 4
Maria 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Clara 3
Rachel 3
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
E. 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Grace 2
Jemima 2
Mabel 2
Maggie 2
Maud 2
Mildred 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 68
William 51
James 38
Robert 28
Thomas 24
George 18
Charles 13
Joseph 13
David 11
Henry 10
Richard 10
Alfred 9
Daniel 9
Peter 9
Alexander 8
Hugh 8
Edward 6
Wm. 6
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Geo. 5
Samuel 5
Ernest 4
Robt. 4
Andrew 3
Donald 3
Francis 3
Jacob 3
Neil 3
Patrick 3
Richd. 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Alex 2
Duncan 2
Fredrick 2
Jno. 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Albert 1
Alexr. 1
Anthony 1
Archibald 1
Archie 1
D. 1
Douglas 1
Edmond 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Livingstone surname: questions and answers

How common was the Livingstone surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,784 people were recorded with the Livingstone surname. That placed it at #1,604 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Livingstone surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,774 in 2016. That gives Livingstone a modern rank of #1,162.

What does the Livingstone surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a boundary stone or near a stone with a hollow.

What does the Livingstone map show?

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