NameCensus.

UK surname

Lofthouse

A surname derived from a person who lived in or near a loft house or an upstairs room.

In the 1881 census there were 2,232 people recorded with the Lofthouse surname, ranking it #1,993 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,636, ranked #2,531, down from #1,993 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkby Malzeard, Manchester and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrogate, Copeland and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lofthouse is 2,773 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.1%.

1881 census count

2,232

Ranked #1,993

Modern count

2,636

2016, ranked #2,531

Peak year

1911

2,773 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lofthouse had 2,232 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,993 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,636 in 2016, ranked #2,531.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,773 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lofthouse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lofthouse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lofthouse 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 1,313 #2,184
1861 historical 1,511 #1,868
1881 historical 2,232 #1,993
1891 historical 2,486 #1,907
1901 historical 2,628 #2,099
1911 historical 2,773 #1,874
1997 modern 2,671 #2,390
1998 modern 2,766 #2,401
1999 modern 2,762 #2,418
2000 modern 2,764 #2,404
2001 modern 2,702 #2,405
2002 modern 2,759 #2,413
2003 modern 2,676 #2,425
2004 modern 2,647 #2,449
2005 modern 2,601 #2,456
2006 modern 2,604 #2,459
2007 modern 2,589 #2,485
2008 modern 2,600 #2,493
2009 modern 2,683 #2,475
2010 modern 2,742 #2,487
2011 modern 2,696 #2,492
2012 modern 2,595 #2,538
2013 modern 2,644 #2,540
2014 modern 2,681 #2,525
2015 modern 2,655 #2,527
2016 modern 2,636 #2,531

Geography

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Where Lofthouses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkby Malzeard, Manchester, Bradford, Blackburn and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrogate, Copeland and Kirklees. 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 Kirkby Malzeard Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrogate 009 Harrogate
2 Copeland 005 Copeland
3 Kirklees 028 Kirklees
4 Copeland 003 Copeland
5 Harrogate 018 Harrogate

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lofthouse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lofthouse

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lofthouse, 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 Lofthouse surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lofthouse 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lofthouse 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

Lofthouse 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

Lofthouse falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lofthouse 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 Lofthouse, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lofthouse

The surname Lofthouse has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the Old English words "loft" meaning an upper room, and "hus" meaning a house. The name likely referred to individuals who resided in a house with an upper chamber or loft.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Lofthouse date back to the early 13th century. It appears in various historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1230, where a Richard de Lofthous was mentioned. This suggests the name may have originated in the Yorkshire region.

Another early reference to the surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a William de Lofthous from Lincolnshire. This indicates the name was also present in other parts of England during the medieval period.

In the 14th century, the surname was recorded in various spellings, such as Lofthous, Loftehouse, and Loftehous, reflecting the evolution of language and local dialects.

One notable individual with the surname Lofthouse was John Lofthouse, born in Yorkshire in the late 16th century. He was a prominent Protestant minister and writer who published several religious works during the early 17th century.

Another distinguished bearer of the name was Sir Christopher Lofthouse, born in 1677 in Yorkshire. He was a wealthy landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Beverley from 1710 to 1722.

In the 18th century, a notable figure was John Lofthouse, born in 1736 in Yorkshire. He was a renowned mathematician and astronomer, known for his contributions to the fields of celestial mechanics and navigation.

The surname Lofthouse also appeared in various literary works throughout history. For instance, in Charles Dickens' novel "The Old Curiosity Shop," published in 1841, one of the characters is named Lofthouse.

In the 19th century, a significant figure was William Lofthouse, born in 1837 in Yorkshire. He was a prominent industrialist and inventor, responsible for developing several innovative mining and engineering technologies.

