NameCensus.

UK surname

Lockey

A locative surname derived from a place name meaning "enclosed land" or "meadow".

In the 1881 census there were 711 people recorded with the Lockey surname, ranking it #5,114 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,362, ranked #4,426, up from #5,114 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Ryton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmondshire, Scarborough and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lockey is 1,417 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.6%.

1881 census count

711

Ranked #5,114

Modern count

1,362

2016, ranked #4,426

Peak year

2010

1,417 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lockey had 711 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,114 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,362 in 2016, ranked #4,426.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,136 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lockey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lockey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lockey 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 500 #5,001
1861 historical 464 #5,600
1881 historical 711 #5,114
1891 historical 773 #5,186
1901 historical 1,005 #4,741
1911 historical 1,136 #4,098
1997 modern 1,331 #4,321
1998 modern 1,409 #4,251
1999 modern 1,373 #4,378
2000 modern 1,358 #4,409
2001 modern 1,333 #4,388
2002 modern 1,368 #4,374
2003 modern 1,314 #4,442
2004 modern 1,334 #4,399
2005 modern 1,305 #4,418
2006 modern 1,338 #4,349
2007 modern 1,361 #4,332
2008 modern 1,381 #4,300
2009 modern 1,408 #4,313
2010 modern 1,417 #4,364
2011 modern 1,405 #4,348
2012 modern 1,351 #4,422
2013 modern 1,378 #4,431
2014 modern 1,388 #4,423
2015 modern 1,373 #4,417
2016 modern 1,362 #4,426

Geography

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Where Lockeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Ryton, Bishop Wearmouth and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Richmondshire, Scarborough, Sandwell, Swindon and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Ryton Durham
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Richmondshire 006 Richmondshire
2 Scarborough 004 Scarborough
3 Sandwell 013 Sandwell
4 Swindon 007 Swindon
5 County Durham 048 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lockey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lockey

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Lockey is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Lockey is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Lockey

The surname LOCKEY is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "loc", meaning a lock or enclosure. It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, likely between the 11th and 13th centuries.

The name was initially associated with individuals who lived near a lock or enclosure, possibly referring to a gate or a small enclosed area. It may have been used as a descriptive name for those who lived or worked in such locations, or it could have been an occupational name for people who were responsible for maintaining or guarding locks or enclosures.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LOCKEY can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1275, where a certain Reginald Lockey is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where a William Lockey is listed. The name also appeared in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1388, mentioning a John Lockey.

The LOCKEY surname has been linked to several place names, including Lockey Farm in Worcestershire and Lockey Bank in Lancashire. These place names may have derived from the surname itself or could have influenced its development.

Notable individuals with the surname LOCKEY throughout history include:

1. John Lockey (c. 1545 - 1618), an English composer and musician during the Renaissance period. 2. William Lockey (c. 1610 - 1675), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. 3. Thomas Lockey (1677 - 1745), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Stamford in the early 18th century. 4. Elizabeth Lockey (1804 - 1890), a British philanthropist and social reformer, known for her efforts in improving the lives of the poor and advocating for women's rights. 5. Sir Oliver Lockey (1832 - 1919), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the 19th century and was knighted for his services.

The LOCKEY surname has a rich history and can be traced back to medieval England, where it originated as a descriptive name or an occupational name related to locks or enclosures. While its origins may be humble, the name has been carried by notable individuals throughout the centuries, leaving a lasting impact on various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lockey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lockey 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. Durham leads with 226 Lockeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.95x.

County Total Index
Durham 226 10.95x
Northumberland 125 12.11x
Yorkshire 104 1.51x
Middlesex 45 0.65x
Gloucestershire 44 3.23x
Surrey 28 0.83x
Bedfordshire 26 7.24x
Staffordshire 11 0.47x
Lancashire 10 0.12x
Wiltshire 10 1.63x
Berkshire 9 1.73x
Essex 8 0.58x
Lincolnshire 8 0.72x
Warwickshire 8 0.46x
Cheshire 7 0.46x
Worcestershire 7 0.77x
Cumberland 5 0.84x
Oxfordshire 5 1.17x
Sussex 5 0.43x
Herefordshire 4 1.41x
Roxburghshire 4 3.18x
Northamptonshire 3 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.32x
Lanarkshire 2 0.09x
Dorset 1 0.22x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Kent 1 0.04x
Leicestershire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Winlaton in Durham leads with 25 Lockeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 126.26x.

