NameCensus.

UK surname

Lothian

A surname derived from the name of a region in southeast Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 706 people recorded with the Lothian surname, ranking it #5,148 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,112, ranked #5,288, down from #5,148 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kingsbarns, Edinburgh and Westruther. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Denholm and Hermitage, West Pilton and Berwickshire Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lothian is 1,148 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.5%.

1881 census count

706

Ranked #5,148

Modern count

1,112

2016, ranked #5,288

Peak year

2010

1,148 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lothian had 706 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,148 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,112 in 2016, ranked #5,288.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 814 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Lothian surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lothian surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Lothian 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 389 #6,177
1861 historical 459 #5,654
1881 historical 706 #5,148
1891 historical 781 #5,140
1901 historical 814 #5,545
1911 historical 235 #13,484
1997 modern 1,022 #5,385
1998 modern 1,069 #5,375
1999 modern 1,078 #5,370
2000 modern 1,077 #5,351
2001 modern 1,070 #5,286
2002 modern 1,102 #5,263
2003 modern 1,079 #5,265
2004 modern 1,089 #5,232
2005 modern 1,076 #5,232
2006 modern 1,053 #5,325
2007 modern 1,083 #5,244
2008 modern 1,115 #5,164
2009 modern 1,125 #5,218
2010 modern 1,148 #5,251
2011 modern 1,109 #5,334
2012 modern 1,044 #5,523
2013 modern 1,081 #5,457
2014 modern 1,086 #5,464
2015 modern 1,082 #5,423
2016 modern 1,112 #5,288

Geography

Back to top

Where Lothians are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kingsbarns, Edinburgh, Westruther, Glasgow and Lasswade. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Denholm and Hermitage, West Pilton, Berwickshire Central, Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area and Methil Methilhill. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kingsbarns Fife
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Westruther Berwick
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Lasswade Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Denholm and Hermitage Scottish Borders
2 West Pilton City of Edinburgh
3 Berwickshire Central Scottish Borders
4 Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area Scottish Borders
5 Methil Methilhill Fife

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Lothian

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Lothian

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lothian is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lothian is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lothian falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lothian is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lothian

The surname Lothian has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the region of Lothian, which encompasses the areas around Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders. The name is believed to have stemmed from the old Brittonic word "loidam," meaning "vacant" or "empty land."

Lothian was a prominent name in medieval Scottish records. One of the earliest mentions can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "William de Louthian," suggesting variations in spelling during that period.

In the 14th century, the Lothian family held lands near the town of Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders. Sir William Lothian (c. 1350-1410) was a notable figure who served as a knight and ambassador under King Robert II and King Robert III.

The Lothian surname also has ties to the Lothian family of Saltoun, East Lothian. This branch can be traced back to Sir William Lothian (c. 1520-1580), who was appointed the Lord of Session in 1563 and served as a judge in the Court of Session.

Another prominent individual was Mark Lothian (1635-1703), a Scottish merchant and writer who published a treatise on the management of trade and commerce in 1701. His work was influential in shaping economic policies during the early years of the British union.

During the 18th century, the Lothians were a prominent landowning family in the Scottish Lowlands. William Lothian (1740-1815) was a member of the British Parliament, representing the constituency of Jedburgh from 1784 to 1790.

