NameCensus.

UK surname

Lovelock

A locative surname derived from a place name containing the elements "love" and "lock", possibly referring to someone from a location with a meadow or enclosure.

In the 1881 census there were 1,296 people recorded with the Lovelock surname, ranking it #3,160 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,901, ranked #3,342, down from #3,160 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Berkshire and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lovelock is 2,043 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.7%.

1881 census count

1,296

Ranked #3,160

Modern count

1,901

2016, ranked #3,342

Peak year

1998

2,043 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lovelock had 1,296 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,160 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,901 in 2016, ranked #3,342.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,962 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lovelock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lovelock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lovelock 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 801 #3,341
1861 historical 792 #3,479
1881 historical 1,296 #3,160
1891 historical 1,358 #3,198
1901 historical 1,757 #2,955
1911 historical 1,962 #2,531
1997 modern 1,949 #3,117
1998 modern 2,043 #3,101
1999 modern 2,031 #3,146
2000 modern 2,035 #3,122
2001 modern 1,970 #3,142
2002 modern 1,998 #3,176
2003 modern 1,958 #3,174
2004 modern 1,953 #3,177
2005 modern 1,881 #3,236
2006 modern 1,871 #3,275
2007 modern 1,897 #3,260
2008 modern 1,884 #3,296
2009 modern 1,972 #3,249
2010 modern 2,011 #3,256
2011 modern 1,954 #3,302
2012 modern 1,905 #3,319
2013 modern 1,956 #3,304
2014 modern 1,952 #3,323
2015 modern 1,905 #3,356
2016 modern 1,901 #3,342

Geography

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Where Lovelocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, St Pancras and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Berkshire and Wiltshire. 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 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Berkshire 013 West Berkshire
2 Wiltshire 015 Wiltshire
3 Wiltshire 040 Wiltshire
4 West Berkshire 012 West Berkshire
5 West Berkshire 016 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lovelock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lovelock

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Lovelock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lovelock household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Lovelock 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

Lovelock is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lovelock falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lovelock 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lovelock

The surname Lovelock is of English origin, derived from a locational name associated with the village of Lovelock in Wiltshire, England. This village name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "luf" meaning "love" and "locc" meaning "enclosure" or "lock," suggesting a place of endearment or affection.

The earliest recorded spelling of the surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Loveloc." This historic document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of landholdings and populations across much of England and parts of Wales.

In the 13th century, the surname was recorded as "Louuelocc" in the Assize Court Rolls of Somerset, indicating regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a John de Louvelok, demonstrating the surname's association with a place name.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Lovelock surname was William Lovelock, born around 1460 in Suffolk, England. He was a prominent merchant and landowner during the reign of King Henry VII.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Lovelock (1520-1588), a Member of Parliament for the borough of Thetford, Norfolk, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was also a respected lawyer and served as a Justice of the Peace.

In the 17th century, John Lovelock (1630-1689) was a renowned clockmaker based in London. His innovative designs and craftsmanship contributed significantly to the development of precision timekeeping.

During the 18th century, Samuel Lovelock (1710-1782) was a respected author and poet from Gloucestershire, known for his works on nature and rural life.

Another notable bearer of the Lovelock surname was Sir John Lovelock (1793-1876), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became an Admiral of the Fleet.

