NameCensus.

UK surname

Louth

From the town of Louth in Lincolnshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 358 people recorded with the Louth surname, ranking it #8,638 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 861, ranked #6,510, up from #8,638 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Aslackby (incl. Graby and Milthorpe) and Braytoft. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Hull, Boston and Scarborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Louth is 920 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 140.5%.

1881 census count

358

Ranked #8,638

Modern count

861

2016, ranked #6,510

Peak year

2010

920 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Louth had 358 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,638 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 861 in 2016, ranked #6,510.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 421 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Louth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Louth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Louth 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 198 #10,483
1861 historical 347 #7,357
1881 historical 358 #8,638
1891 historical 421 #8,502
1901 historical 396 #9,539
1911 historical 369 #9,867
1997 modern 857 #6,203
1998 modern 884 #6,253
1999 modern 905 #6,174
2000 modern 878 #6,294
2001 modern 886 #6,143
2002 modern 902 #6,190
2003 modern 871 #6,227
2004 modern 876 #6,220
2005 modern 849 #6,315
2006 modern 854 #6,293
2007 modern 857 #6,339
2008 modern 875 #6,263
2009 modern 901 #6,262
2010 modern 920 #6,280
2011 modern 917 #6,239
2012 modern 875 #6,385
2013 modern 879 #6,469
2014 modern 884 #6,467
2015 modern 862 #6,532
2016 modern 861 #6,510

Geography

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Where Louths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Aslackby (incl. Graby and Milthorpe), Braytoft, London parishes and Heckington with Garrick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Hull, Boston and Scarborough. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Aslackby (incl. Graby and Milthorpe) Lincolnshire
3 Braytoft Lincolnshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Heckington with Garrick Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Hull 008 Kingston upon Hull, City of
2 Boston 007 Boston
3 Boston 002 Boston
4 Scarborough 009 Scarborough
5 Kingston upon Hull 003 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Louth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Louth

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Louth, 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 Louth surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Louth 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Louth is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Louth is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Louth 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 Louth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Louth

The surname LOUTH originates from England, with its roots tracing back to the 11th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the town of Louth in Lincolnshire. The name Louth itself is thought to come from the Old English words "lud" or "hluð," meaning "loud" or "loud noise," referring to the sound of the River Lud that flows through the town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LOUTH can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Luda" and "Luda Wapentac," reflecting the local pronunciation and spelling variations of the time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Roger de Louth was recorded as the Archdeacon of Louth in Lincolnshire. Another early mention of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed individuals with the surname LOUTH residing in various counties across England.

During the 14th century, a man named John de Louth was documented as a merchant and landowner in the city of York. In the same century, a renowned theologian and philosopher named William of Louth, born around 1330, made significant contributions to the intellectual discourse of his time.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Robert Louth was appointed as the Bishop of Carlisle in 1451. He played an important role in the religious and political affairs of his era.

As the name spread across England, it also took on various spellings, such as Lowth, Louthe, and Loughte, reflecting the regional pronunciations and orthographic variations of the time. Despite these variations, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in the town of Louth in Lincolnshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Louth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Louth 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. Lincolnshire leads with 139 Louths recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.89x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 139 24.89x
Yorkshire 40 1.16x
Lancashire 37 0.89x
Middlesex 27 0.77x
Nottinghamshire 14 2.97x
Surrey 14 0.82x
Cambridgeshire 13 5.88x
Derbyshire 13 2.38x
Kent 12 1.01x
Rutland 10 39.00x
Durham 9 0.87x
Warwickshire 9 1.02x
Leicestershire 4 1.03x
Cornwall 3 0.76x
Staffordshire 3 0.25x
Cheshire 2 0.26x
Essex 2 0.29x
Northamptonshire 2 0.61x
Devon 1 0.14x
Gloucestershire 1 0.15x
Hertfordshire 1 0.42x
Royal Navy 1 2.40x
Shropshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aslackby in Lincolnshire leads with 36 Louths recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.

