NameCensus.

UK surname

Lonsdale

A locational surname referring to someone from Lonsdale, a valley in northwest England.

In the 1881 census there were 2,477 people recorded with the Lonsdale surname, ranking it #1,798 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,224, ranked #2,109, down from #1,798 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Stanhope and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Scarborough and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lonsdale is 3,431 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.2%.

1881 census count

2,477

Ranked #1,798

Modern count

3,224

2016, ranked #2,109

Peak year

1999

3,431 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lonsdale had 2,477 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,798 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,224 in 2016, ranked #2,109.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,177 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Lonsdale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lonsdale surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lonsdale 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 1,419 #2,030
1861 historical 1,482 #1,907
1881 historical 2,477 #1,798
1891 historical 2,619 #1,821
1901 historical 2,999 #1,867
1911 historical 3,177 #1,641
1997 modern 3,277 #1,965
1998 modern 3,353 #1,996
1999 modern 3,431 #1,977
2000 modern 3,391 #1,988
2001 modern 3,353 #1,970
2002 modern 3,371 #2,012
2003 modern 3,248 #2,028
2004 modern 3,252 #2,028
2005 modern 3,170 #2,046
2006 modern 3,229 #2,025
2007 modern 3,175 #2,066
2008 modern 3,219 #2,061
2009 modern 3,329 #2,052
2010 modern 3,387 #2,056
2011 modern 3,349 #2,049
2012 modern 3,272 #2,057
2013 modern 3,311 #2,072
2014 modern 3,303 #2,094
2015 modern 3,246 #2,106
2016 modern 3,224 #2,109

Geography

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Where Lonsdales are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Stanhope, Blackburn, Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Scarborough, Stockton-on-Tees and Hyndburn. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Stanhope Durham
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 038 County Durham
2 County Durham 042 County Durham
3 Scarborough 002 Scarborough
4 Stockton-on-Tees 004 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Hyndburn 001 Hyndburn

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lonsdale

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lonsdale

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Lonsdale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lonsdale household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lonsdale 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

Lonsdale 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

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

Meaning and origin of Lonsdale

The surname Lonsdale has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Lancashire. It is derived from the Old English words "lund" meaning a grove or small wood, and "dæl" meaning a valley or dale. The name likely referred to someone who lived in a valley near a small wood or grove of trees.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Lonsdale can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Lonsdale". This suggests that the name existed in England before the Norman Conquest of 1066.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the Lonsdale family held lands in the area of Lonsdale, which is now part of the modern-day city of Lancaster. The family's coat of arms featured a red lion rampant on a silver shield, indicating their status as landowners and their connection to the region.

One notable figure with the surname Lonsdale was Sir John Lonsdale (1528-1587), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was involved in the suppression of the Northern Rebellion in 1569.

Another prominent individual with this surname was James Lonsdale (1777-1839), a British geologist and paleontologist. He made significant contributions to the study of fossil plants and was a pioneer in the field of paleobotany.

In the 19th century, the Lonsdale family played a role in the industrialization of Lancashire. William Lonsdale (1794-1871) was a successful cotton manufacturer and philanthropist who established several schools and churches in the region.

During the same period, Edward Lonsdale (1817-1890) was a notable architect who designed numerous buildings in Lancashire, including churches, schools, and public buildings. His works were heavily influenced by the Gothic Revival style popular at the time.

Another notable figure was Frederick Lonsdale (1881-1954), an English playwright and screenwriter. He wrote several successful plays in the early 20th century, including "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" and "On Approval".