While the surname Lofthouse has its roots in England, particularly in Yorkshire and the surrounding regions, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and dispersal of families over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lofthouse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lofthouse 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,331 Lofthouses recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.17x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,331 6.17x
Lancashire 567 2.20x
Durham 81 1.25x
Middlesex 66 0.30x
Surrey 39 0.37x
Cheshire 22 0.46x
Kent 22 0.30x
Northumberland 15 0.46x
Derbyshire 13 0.38x
Huntingdonshire 9 2.08x
Cumberland 8 0.43x
Essex 7 0.16x
Lanarkshire 6 0.09x
Shropshire 6 0.32x
Staffordshire 6 0.08x
Hampshire 5 0.11x
Leicestershire 4 0.17x
Northamptonshire 4 0.20x
Warwickshire 4 0.07x
Gloucestershire 3 0.07x
Isle of Man 3 0.74x
Lincolnshire 3 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.10x
Berkshire 1 0.06x
Dorset 1 0.07x
Monmouthshire 1 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 123 Lofthouses recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.10x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 123 10.10x
Bradford 46 8.81x
Wortley In Bramley 43 25.18x
Horton In Bradford 37 10.99x
Clitheroe 36 47.36x
Lancaster 33 21.48x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 29 39.32x
Burley In Wharfdale 28 147.06x
Lambeth 27 1.42x
Otley 27 51.57x
Hunslet 26 7.73x
Laverton 24 1057.27x
Middlesbrough 23 8.19x
Sowerby In Thirsk 22 169.49x
Linthorpe 21 16.32x
Preston 20 2.89x
Stockton On Tees 20 6.41x
Pendleton In Clitheroe 19 194.47x
Ripon 19 37.98x
Great Bolton 18 5.26x
Oswaldtwistle 18 19.73x
Scarborough 18 9.19x
Wakefield 18 10.87x
Blackburn 17 2.47x
Eccleshill 17 32.39x
Barnsley 16 7.19x
Headingley Cum Burley 16 11.53x
Billington 15 142.32x
Hulme 15 2.78x
Killinghall 15 297.03x
Oldham 15 1.80x
Selby 15 33.28x
Worsley 15 9.42x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 14 6.97x
Islington London 14 0.66x
Manchester 14 1.21x
Sheffield 14 2.04x
York St Maurice 14 34.47x
Carlton Highdale 13 702.70x
Ecclesfield 13 8.22x
Huncoat 13 187.59x
Liverpool 13 0.83x
Naburn 13 306.60x
Tadcaster West 13 76.16x
Thornton In Fylde 13 23.01x
Windle 13 8.95x
Bishop Wilton Cum 12 289.16x
Morley 12 10.70x
Shipley 12 10.72x
St George Hanover Square 12 3.13x
Armley 11 11.56x
Copmanthorpe 11 474.14x
Eskdaleside 11 103.77x
Grewelthorpe 11 286.46x
North Bierley 11 9.45x
Rainton Cum Newby 11 374.15x
Wheldrake 11 247.19x
Aighton Bailey 10 80.39x
Bradfield 10 12.03x
Glossop Dale 10 6.27x
Hartwith Cum Winsley 10 126.58x
Kirkby Malzeard 10 211.86x
Read 10 144.72x
Roecliffe 10 552.49x
Barton Upon Irwell 9 4.63x
Bishopwearmouth 9 1.62x
Cassop 9 201.79x
Castleton 9 3.49x
Dilworth 9 56.89x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 2.05x
Great Harwood 9 19.28x
Huddersfield 9 2.86x
Hyde 9 6.35x
Salford 9 1.19x
Stretford 9 6.33x
Tunstall In Richmond 9 494.51x
Whalley 9 23.91x
Widnes 9 4.83x
York All Sts Peasholme 9 257.14x
York St Helen On Walls 9 254.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 177
Elizabeth 76
Jane 71
Sarah 69
Ann 51
Margaret 50
Alice 47
Annie 40
Hannah 36
Ellen 33
Catherine 29
Eliza 28
Emma 20
Emily 17
Isabella 15
Martha 15
Ada 14
Harriet 14
Eleanor 12
Edith 11
Fanny 11
Anne 10
Louisa 9
Maria 9
Esther 8
Frances 8
Kate 8
Bridget 7
Charlotte 6
Grace 6
Rebecca 6
Clara 5
Florence 5
Rose 5
Ruth 5
Agnes 4
Amelia 4
Elizth. 4
Henrietta 4
Margret 4
Susannah 4
Bertha 3
Caroline 3
Isabel 3
Lillian 3
Lilly 3
Lily 3
Matilda 3
Rhoda 3
Selina 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 167
William 107
Thomas 88
James 86
George 66
Joseph 45
Robert 44
Charles 33
Henry 31
Edward 30
Arthur 19
Alfred 16
Christopher 16
Patrick 13
Fred 11
Harry 11
Matthew 11
Richard 11
Walter 11
Francis 10
Samuel 10
Tom 10
Herbert 9
Mark 9
Albert 8
Geo. 8
Frederick 7
Wm. 7
Frank 6
Michael 6
Stephen 6
Thos. 6
David 5
Ernest 5
Ralph 5
Anthony 4
Benjamin 4
Isaac 4
Joe 4
Peter 4
Edwin 3
Leonard 3
Martin 3
Robt. 3
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Fredk. 2
Lawrence 2
Mayjor 2
Michl. 2

FAQ

Lofthouse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lofthouse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,232 people were recorded with the Lofthouse surname. That placed it at #1,993 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lofthouse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,636 in 2016. That gives Lofthouse a modern rank of #2,531.

What does the Lofthouse surname mean?

A surname derived from a person who lived in or near a loft house or an upstairs room.

What does the Lofthouse map show?

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