NameCensus.

UK surname

Loan

A surname derived from the word "loan", possibly referring to someone who worked as a lender or moneylender.

In the 1881 census there were 174 people recorded with the Loan surname, ranking it #14,042 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 283, ranked #15,359, down from #14,042 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Girvan, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, County Durham and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Loan is 289 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.6%.

1881 census count

174

Ranked #14,042

Modern count

283

2016, ranked #15,359

Peak year

2014

289 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Loan had 174 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,042 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016, ranked #15,359.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 230 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Loan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Loan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Loan 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 105 #16,618
1861 historical 164 #14,188
1881 historical 174 #14,042
1891 historical 164 #17,205
1901 historical 230 #13,851
1911 historical 104 #22,209
1997 modern 255 #15,077
1998 modern 264 #15,119
1999 modern 259 #15,433
2000 modern 259 #15,390
2001 modern 247 #15,637
2002 modern 253 #15,677
2003 modern 254 #15,454
2004 modern 258 #15,386
2005 modern 254 #15,480
2006 modern 255 #15,521
2007 modern 255 #15,687
2008 modern 265 #15,425
2009 modern 269 #15,589
2010 modern 271 #15,856
2011 modern 266 #15,937
2012 modern 262 #16,001
2013 modern 280 #15,530
2014 modern 289 #15,251
2015 modern 285 #15,307
2016 modern 283 #15,359

Geography

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Where Loans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Girvan, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Kirkcudbright. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, County Durham, Gateshead and Drumchapel North. 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 Girvan Ayr
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Kirkcudbright Kirkcudbright

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 012 Allerdale
2 County Durham 019 County Durham
3 County Durham 005 County Durham
4 Gateshead 021 Gateshead
5 Drumchapel North Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Loan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Loan

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Loan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Loan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Loan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Loan 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

Loan falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Loan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Loan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Loan

The surname Loan is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "lane," which referred to a narrow path or road, particularly in rural areas. This name likely originated in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century, when it was common for people to be identified by their place of residence or a nearby geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Loan can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where a person named John atte Lane was listed. The use of the preposition "atte" before the name indicates that it referred to a specific location or landmark.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Lone, Loone, and Loane, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. These variations were eventually standardized to the modern spelling of Loan.

The Loan surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One prominent figure was Sir Peter Loan (1550-1612), an English merchant and diplomat who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1604. Another notable bearer of this name was John Loan (1677-1743), a Scottish mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of calculus.

In the literary realm, the name Loan has been carried by individuals such as John Loan Warden (1784-1856), a Scottish poet and novelist, and Marcus Loan (1828-1899), an English writer and journalist who worked for several prominent publications.

The Loan surname has also been associated with places and locations. For instance, Loan Head in Cumbria, England, is believed to have derived its name from the Old English word "lane," potentially referring to a nearby path or road.

Other notable bearers of the Loan surname include William Loan (1610-1676), an English clergyman and mathematician, and Robert Loan (1779-1861), a Scottish engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines.

While the surname Loan is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, scholars, writers, and inventors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Loan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Loan 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 54 Loans recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.84x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 54 9.84x
Durham 17 3.37x
Kirkcudbrightshire 15 61.05x
Middlesex 15 0.88x
Northumberland 12 4.75x
Kent 10 1.73x
Hampshire 8 2.30x
Lancashire 8 0.40x
Essex 6 1.79x
Wigtownshire 6 26.62x
Suffolk 5 2.42x
Gloucestershire 4 1.20x
Argyllshire 3 6.35x
Devon 2 0.57x
Dumfriesshire 2 5.33x
Surrey 2 0.24x
Ayrshire 1 0.79x
Monmouthshire 1 0.82x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.44x
Sussex 1 0.35x
Yorkshire 1 0.06x

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 25 Loans recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.00x.

Place Total Index
Barony 25 18.00x
Glasgow 20 20.52x
Cambuslang 7 126.58x
Kirkcudbright 7 344.83x
Portsea 7 10.27x
Woolwich 7 32.71x
Anick 6 6666.67x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 27.43x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 45.84x
Tolleshunt Knights 6 2222.22x
Balmaghie 5 925.93x
Esh 5 136.24x
Everton 5 7.79x
Flixton 5 3571.43x
Stranton 5 29.41x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 12.76x
Edmonton 4 29.24x
Hackney London 4 4.20x
Dunoon Kilmun 3 81.52x
Hythe St Leonard 3 146.34x
Lochrutton 3 833.33x
Mile End Old Town London 3 8.31x
Preston 3 5.57x
Wigtown 3 232.56x
Bothwell 2 13.43x
Carlaverock 2 327.87x
Old Luce 2 140.85x
St Michael Paternoster 2 3333.33x
Stoke Damerel 2 8.09x
Aldershot 1 8.58x
Bishop Auckland 1 14.77x
Brighton 1 1.73x
Chipstead 1 270.27x
Girvan 1 31.35x
Norwood 1 25.77x
Putney 1 12.92x
Radford 1 8.61x
Sorbie 1 101.01x
St Woollos 1 7.30x
Westminster St James 1 5.73x
York St Giles In 1 62.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Annie 4
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Alice 2
Caroline 2
Ellen 2
Sarah 2
Achsah 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Isabel 1
Isabela 1
Kate 1
Loan 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Rose 1
Sushannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
William 6
James 5
Thomas 5
Edward 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Frederick 1
Fredie 1
Geo. 1
Matthew 1
Rd.H. 1
Silas 1

FAQ

Loan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Loan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 174 people were recorded with the Loan surname. That placed it at #14,042 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Loan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 283 in 2016. That gives Loan a modern rank of #15,359.

What does the Loan surname mean?

A surname derived from the word "loan", possibly referring to someone who worked as a lender or moneylender.

What does the Loan map show?

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