UK surname
A surname referring to someone who lived near a small lake or pond.
In the 1881 census there were 56 people recorded with the Loon surname, ranking it #25,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 48, ranked #35,004, down from #25,733 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Harborne, Ashfordby and Burton-on-Trent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Loon is 101 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.3%.
1881 census count
56
Ranked #25,733
Modern count
48
2016, ranked #35,004
Peak year
1891
101 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Loon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Loon surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 43 | #25,518 |
| 1861 | historical | 75 | #24,238 |
| 1881 | historical | 56 | #25,733 |
| 1891 | historical | 101 | #23,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 42 | #29,487 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 32 | #34,472 |
| 1998 | modern | 30 | #34,833 |
| 1999 | modern | 34 | #34,528 |
| 2000 | modern | 31 | #34,798 |
| 2001 | modern | 30 | #34,753 |
| 2002 | modern | 28 | #35,139 |
| 2003 | modern | 27 | #35,279 |
| 2004 | modern | 31 | #35,105 |
| 2005 | modern | 27 | #35,588 |
| 2006 | modern | 24 | #35,981 |
| 2007 | modern | 27 | #35,876 |
| 2008 | modern | 25 | #36,072 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 31 | #35,892 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 34 | #35,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 35 | #35,722 |
| 2015 | modern | 42 | #35,322 |
| 2016 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Harborne, Ashfordby, Burton-on-Trent, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harborne | Worcestershire |
| 2 | Ashfordby | Leicestershire |
| 3 | Burton-on-Trent | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Loon surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Loon, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Loon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Loon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Loon is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Loon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Loon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname LOON is believed to have originated in the Netherlands, likely in the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Dutch word "loen," which means "thicket" or "grove." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in a wooded area.
One of the earliest known references to the LOON surname comes from the late 13th century, in the form of "Lonen," appearing in records from the Dutch province of Gelderland. Over time, variations such as "Loone," "Loonen," and eventually "Loon" emerged.
In the 14th century, the LOON name can be found in various Dutch historical documents, including tax records and property deeds. For instance, a man named Jan van Lonen is mentioned in a land transaction in the city of Utrecht in 1362.
As the name spread across the Netherlands and into neighboring regions, it also took on localized spellings and variations. In the German-speaking areas, for example, the surname was sometimes written as "Lohn" or "Lohne."
One notable early bearer of the LOON surname was Pieter Loon, a Dutch painter born in Utrecht in 1629. He was known for his portraits and historical scenes, and his works can be found in museums across Europe.
Another prominent figure with the LOON name was Gerard Loon, a Dutch merchant and explorer who lived from 1638 to 1701. He was involved in establishing trade routes and settlements in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and played a significant role in the Dutch colonial expansion in Asia.
In the 18th century, the LOON surname gained recognition through the work of Theodoor van Loon, a Dutch historian and writer born in 1733. His most notable work was a multi-volume history of the Netherlands, which was widely read and influential in its time.
Moving into the 19th century, one notable bearer of the LOON surname was Hendrik Willem van Loon, a Dutch-American author and journalist born in 1882. He is best known for his book "The Story of Mankind," which won the first Newbery Medal for children's literature in 1922.
Another significant figure with the LOON name was Jozef Loon, a Belgian painter and sculptor who lived from 1893 to 1986. He was a prominent member of the Flemish Expressionist movement and is renowned for his vibrant and emotionally charged works.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Loon surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 15 Loons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.14x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 15 | 8.14x |
| Leicestershire | 11 | 18.17x |
| Warwickshire | 9 | 6.54x |
| Durham | 8 | 4.92x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 5.61x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.46x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.55x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.55x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Harborne in Staffordshire leads with 15 Loons recorded in 1881 and an index of 253.81x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Harborne | 15 | 253.81x |
| Aston | 8 | 21.10x |
| Penshaw | 7 | 1428.57x |
| Syston | 7 | 1228.07x |
| Ashby De La Zouch | 3 | 214.29x |
| Dudley | 3 | 34.60x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 7.62x |
| Nether Hallam | 3 | 40.98x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 2.18x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 7.76x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 3.27x |
| Hetton Le Hole | 1 | 48.54x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 3.43x |
| Warley Wigorn | 1 | 434.78x |
| Whitwick | 1 | 129.87x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Loon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Loon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 56 people were recorded with the Loon surname. That placed it at #25,733 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 48 in 2016. That gives Loon a modern rank of #35,004.
A surname referring to someone who lived near a small lake or pond.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Loon bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.