NameCensus.

UK surname

Lory

A surname originally denoting someone who kept caged birds called lories.

In the 1881 census there were 140 people recorded with the Lory surname, ranking it #16,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 75, ranked #33,377, down from #16,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Keverne, Shalbourn (incl. Oxenwood) and Redruth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lory is 229 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 46.4%.

1881 census count

140

Ranked #16,151

Modern count

75

2016, ranked #33,377

Peak year

1861

229 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 1911

Key insights

  • Lory had 140 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 75 in 2016, ranked #33,377.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 229 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is No data.

Lory surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lory surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lory 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 128 #14,474
1861 historical 229 #10,660
1881 historical 140 #16,151
1891 historical 220 #13,937
1901 historical 134 #19,288
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 87 #28,749
1998 modern 85 #29,439
1999 modern 90 #29,056
2000 modern 85 #29,598
2001 modern 82 #29,714
2002 modern 79 #30,499
2003 modern 78 #30,654
2004 modern 79 #30,799
2005 modern 78 #31,058
2006 modern 76 #31,633
2007 modern 73 #32,287
2008 modern 74 #32,460
2009 modern 81 #32,172
2010 modern 83 #32,396
2011 modern 79 #32,743
2012 modern 78 #33,044
2013 modern 74 #33,483
2014 modern 72 #33,647
2015 modern 72 #33,595
2016 modern 75 #33,377

Geography

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Where Lorys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Keverne, Shalbourn (incl. Oxenwood), Redruth, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) and Wendron. 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.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 St Keverne Cornwall
2 Shalbourn (incl. Oxenwood) Berkshire
3 Redruth Cornwall
4 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
5 Wendron Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 No data No data

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lory

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

Recent female names

No Forenames Found

Recent male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lory

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

No data

Group

No data

Nationally, the Lory surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lory household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

No data

Group

No data

Within London, Lory 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

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lory is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lory

The surname LORY is believed to have originated in France. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "lorier," which means a laurel tree or laurel wreath. The laurel wreath was a symbol of victory and honor in ancient Rome, and the name may have been given to someone who lived near a laurel grove or who had some connection to the laurel tree.

The earliest recorded use of the name LORY dates back to the late 12th century in the region of Normandy, France. In 1195, a knight named Raoult Lory was mentioned in a document from the village of Mortain. This suggests that the LORY family may have originated from this area.

In the 13th century, the name LORY appeared in several records in the regions of Picardy and Île-de-France. For example, in 1283, a man named Jean Lory was listed as a landowner in the town of Clermont, near Paris.

One of the earliest notable figures with the surname LORY was Étienne Lory, a 14th-century architect who worked on the construction of the Château de Vincennes, a medieval fortress located on the outskirts of Paris. He lived from around 1320 to 1390.

Another prominent individual with the name was Jacques Lory, a French soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War against the English in the 15th century. He was born in Rouen, Normandy, around 1410 and served under the command of Joan of Arc.

In the 16th century, the LORY surname began to spread to other parts of Europe. In 1562, a man named Hans Lory was recorded as a citizen of the city of Basel in Switzerland.

One of the most notable figures with the LORY surname was Pierre Lory, a French painter and engraver who lived from 1632 to 1719. He was born in Paris and is known for his portraits and religious works.

Another historical figure with this name was Jean-Baptiste Lory, a French geologist and paleontologist who lived from 1785 to 1865. He made significant contributions to the study of the geology and fossils of the Alps and the Jura Mountains.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lory families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lory 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. Cornwall leads with 77 Lorys recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.77x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 77 48.77x
Middlesex 14 1.00x
Devon 10 3.44x
Lancashire 8 0.48x
Surrey 7 1.03x
Gloucestershire 5 1.83x
Warwickshire 5 1.42x
Hampshire 4 1.40x
Royal Navy 3 18.05x
Staffordshire 2 0.42x
Suffolk 2 1.18x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.77x
Channel Islands 1 2.42x
Dorset 1 1.09x
Glamorgan 1 0.41x
Merionethshire 1 3.92x
Sussex 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Keverne in Cornwall leads with 19 Lorys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2183.91x.

Place Total Index
St Keverne 19 2183.91x
Redruth 12 268.46x
Constantine 11 1195.65x
Carnforth 8 879.12x
Helston 8 487.80x
Tottenham 7 31.52x
Sithney 6 375.00x
Aston 5 5.16x
Pennycross 5 2083.33x
St Hilary 5 1086.96x
Windlesham 5 390.63x
Mangotsfield 4 146.52x
St Martin In Meneage 4 2105.26x
Stoke 4 338.98x
Grade 3 2142.86x
Royal Navy 3 21.11x
Ventnor 3 110.29x
Cury 2 952.38x
Falmouth 2 35.78x
Gwinear 2 266.67x
Ipswich St Mathew 2 42.02x
Shoreditch London 2 3.31x
St Pancras London 2 1.78x
Tipton 2 13.87x
Wendron 2 91.32x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 3.71x
Eglwysilan 1 23.75x
Festiniog 1 18.59x
Hove 1 9.69x
Isleworth 1 16.13x
Leatherhead 1 58.82x
Penge 1 11.22x
Portsea 1 1.78x
St Budeaux 1 111.11x
St George Bloomsbury 1 12.50x
St Michael Wood Street 1 1428.57x
St Peter Port 1 13.07x
Tregoney St James 1 344.83x
Westbury On Trym 1 10.79x
Wimborne Minster 1 67.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 8
Jane 5
Bessie 3
Elisabeth 3
Emily 3
Mary 3
Susan 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Lavinia 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Charity 1
Emilie 1
Emiy 1
Emly 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
F.L. 1
Fanny 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Johanna 1
Lilian 1
Lioni 1
Lovedy 1
Margeret 1
May 1
Priscilla 1
Selina 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1
Thomasine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
Richard 7
George 6
James 5
Charles 4
John 4
Joseph 4
Henry 3
Albert 2
Edmund 2
Frederick 2
Hugh 2
Jacob 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Bennett 1
Christopher 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Johny 1
Raymond 1
Richd. 1
Thomas 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Lory surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lory surname in 1881?

In 1881, 140 people were recorded with the Lory surname. That placed it at #16,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lory surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 75 in 2016. That gives Lory a modern rank of #33,377.

What does the Lory surname mean?

A surname originally denoting someone who kept caged birds called lories.

What does the Lory map show?

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