NameCensus.

UK surname

Lordan

From a place called Lordan or the surname derivation of the given name Lauren.

In the 1881 census there were 30 people recorded with the Lordan surname, ranking it #29,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 175, ranked #21,383, up from #29,363 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, Edmonton and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, Breckland and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lordan is 189 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 483.3%.

1881 census count

30

Ranked #29,363

Modern count

175

2016, ranked #21,383

Peak year

2013

189 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lordan had 30 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,363 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016, ranked #21,383.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 117 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Lordan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lordan surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Lordan 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 55 #23,413
1861 historical 117 #18,635
1881 historical 30 #29,363
1891 historical 85 #26,080
1901 historical 36 #30,099
1911 historical 27 #30,437
1997 modern 164 #19,944
1998 modern 175 #19,658
1999 modern 188 #18,931
2000 modern 182 #19,300
2001 modern 180 #19,161
2002 modern 185 #19,212
2003 modern 171 #19,953
2004 modern 171 #20,079
2005 modern 166 #20,379
2006 modern 160 #21,066
2007 modern 168 #20,634
2008 modern 166 #20,966
2009 modern 183 #20,135
2010 modern 188 #20,235
2011 modern 187 #20,132
2012 modern 180 #20,606
2013 modern 189 #20,273
2014 modern 186 #20,664
2015 modern 184 #20,719
2016 modern 175 #21,383

Geography

Back to top

Where Lordans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, Edmonton, St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight, Breckland, Westminster, Thurrock and Birmingham. 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 Romsey Extra, Michelmersh Hampshire
2 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 008 Isle of Wight
2 Breckland 010 Breckland
3 Westminster 010 Westminster
4 Thurrock 016 Thurrock
5 Birmingham 014 Birmingham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Lordan

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Lordan

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Lordan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Lordan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lordan 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

Lordan 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

Lordan falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lordan 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 - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Lordan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lordan

The surname Lordan is believed to have originated in Ireland, specifically in the northern counties of Ulster. It likely emerged sometime around the 12th or 13th century as a patronymic surname, derived from the Norman French name Jordan. This name itself is thought to have originated from the River Jordan in the Middle East.

In its early forms, the surname was often spelled as Lorden or Lordin, reflecting the pronunciation and spelling variations common at the time. Some historians suggest that the name may have been introduced to Ireland by Norman settlers who arrived during the Anglo-Norman invasion of the late 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lordan appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a certain "Tomas Lorden" who was involved in a conflict in County Meath in the year 1536.

Another notable early bearer of the name was Captain William Lordan, an Irish soldier who served in the Confederate Wars of the 1640s. He fought alongside the Catholic Confederates against the Parliamentarian forces of Oliver Cromwell.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure with the surname was John Lordan (1717-1784), a wealthy merchant and landowner from County Cork. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and for establishing a school in the town of Midleton.

During the 19th century, the name appeared in various records and documents, including the Griffith's Valuation, a survey of land ownership in Ireland conducted in the 1850s. One example is James Lordan, a landowner from County Tipperary, whose holdings were recorded in the valuation.

Another notable individual was James Lordan (1850-1924), a Catholic priest and historian from County Mayo. He authored several books on Irish history and was a respected scholar of his time.

While the Lordan surname has roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Irish emigration to countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, its origins and early history remain firmly tied to the island of Ireland and its rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Lordan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lordan 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. Surrey leads with 15 Lordans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.53x.

County Total Index
Surrey 15 10.53x
Glamorgan 6 11.78x
Hampshire 5 8.34x
Lancashire 2 0.58x
Dorset 1 5.21x
Middlesex 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 8 Lordans recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.37x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 8 31.37x
Merthyr Tydfil 6 122.70x
Southwark St John 6 674.16x
Romsey Extra 2 555.56x
Romsey Infra 2 1000.00x
Toxteth Park 2 17.02x
Bermondsey 1 11.48x
Hackney London 1 6.10x
Melcombe Regis 1 125.00x
Millbrook 1 66.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Elizabeth 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Margrett 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Dennis 2
Thomas 2
C.L. 1
Daniel 1
Frederick 1
Jno. 1
William 1

FAQ

Lordan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lordan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 30 people were recorded with the Lordan surname. That placed it at #29,363 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lordan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016. That gives Lordan a modern rank of #21,383.

What does the Lordan surname mean?

From a place called Lordan or the surname derivation of the given name Lauren.

What does the Lordan map show?

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