Throughout its history, the Lovelock surname has been associated with various places in England, including the villages of Lovelock in Wiltshire, Loveluck in Staffordshire, and Lovelock Green in Berkshire, all of which may have contributed to the surname's evolution and spread across different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lovelock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lovelock 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. Middlesex leads with 304 Lovelocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.40x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 304 2.40x
Surrey 207 3.36x
Hampshire 184 7.10x
Wiltshire 183 16.36x
Berkshire 149 15.69x
Kent 65 1.51x
Gloucestershire 23 0.93x
Lancashire 21 0.14x
Essex 17 0.68x
Hertfordshire 13 1.49x
Buckinghamshire 12 1.57x
Sussex 12 0.56x
Cornwall 10 0.70x
Derbyshire 10 0.50x
Flintshire 9 2.65x
Glamorgan 9 0.41x
Somerset 9 0.44x
Cheshire 8 0.29x
Oxfordshire 8 1.02x
Yorkshire 8 0.06x
Norfolk 6 0.31x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.35x
Carmarthenshire 5 0.94x
Staffordshire 5 0.12x
Warwickshire 3 0.09x
Devon 2 0.08x
Lincolnshire 2 0.10x
Suffolk 2 0.13x
Bedfordshire 1 0.15x
Herefordshire 1 0.19x
Leicestershire 1 0.07x
Northamptonshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 63 Lovelocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.19x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 63 6.19x
Islington London 40 3.26x
Lambeth 31 2.81x
Bermondsey 30 7.96x
Great Bedwin 27 339.62x
Reading St Mary 24 31.55x
Battersea 21 4.51x
St Marylebone London 19 2.81x
Lyneham 18 411.90x
Tottenham 17 8.44x
Byfleet 16 291.44x
Hartley Wintney 16 205.13x
Kensington London 16 2.27x
Pewsey 16 194.41x
Wootton Rivers 16 952.38x
Croydon 15 4.38x
Hackney London 15 2.11x
St George Hanover Square 14 6.28x
Mile End Old Town London 12 4.46x
Reading St Giles 12 12.88x
Swindon 12 13.83x
Chelsea London 11 2.89x
Hammersmith London 11 3.53x
Paddington London 11 2.36x
Sparsholt 11 575.92x
St Peter Colebrook 11 301.37x
Wallingford St Leonard 11 248.87x
West Ham 11 2.00x
Epsom 10 33.29x
Kingsclere 10 84.46x
Margate St John Baptist 10 12.65x
Portsea 10 1.97x
Clerkenwell London 9 3.01x
Combe 9 1551.72x
Dogmersfield 9 708.66x
Greenwich 9 4.47x
Hampstead London 9 4.57x
Harting 9 162.45x
Hemel Hempstead 9 22.91x
Lewisham 9 3.91x
Mold Gwysaney 9 978.26x
Newington 9 1.93x
Southwark St Saviour 9 13.84x
Yateley 9 183.30x
Camberwell 8 0.99x
Charlton 8 727.27x
Charlton Next Woolwich 8 17.77x
Hungerford 8 62.26x
Inkpen 8 266.67x
Itchingswell 8 414.51x
Orcheston St George 8 952.38x
Shinfield 8 143.11x
Shrewton 8 273.04x
St Bartholomew Hyde 8 129.03x
Stoke Newington London 8 8.12x
Woking 8 21.53x
Bishops Cannings 7 169.08x
Broughton In Salford 7 5.10x
Burbage 7 122.81x
Derby St Peter 7 11.10x
Ecclesfield 7 7.61x
Falmouth 7 13.81x
Hannington 7 573.77x
Hurstbourne Tarrant 7 193.37x
Langley Marish 7 74.55x
Stoke 7 24.06x
Winterbourne Bassett 7 619.47x
Aldershot 6 6.91x
Aldworth 6 508.47x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.09x
East Farleigh 6 82.87x
East Hagbourn 6 264.32x
Shalbourn 6 168.54x
Speen 6 38.61x
Thruxton 6 431.65x
Andover 5 20.41x
Basford 5 6.36x
Deptford St Paul 5 1.50x
Farnham 5 10.43x
Leyton Low 5 9.85x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 84
George 73
Charles 51
John 50
James 46
Thomas 39
Henry 31
Edward 19
Walter 19
Frederick 18
Alfred 16
Arthur 15
Albert 11
David 11
Francis 9
Joseph 9
Richard 9
Harry 7
Stephen 7
Daniel 6
Herbert 6
Tom 6
Elijah 5
Jesse 5
Chas. 4
Frank 4
Fredrick 4
Geo. 4
Harold 4
Robert 4
Edwin 3
Maurice 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Jacob 2
Jas. 2
Mark 2
Percy 2
Augustus 1
Edd. 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.C. 1
G.H. 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Lovelock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lovelock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,296 people were recorded with the Lovelock surname. That placed it at #3,160 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lovelock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,901 in 2016. That gives Lovelock a modern rank of #3,342.

What does the Lovelock surname mean?

A locative surname derived from a place name containing the elements "love" and "lock", possibly referring to someone from a location with a meadow or enclosure.

What does the Lovelock map show?

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