The Lothian name has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Lothian Burn, a stream in East Lothian, and Lothian Road, a major thoroughfare in Edinburgh. These geographical connections further reinforce the regional origins of the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Lothian families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lothian 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. Midlothian leads with 178 Lothians recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.03x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 178 20.03x
Berwickshire 96 119.51x
Lanarkshire 84 3.92x
Fife 74 18.84x
Northumberland 29 2.94x
Lancashire 25 0.32x
Middlesex 25 0.38x
Peeblesshire 25 80.13x
Durham 18 0.91x
Roxburghshire 17 14.15x
Angus 14 2.28x
Clackmannanshire 14 25.56x
Stirlingshire 13 5.31x
West Lothian 13 13.01x
Selkirkshire 10 16.66x
Argyllshire 9 4.87x
Cheshire 7 0.48x
Yorkshire 7 0.11x
Flintshire 4 2.24x
Surrey 4 0.12x
Cumberland 3 0.53x
Perthshire 3 1.01x
Berkshire 2 0.40x
Renfrewshire 2 0.39x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.16x
Ayrshire 1 0.20x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Kinross-shire 1 5.96x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 57 Lothians recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.94x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 57 15.94x
Gordon 24 1263.16x
Lasswade 18 88.58x
South Leith 18 18.00x
Govan 16 3.02x
Cranston 15 660.79x
Kingsbarns 15 828.73x
Gateshead 14 9.48x
Westruther 14 915.03x
Barony 13 2.39x
Linlithgow 13 101.48x
Peebles 13 141.00x
Alloa 11 41.40x
Alnwick 11 64.82x
Blackburn 11 5.25x
Bothwell 11 18.91x
Dunse 11 144.36x
Nenthorn 11 1057.69x
Hamilton 10 16.71x
Selkirk 10 59.14x
Torryburn 10 591.72x
Carrington 9 647.48x
Dalgety 9 300.00x
Lesmahagow 9 39.67x
Melrose 9 86.62x
Polworth 9 1730.77x
Abbotshall 8 54.53x
Campbeltown 8 35.92x
Liberton 8 58.31x
West Derby 8 3.47x
Avondale 7 55.82x
Chelford 7 985.92x
Cockpen 7 67.37x
Dundee 7 3.05x
Kilrenny 7 96.42x
Hebron Cockle Park Earsdon 6 731.71x
Kemback 6 309.28x
Kirkurd 6 937.50x
Murton 6 594.06x
West Linton 6 236.22x
Coldingham 5 69.25x
Currie 5 91.91x
Douglas 5 80.78x
Eccles 5 142.05x
Edinburgh New North 5 64.68x
Fylingdales 5 152.44x
Newton 5 167.22x
Rutherglen 5 15.89x
Slamannan 5 37.31x
St Pancras London 5 0.94x
Stow 5 109.41x
Alva 4 34.28x
Arbroath 4 19.64x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.39x
Cambusnethan 4 8.39x
Crichton 4 161.29x
Dysart 4 15.13x
Earlston 4 99.50x
Edinburgh St Georges 4 21.69x
Kelso 4 33.42x
Kensington London 4 1.08x
Lauder 4 90.09x
Mertoun 4 256.41x
Saline 4 184.33x
St George Hanover Square 4 3.42x
Wandsworth 4 6.26x
Clackmannan 3 28.99x
Edinburgh Greenside S 3 93.17x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 3.51x
Inveresk 3 12.47x
Langton 3 260.87x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 3 23.11x
Pittenweem 3 61.98x
St Asaph 3 84.75x
St Cuthbert W O 3 10.78x
St Marylebone London 3 0.85x
Hawick 2 7.44x
Inverkeithing 2 33.78x
Kirkcaldy 2 10.27x
Turton 2 15.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Margaret 8
Agnes 3
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Martha 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Anne 1
Betsey 1
Bridget 1
Constance 1
Elizab. 1
Ida 1
Janet 1
Jennie 1
Jessie 1
Lily 1
May 1
Miriam 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
John 9
Thomas 8
James 7
Charles 3
David 3
George 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Edw. 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Isaac 1
Jane 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Joseph 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Thoma 1
Westby 1

FAQ

Lothian surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lothian surname in 1881?

In 1881, 706 people were recorded with the Lothian surname. That placed it at #5,148 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lothian surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,112 in 2016. That gives Lothian a modern rank of #5,288.

What does the Lothian surname mean?

A surname derived from the name of a region in southeast Scotland.

What does the Lothian map show?

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