The name Lonsdale has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Lonsdale Avenue, Lonsdale Road, and Lonsdale Street, which can be found in cities like Liverpool, Manchester, and London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lonsdale families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lonsdale 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. Lancashire leads with 982 Lonsdales recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 982 3.42x
Yorkshire 660 2.75x
Durham 384 5.33x
Middlesex 138 0.57x
Surrey 50 0.42x
Lincolnshire 48 1.24x
Cumberland 38 1.82x
Northumberland 31 0.86x
Derbyshire 18 0.47x
Staffordshire 15 0.18x
Cheshire 13 0.24x
Worcestershire 12 0.38x
Kent 10 0.12x
Lanarkshire 10 0.13x
Sussex 10 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.21x
Dorset 6 0.38x
Gloucestershire 6 0.13x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.78x
Hampshire 5 0.10x
Monmouthshire 5 0.29x
Somerset 4 0.10x
Denbighshire 3 0.33x
Devon 3 0.06x
Dumfriesshire 3 0.56x
Essex 3 0.06x
Flintshire 3 0.46x
Warwickshire 3 0.05x
Wigtownshire 3 0.93x
Channel Islands 2 0.28x
Berkshire 1 0.06x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.07x
Westmorland 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 87 Lonsdales recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.37x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 87 11.37x
Colne 80 93.39x
Leeds 77 5.68x
Newchurch 60 25.51x
Accrington 56 21.42x
Oswaldtwistle 41 40.36x
Stanhope 39 52.40x
Haslingden 33 27.72x
Keighley 30 11.72x
Thornley 28 107.32x
Habergham Eaves 26 9.89x
Tottington Lower End 26 19.03x
West Derby 25 2.97x
Bury 24 7.31x
Great Little Marsden 23 17.46x
Little Bolton 23 6.22x
Stockton On Tees 21 6.04x
Bishopwearmouth 20 3.23x
Coundon Grange 19 120.10x
Great Bolton 19 4.99x
Liverpool 19 1.09x
Ripon 19 34.11x
Idle 18 16.17x
Lower Booths 18 34.94x
Burgh By Sands 17 252.23x
Holy Trinity 17 2.94x
Preston 17 2.21x
Farnworth 16 9.29x
Spotland 16 5.01x
Tottington Higher End 16 48.88x
Aismunderby Cum 15 221.24x
Nether Hallam 15 4.62x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 15 17.49x
Sheffield 15 1.96x
Thornaby 15 16.72x
Wortley In Bramley 15 7.89x
Ardwick 14 5.40x
Chorlton On Medlock 14 3.07x
Livesey 14 27.74x
Read 14 182.05x
Bradford 13 2.24x
Bridlington 13 23.65x
Dewsbury 13 5.28x
Hulme 13 2.17x
Medomsley 13 38.66x
Roecliffe 13 643.56x
Clayton Le Moors 12 21.51x
Manningham 12 4.06x
Mile End Old Town London 12 2.33x
Morley 12 9.61x
Church 11 27.09x
Hessle In Sculcoates 11 51.89x
Shipley 11 8.83x
Willington 11 26.41x
Calverley Cum Farsley 10 14.67x
Elvet 10 19.22x
Farington 10 59.74x
Kidderminster Foreign 10 22.35x
Musbury 10 118.91x
Pelton 10 29.15x
Salford 10 1.18x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 1.15x
Wavertree 10 10.87x
Winterton 10 75.19x
Bermondsey 9 1.25x
Bewerley 9 91.09x
Brancepeth 9 68.70x
Clee With Weelsby 9 10.61x
Framwellgate 9 21.07x
High Low Bishopside 9 42.25x
Higher Booths 9 17.36x
Lambeth 9 0.43x
Moss Side 9 5.95x
Old Monkland 9 2.89x
Southwark St Saviour 9 7.23x
Toxteth Park 9 0.92x
Turton 9 19.12x
Willesden 9 3.94x
Prudhoe 8 31.90x
Wigan 8 1.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 187
Sarah 100
Elizabeth 97
Jane 62
Ann 59
Alice 56
Annie 49
Margaret 49
Hannah 41
Ellen 38
Martha 31
Emma 23
Isabella 22
Eliza 16
Maria 15
Emily 14
Ada 13
Harriet 12
Nancy 12
Susannah 12
Amelia 11
Betsy 11
Charlotte 10
Clara 10
Florence 9
Agnes 8
Betty 8
Eleanor 8
Frances 8
Edith 7
Esther 7
Louisa 7
Sophia 7
Leah 6
Rebecca 6
Rose 6
Anne 5
Caroline 5
Catherine 5
Dorothy 5
Elizth. 5
Fanny 5
Lilly 5
Anna 4
Gertrude 4
Grace 4
Jessie 4
Lydia 4
Minnie 4
Susan 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 165
William 132
Thomas 108
James 94
Joseph 60
Henry 58
George 55
Robert 48
Richard 36
Edward 26
Samuel 23
Charles 22
Arthur 16
Alfred 15
Frederick 13
Walter 13
Benjamin 12
Albert 11
Harry 10
Matthew 10
Edmund 8
Wm. 8
Christopher 7
David 7
Frank 7
Thos. 7
Ralph 6
Tom 6
Francis 5
Fred 5
Herbert 5
Isaac 5
Mathew 5
Peter 5
Gabriel 4
Miles 4
Percy 4
Chas. 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Geo. 3
Hugh 3
Jas. 3
Jos. 3
Robinson 3
Wilson 3
Edgar 2
Mark 2
Nicholas 2
Wm.Hy. 2

FAQ

Lonsdale surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lonsdale surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,477 people were recorded with the Lonsdale surname. That placed it at #1,798 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lonsdale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,224 in 2016. That gives Lonsdale a modern rank of #2,109.

What does the Lonsdale surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Lonsdale, a valley in northwest England.

What does the Lonsdale map show?

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