Place Total Index
Winlaton 25 126.26x
Alnwick 21 118.38x
Bermondsey 21 10.17x
Bishopwearmouth 21 11.86x
Holy Trinity 19 11.49x
Sedgefield 18 244.90x
Islington London 16 2.38x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 15 24.34x
Fishburn 14 1866.67x
Byker 13 25.49x
Elswick 13 15.78x
Norton 13 171.28x
Darlington 12 15.06x
Hazleton 12 2553.19x
West Auckland 12 159.15x
Lamesley 11 99.01x
Clifton 10 288.18x
St Giles 10 77.64x
Westgate 10 15.65x
Whickham 10 52.66x
Cheltenham 9 8.58x
Holywell 9 169.49x
Longbenton 9 20.59x
Newcastle On Tyne St 9 16.83x
Whitby 9 38.86x
Birmingham 8 1.37x
Lower Swell 8 824.74x
Marwood 8 1702.13x
Redworth 8 606.06x
Claines 7 28.16x
Crakehall 7 608.70x
Hawnby 7 1272.73x
Middlesbrough 7 7.82x
Ryton 7 96.55x
Southill 7 240.55x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 7 21.92x
Amble 6 127.66x
Bothal Demesne 6 121.46x
Cornforth 6 98.68x
Cowpen 6 25.25x
Hunton 6 612.24x
Little Bedwyn 6 500.00x
Naunton 6 476.19x
Nether Hallam 6 6.45x
Sedgley 6 6.90x
St Pancras London 6 1.07x
Tendring 6 298.51x
Wingate 6 42.43x
Auckland St Helen 5 230.41x
Bishop Auckland 5 18.06x
Boldon 5 68.03x
Coxhoe 5 85.47x
Hastings St Mary In The 5 20.04x
Little Lever 5 47.53x
Maulden 5 160.77x
Otley 5 29.96x
Sevenhampton 5 416.67x
Bawtry 4 184.33x
Farlam 4 106.38x
Hawick 4 14.22x
Leominster 4 33.98x
New Windsor 4 22.86x
Ormesby 4 21.66x
Preston 4 1.82x
Ramsbury 4 71.94x
Shoreditch London 4 1.33x
St Marylebone London 4 1.08x
Westbury On Trym 4 8.68x
Whittington 4 83.51x
Winnington 4 235.29x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 3 12.02x
Edmonton 3 5.37x
Heckington 3 71.09x
Heighington 3 198.68x
Henlow 3 135.14x
Northampton Priory St 3 7.66x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.24x
Paddington London 3 1.18x
Shrivenham 3 116.28x
Terrington With 3 225.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 57
Elizabeth 36
Jane 23
Sarah 21
Isabella 15
Margaret 13
Ann 11
Eliza 10
Annie 9
Hannah 9
Alice 7
Emma 7
Martha 6
Eleanor 5
Ellen 5
Harriet 5
Rose 5
Caroline 4
Fanny 4
Kate 4
Anne 3
Christiana 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Lizzie 3
Minnie 3
Ruth 3
Ada 2
Catherine 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Francis 2
Henrietta 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Matilda 2
Phillis 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Adelaide 1
Amelia 1
Amey 1
Beatrice 1
Camilla 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Jennet 1
Katherine 1
Leah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 56
William 40
George 27
James 26
Thomas 25
Robert 22
Henry 13
Charles 9
Edward 9
Francis 9
Richard 9
Alfred 8
Samuel 8
Joseph 7
Walter 6
Arthur 5
Frederick 4
Redman 4
Thos. 4
Wm. 4
Andrew 3
Christopher 3
Fred 3
Harry 3
Albert 2
Arkless 2
Benjamin 2
Bryce 2
Matthew 2
Chas. 1
Crout 1
David 1
Frank 1
Geo 1
Henery 1
Hughes 1
Jas. 1
Joshua 1
M.Davison 1
Nicholas 1
Nicolas 1
Noah 1
Noar 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
R.D. 1
Ralph 1
Ridman 1
Robertson 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Lockey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lockey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 711 people were recorded with the Lockey surname. That placed it at #5,114 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lockey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,362 in 2016. That gives Lockey a modern rank of #4,426.

What does the Lockey surname mean?

A locative surname derived from a place name meaning "enclosed land" or "meadow".

What does the Lockey map show?

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