Place Total Index
Aslackby 36 6666.67x
Claylane 12 157.89x
Wisbech St Peter 11 99.19x
Bratoft 10 3846.15x
Leeds 10 5.12x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 13.67x
Islington London 9 2.66x
Old Stratford 8 160.32x
Spalding 8 72.20x
Walton On Hill 8 35.63x
Clee With Weelsby 7 57.28x
Holy Trinity 7 8.41x
Kensington London 7 3.61x
Ketton 7 526.32x
Liverpool 7 2.78x
Scarborough 7 22.26x
Thorpe St Peter 7 1029.41x
Wandsworth 7 20.82x
Carlton Scroop 6 2222.22x
Dowsby 6 3157.89x
Milton In Gravesend 6 33.58x
North Collingham 6 540.54x
Sheffield 6 5.45x
Finchley 5 37.34x
Hulme 5 5.78x
Manchester 5 2.68x
Pointon 5 961.54x
Crossgate 4 88.11x
Dunston 4 430.11x
Great Grimsby 4 11.29x
Penshaw 4 128.21x
Spittlegate 4 51.81x
Swayfield 4 1333.33x
Syston 4 110.50x
Averham 3 1500.00x
Burton Upon Trent 3 10.88x
Counthorpe 3 3333.33x
Irby In Marsh 3 1428.57x
Ramsgate 3 15.42x
South Kirkby 3 394.74x
Stourmouth 3 789.47x
Sutton St Mary 3 56.82x
Tywardreath 3 118.11x
Wainfleet All Sts 3 184.05x
Barking 2 9.92x
Barrow In Furness 2 3.55x
Beddington 2 30.40x
Brant Broughton 2 246.91x
Colsterworth 2 169.49x
Dorking 2 17.50x
Empingham 2 204.08x
Laughton In Bourn 2 2000.00x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.64x
Skirbeck 2 63.90x
Somerford 2 2222.22x
St Martin Lincoln 2 38.61x
Candlesby 1 333.33x
Clun 1 46.73x
Croft 1 109.89x
Ewell 1 27.86x
Farndon 1 119.05x
Hampton London 1 17.42x
Hemel Hempstead 1 9.22x
Holbeach 1 16.08x
Leverington 1 68.49x
Louth 1 7.81x
Newington 1 0.78x
North Kyme 1 120.48x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 5.98x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.79x
Shipley 1 5.57x
South Collingham 1 107.53x
Southwell 1 29.15x
St Mary Le Strand London 1 78.74x
St Marylebone London 1 0.54x
Stoke Newington London 1 3.68x
Swarby 1 500.00x
Swinhope 1 588.24x
Tetford 1 140.85x
West Derby 1 0.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Sarah 16
Elizabeth 12
Ann 11
Ellen 8
Jane 8
Eliza 6
Martha 5
Annie 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Julia 4
Maria 4
Susan 4
Alice 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Lucy 3
Amelia 2
Betsy 2
Elizth. 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Selina 2
Charity 1
Charlotte 1
Dinah 1
Eleanor 1
Emelia 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Gerthrude 1
Hanh. 1
Hariet 1
Harriett 1
Josephine 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Mahala 1
Mariann 1
Marth 1
Maude 1
Olive 1
Poly 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
William 25
George 23
Thomas 16
James 10
Robert 8
Henry 7
Joseph 7
Arthur 6
Charles 6
Frederick 4
Edward 3
Harry 3
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Herman 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arhur 1
Chas. 1
Chas.L.E. 1
David 1
Eliza 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Henreey 1
Josiah 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Merton 1
Parker 1
Patrick 1
Paul 1
Peter 1
Tom 1
Wallace 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Louth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Louth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 358 people were recorded with the Louth surname. That placed it at #8,638 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Louth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 861 in 2016. That gives Louth a modern rank of #6,510.

What does the Louth surname mean?

From the town of Louth in Lincolnshire, England.

What does the Louth map show?

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