NameCensus.

UK surname

Lochhead

A surname derived from a Scottish placename referring to someone living near a lake or inlet.

In the 1881 census there were 542 people recorded with the Lochhead surname, ranking it #6,362 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 805, ranked #6,877, down from #6,362 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Alva, Govan Combination and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Machars South, Viewlands, Craigie and Wellshill and Rhins North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lochhead is 805 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.5%.

1881 census count

542

Ranked #6,362

Modern count

805

2016, ranked #6,877

Peak year

2016

805 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lochhead had 542 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,362 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 805 in 2016, ranked #6,877.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 772 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Lochhead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lochhead surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lochhead 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 273 #8,212
1861 historical 278 #8,998
1881 historical 542 #6,362
1891 historical 683 #5,732
1901 historical 772 #5,804
1911 historical 35 #29,478
1997 modern 711 #7,165
1998 modern 754 #7,064
1999 modern 755 #7,116
2000 modern 734 #7,231
2001 modern 710 #7,286
2002 modern 739 #7,190
2003 modern 711 #7,288
2004 modern 705 #7,350
2005 modern 699 #7,356
2006 modern 691 #7,433
2007 modern 717 #7,294
2008 modern 717 #7,349
2009 modern 736 #7,358
2010 modern 752 #7,367
2011 modern 744 #7,358
2012 modern 748 #7,246
2013 modern 770 #7,192
2014 modern 782 #7,127
2015 modern 799 #6,940
2016 modern 805 #6,877

Geography

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Where Lochheads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Alva, Govan Combination, 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 Machars South, Viewlands, Craigie and Wellshill, Rhins North, Gourock East, Greenock West and Lyle Road and Collin. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Alva Stirling
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Machars South Dumfries and Galloway
2 Viewlands, Craigie and Wellshill Perth and Kinross
3 Rhins North Dumfries and Galloway
4 Gourock East, Greenock West and Lyle Road Inverclyde
5 Collin Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lochhead

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lochhead

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lochhead, 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 Lochhead surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Lochhead 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, Lochhead 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

Lochhead 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

Lochhead falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lochhead is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lochhead

The surname Lochhead is of Scottish origin, originating from the Lowlands region of Scotland. It is a locational name, derived from a place name that refers to someone who lived near a small lake or loch. The name can be traced back to the early 12th century.

The name is believed to have originated from the Old English word "loch," meaning a lake or arm of the sea, and the word "head," referring to the head or source of a body of water. It is likely that the earliest bearers of the name lived near a small loch or lake in an area that became known as Lochhead.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which list individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name is recorded as "William de Lochede" from Roxburghshire. This suggests that the name was already established in the Scottish Borders region by the late 13th century.

In the 15th century, the name appears in the records of the Diocese of Glasgow, where a "Thomas Lochhed" is mentioned as a witness to a charter in 1451. This further confirms the presence of the name in the central Scottish Lowlands during the medieval period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Lochhead. One of the earliest was Robert Lochhead (c. 1565 - 1647), a Scottish Protestant minister and principal of the University of Glasgow from 1637 to 1647.

Another notable figure was John Lochhead (1766 - 1839), a Scottish merchant and Provost of Paisley from 1823 to 1836. He played a significant role in the development of the town's industries and infrastructure.

In the field of literature, Alexander Lochhead (1888 - 1948) was a Scottish poet and novelist known for his works exploring working-class life in Glasgow. His most famous work is the novel "The Girnel Painters" published in 1937.

In more recent times, Douglas Lochhead (1922 - 2011) was a Canadian artist and painter, best known for his abstract expressionist works and his contributions to the development of modern art in Canada.

Finally, one cannot overlook the achievements of Lyndall Lochhead (1939 - 2021), a New Zealand poet and playwright. She was the recipient of numerous literary awards, including the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement in 2005, and was recognized for her significant contributions to New Zealand literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lochhead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lochhead 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 255 Lochheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.97x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 255 14.97x
Renfrewshire 126 30.87x
Ayrshire 55 13.95x
Midlothian 27 3.83x
Angus 19 3.89x
Clackmannanshire 11 25.29x
Stirlingshire 10 5.15x
Dunbartonshire 8 5.65x
Buteshire 7 21.93x
Wigtownshire 6 8.58x
Fife 5 1.60x
Argyllshire 4 2.73x
Cheshire 2 0.17x
Dumfriesshire 2 1.72x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.21x
Cumberland 1 0.22x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.31x

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 90 Lochheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.36x.

Place Total Index
Govan 90 21.36x
Glasgow 49 16.20x
Barony 38 8.81x
Shotts 21 102.99x
Abbey 20 32.11x
Hamilton 19 39.99x
Dundee 18 9.88x
Paisley Middle Church 18 75.73x
Houston Killallan 15 379.75x
East Greenock 14 36.32x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 14 4.93x
Kilbarchan 12 96.77x
New Monkland 11 21.84x
Paisley Low Church 11 85.14x
Alva 10 107.87x
Kilmarnock 10 21.31x
Largs 10 107.64x
Cambusnethan 9 23.78x
Erskine 9 303.03x
Ayr 8 42.99x
Cockpen 8 96.97x
St Quivox 8 60.02x
Clackmannan 7 85.16x
Stewarton 7 89.74x
West Greenock 7 9.55x
Dalziel 6 32.73x
Maryhill 6 17.99x
Avondale 5 50.20x
Bonhill 5 22.01x
Cathcart 5 22.63x
Rothesay 5 32.34x
Torryburn 5 370.37x
Alloa 4 18.96x
Kilmalcolm 4 81.80x
Neilston 4 19.52x
Dalry 3 16.17x
Dunoon Kilmun 3 26.22x
Inch 3 43.99x
Irvine 3 27.40x
Kilwinning 3 23.57x
Old Luce 3 68.03x
South Leith 3 3.78x
Ashton On Mersey 2 33.28x
Edinburgh St Stephens 2 14.40x
Lochwinnoch 2 32.89x
New Kilpatrick 2 14.85x
Paisley High Church 2 6.15x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 1.10x
Beith 1 8.50x
Bothwell 1 2.16x
Cumbernauld 1 12.89x
Dumfries 1 8.71x
Dunoon 1 33.11x
Eastwood 1 3.98x
Harrington 1 18.28x
Inverkip 1 10.40x
Kells 1 57.14x
Kilbride 1 25.45x
Kingarth 1 43.67x
Kirkpatrick Juxta 1 52.63x
Liff Benvie 1 1.35x
Loudoun 1 10.55x
Old Cumnock 1 11.39x
Port Glasgow 1 5.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizth. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 1
Robert 1

FAQ

Lochhead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lochhead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 542 people were recorded with the Lochhead surname. That placed it at #6,362 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lochhead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 805 in 2016. That gives Lochhead a modern rank of #6,877.

What does the Lochhead surname mean?

A surname derived from a Scottish placename referring to someone living near a lake or inlet.

What does the Lochhead map show?

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