NameCensus.

UK surname

Loney

Derived from a place name meaning "lone tree" or "isolated clearing" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 419 people recorded with the Loney surname, ranking it #7,703 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 552, ranked #9,254, down from #7,703 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale, Kirkintilloch West and Fankerton, Stoneywood and Denny Town.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Loney is 597 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.7%.

1881 census count

419

Ranked #7,703

Modern count

552

2016, ranked #9,254

Peak year

1998

597 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Loney had 419 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,703 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 552 in 2016, ranked #9,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 488 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Loney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Loney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Loney 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 259 #8,550
1861 historical 324 #7,860
1881 historical 419 #7,703
1891 historical 418 #8,561
1901 historical 488 #8,194
1911 historical 385 #9,551
1997 modern 566 #8,486
1998 modern 597 #8,422
1999 modern 592 #8,517
2000 modern 594 #8,478
2001 modern 555 #8,747
2002 modern 573 #8,710
2003 modern 563 #8,691
2004 modern 560 #8,754
2005 modern 541 #8,900
2006 modern 545 #8,875
2007 modern 531 #9,131
2008 modern 533 #9,182
2009 modern 539 #9,313
2010 modern 559 #9,245
2011 modern 537 #9,460
2012 modern 531 #9,431
2013 modern 539 #9,497
2014 modern 544 #9,476
2015 modern 549 #9,324
2016 modern 552 #9,254

Geography

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Where Loneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rossendale, Kirkintilloch West, Fankerton, Stoneywood and Denny Town, Barmulloch and Wiltshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rossendale 003 Rossendale
2 Kirkintilloch West East Dunbartonshire
3 Fankerton, Stoneywood and Denny Town Falkirk
4 Barmulloch Glasgow City
5 Wiltshire 019 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Loney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Loney

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Loney 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

Loney is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Loney falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Loney

The surname Loney has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from an Old English word "lone," meaning a lane or path. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a lane or path.

Loney is a variant spelling of the more common surname Loney, which was found in various records from the medieval period. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Thomas de la Lone."

During the 14th century, the name was recorded in various forms, such as "Atte Lone" and "Attlone," indicating its connection to a specific geographic location or landmark. The prefix "atte" was commonly used at that time to denote someone living near a particular place.

In the 15th century, the surname Loney began to appear more frequently in historical records. One notable figure from this period was John Loney, who was born around 1420 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local gentry.

Another early record of the name can be found in the Inquisitiones Post Mortem, a collection of medieval documents relating to land ownership and inheritance. In 1487, a Thomas Loney from Berkshire was mentioned in these records.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Loney surname continued to be documented in various parts of England. One notable individual was Sir William Loney, born in 1568 in Oxfordshire, who served as a member of Parliament and was knighted for his service to the Crown.

In the 18th century, the Loney family had established itself in various regions of England, with recorded instances of the name in counties such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire. One notable figure from this period was Robert Loney, born in 1712 in Yorkshire, who was a prominent merchant and landowner.

As the name spread across England, it also underwent variations in spelling, including Loney, Lonee, and Lony. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and pronunciation preferences.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Loney surname, including:

1. Richard Loney (1574-1640), an English clergyman and author. 2. Mary Loney (1745-1819), a writer and poet from Gloucestershire. 3. John Loney (1787-1862), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. 4. William Loney (1809-1888), a renowned mathematician and author of several influential textbooks. 5. Alice Loney (1888-1965), a British actress and stage performer.

While the surname Loney is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages, with roots in Old English and connections to various regions of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Loney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Loney 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. Middlesex leads with 59 Loneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.42x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 59 1.42x
Angus 40 10.39x
Lanarkshire 39 2.90x
Hampshire 34 3.99x
Lancashire 30 0.61x
Somerset 29 4.34x
Devon 22 2.54x
Gloucestershire 19 2.33x
Oxfordshire 14 5.46x
Wiltshire 13 3.54x
Kent 12 0.85x
Perthshire 12 6.43x
Durham 10 0.81x
Glamorgan 10 1.38x
Surrey 10 0.49x
Channel Islands 8 6.50x
Midlothian 8 1.44x
Yorkshire 7 0.17x
Cumberland 6 1.68x
Berwickshire 5 9.94x
Renfrewshire 5 1.55x
Stirlingshire 5 3.26x
Monmouthshire 4 1.33x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.71x
Staffordshire 4 0.29x
Cornwall 3 0.64x
Warwickshire 3 0.29x
Worcestershire 3 0.55x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.26x
Berkshire 1 0.32x
Brecknockshire 1 1.20x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.40x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.38x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.90x
Essex 1 0.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 25 Loneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.48x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 25 10.48x
Dundee 20 13.92x
Islington London 20 4.97x
Liff Benvie 20 34.22x
Portsea 19 11.38x
Wellington 17 187.43x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 15.64x
Exeter St Mary Major 12 230.33x
Oxford St Giles 12 98.04x
Alverstoke 9 29.19x
Bromley London 9 9.84x
Newchurch 9 22.31x
Carluke 8 65.57x
Croydon 8 7.12x
Barrow In Furness 7 10.44x
Bristol St Paul In 7 32.24x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 7 270.27x
Perth East Church 7 39.82x
Oystermouth 6 107.14x
St George In East London 6 15.35x
Swindon 6 21.05x
West Calder 6 54.69x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 4.64x
Denny 5 61.35x
East Greenock 5 16.44x
Egremont 5 58.62x
Eltham 5 60.17x
Exeter Holy Trinity 5 147.49x
Halse 5 877.19x
Mile End Old Town London 5 5.65x
Minster In Sheppey 5 21.29x
Polworth 5 1562.50x
Heckmondwike 4 30.21x
Nottingham St Mary 4 2.76x
Poplar London 4 5.10x
St Andrew Holborn London 4 22.23x
St Martin 4 53.05x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 2.69x
Sunderland 4 18.32x
Aberystruth 3 11.33x
Birmingham 3 0.86x
Bishopwearmouth 3 2.83x
Falmouth 3 18.02x
Kilspindie 3 303.03x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 12.43x
Old Monkland 3 5.63x
St Katherine By Tower 3 3333.33x
Chard 2 24.69x
Hackney London 2 0.86x
Lower Mitton 2 41.84x
Manchester 2 0.90x
Moreton Hampstead 2 89.29x
Perth West Church 2 22.60x
Southwark St Olave 2 63.09x
St Helier 2 4.99x
St Peter Port 2 8.78x
St Thomas Winchester 2 33.28x
Taunton St Mary 2 16.29x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 1.39x
All Saints Cambridge 1 54.05x
Barony 1 0.29x
Basingstoke 1 10.20x
Bedwellty 1 1.89x
Brecknock St John 1 14.27x
Cleator 1 6.72x
Clevedon 1 14.37x
Cookham 1 10.29x
East Ham 1 6.57x
Exeter St David 1 13.53x
Halsall 1 51.28x
Ilston 1 250.00x
Llandaff 1 4.15x
Llansamlet Lower 1 15.27x
Roath 1 3.04x
Roseneath 1 46.73x
Rutherglen 1 5.07x
Salcombe Regis 1 123.46x
St Decumans Watchet 1 59.17x
West Derby 1 0.69x
Westminster St James 1 2.34x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Loney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Loney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 419 people were recorded with the Loney surname. That placed it at #7,703 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Loney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 552 in 2016. That gives Loney a modern rank of #9,254.

What does the Loney surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "lone tree" or "isolated clearing" in Old English.

What does the Loney map show?

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