NameCensus.

UK surname

Longfield

A locational surname indicating someone who lived near or owned a long field.

In the 1881 census there were 287 people recorded with the Longfield surname, ranking it #10,014 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 357, ranked #12,953, down from #10,014 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Otley, Manchester and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, East Riding of Yorkshire and Selby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Longfield is 416 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.4%.

1881 census count

287

Ranked #10,014

Modern count

357

2016, ranked #12,953

Peak year

1911

416 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Longfield had 287 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,014 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 357 in 2016, ranked #12,953.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 416 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Longfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Longfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Longfield 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 211 #9,997
1861 historical 223 #10,942
1881 historical 287 #10,014
1891 historical 341 #10,041
1901 historical 359 #10,242
1911 historical 416 #9,028
1997 modern 362 #11,866
1998 modern 381 #11,812
1999 modern 395 #11,555
2000 modern 391 #11,591
2001 modern 374 #11,805
2002 modern 391 #11,627
2003 modern 369 #11,941
2004 modern 368 #12,001
2005 modern 369 #11,901
2006 modern 353 #12,363
2007 modern 351 #12,571
2008 modern 352 #12,631
2009 modern 361 #12,663
2010 modern 358 #13,001
2011 modern 353 #13,004
2012 modern 343 #13,158
2013 modern 351 #13,159
2014 modern 348 #13,320
2015 modern 354 #13,063
2016 modern 357 #12,953

Geography

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Where Longfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Otley, Manchester, Bradford, Wallasey and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, East Riding of Yorkshire and Selby. 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 Otley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wallasey Cheshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 001 Wakefield
2 Wakefield 034 Wakefield
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 040 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Wakefield 002 Wakefield
5 Selby 008 Selby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Longfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Longfield

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Longfield is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Longfield is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Longfield

The surname Longfield is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place where the original bearer resided or hailed from. The name likely refers to a long, open field or a stretch of cultivated land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Longfield can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. Here, the name is spelled "Langfeld," which further supports the theory of its locational origin.

During the medieval period, surnames derived from place names were commonly adopted by those who migrated from their ancestral homes to other areas. This practice helped distinguish individuals and families who shared the same first name.

In the 16th century, the surname Longfield appears in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1524, where a John Longfeld is mentioned. The variant spelling "Longfeld" was prevalent during this time.

One notable figure in history bearing the surname Longfield was Richard Longfield (1599-1668), an English clergyman who served as the Dean of Derry and the Bishop of Bristol. He played a significant role in the Church of England during the turbulent period of the English Civil War.

Another prominent individual was Sir Marmaduke Longfield (1658-1727), an Irish judge and landowner. He served as the Lord Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer from 1712 until his death in 1727.

In the 18th century, John Longfield (1737-1811) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Pavilion in Brighton for King George IV.

Moving into the 19th century, Robert Longfield (1802-1879) was an Irish lawyer and politician who served as the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1867 to 1879.

Finally, a more recent figure with the surname Longfield was Mountifort Longfield (1906-1969), an Irish mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to the field of general relativity.

While the surname Longfield may have originated from a specific location, it has since spread across various regions and countries, with bearers contributing to various disciplines throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Longfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Longfield 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 186 Longfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.73x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 186 6.73x
Lancashire 22 0.66x
Warwickshire 21 2.98x
Nottinghamshire 9 2.39x
Durham 8 0.96x
Middlesex 7 0.25x
Devon 5 0.86x
Glamorgan 4 0.82x
Gloucestershire 4 0.73x
Essex 3 0.54x
Kent 3 0.32x
Northumberland 3 0.72x
Cheshire 2 0.32x
Herefordshire 2 1.75x
Lincolnshire 2 0.45x
Flintshire 1 1.33x
Norfolk 1 0.23x
Renfrewshire 1 0.46x
Staffordshire 1 0.11x
Westmorland 1 1.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sherburn in Yorkshire leads with 27 Longfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 1189.43x.

Place Total Index
Sherburn 27 1189.43x
Otley 26 387.48x
Leeds 22 14.09x
Birmingham 13 5.54x
Manningham 10 29.36x
Newark Upon Trent 9 66.62x
Aston 8 4.13x
Pudsey 8 54.13x
Sculcoates 8 18.25x
Ardwick 6 20.09x
Bradford 6 8.97x
Dalton In Huddersfield 6 96.93x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 33.73x
Saddleworth 6 28.14x
South Newbald 6 4000.00x
St George In East London 6 22.87x
Biggin 5 4166.67x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 19.02x
Burtonwood 5 413.22x
Gateshead 5 8.05x
York Holy Trinity 5 209.21x
Cheltenham 4 9.48x
Heckmondwike 4 44.99x
Scarborough 4 15.92x
Selby 4 69.20x
Snaith Cowick 4 242.42x
Ystradyfodwg 4 9.39x
Arthington 3 697.67x
Elswick 3 9.06x
Great Warley 3 240.00x
Hipperholme Cum 3 24.69x
Horton In Bradford 3 6.95x
Oldham 3 2.81x
Rastrick 3 39.06x
South Shields 3 40.60x
Claxby In Caistor 2 645.16x
Clifton In Halifax 2 121.21x
Devonport 2 29.99x
Heaton 2 67.34x
Holy Trinity 2 3.01x
Hoole 2 85.84x
Kirk Smeaton 2 555.56x
Lynsted 2 162.60x
Plymstock 2 65.79x
Riccall 2 266.67x
Barnsley 1 3.51x
Casterton 1 181.82x
Fangfoss 1 625.00x
Hambleton 1 196.08x
Hawarden 1 16.98x
Hereford St Martin 1 71.94x
Huddersfield 1 2.48x
Layton With Warbreck 1 8.23x
Margate St John Baptist 1 5.74x
Normanby In 1 13.53x
North Duffield 1 277.78x
Norwich St Peter Hungate 1 270.27x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.24x
Port Glasgow 1 9.57x
Rusholme 1 11.33x
Salford 1 1.03x
Skipton 1 11.49x
St Pancras London 1 0.45x
Vowchurch 1 322.58x
West Bromwich 1 1.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 15
George 14
Charles 12
John 11
Thomas 9
Arthur 7
Harry 6
James 6
Fred 5
Robert 5
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Joshua 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Collin 1
Edward 1
Elijah 1
Enoch 1
Forster 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.C. 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Edwin 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Jos. 1
Lawson 1
Mountfort 1
Mountifort 1
Nathan 1
Percy 1
Tho. 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Charles 1
Willie 1
Wm.D. 1

FAQ

Longfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Longfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 287 people were recorded with the Longfield surname. That placed it at #10,014 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Longfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 357 in 2016. That gives Longfield a modern rank of #12,953.

What does the Longfield surname mean?

A locational surname indicating someone who lived near or owned a long field.

What does the Longfield map show?

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