NameCensus.

UK surname

Lovering

A surname possibly derived from a nickname meaning "affectionate" or "loving".

In the 1881 census there were 513 people recorded with the Lovering surname, ranking it #6,647 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 637, ranked #8,304, down from #6,647 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tallaton, London parishes and Ilfracombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Monmouthshire and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lovering is 763 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.2%.

1881 census count

513

Ranked #6,647

Modern count

637

2016, ranked #8,304

Peak year

1999

763 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lovering had 513 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,647 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 637 in 2016, ranked #8,304.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 720 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lovering surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lovering surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lovering 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 422 #5,779
1861 historical 367 #6,963
1881 historical 513 #6,647
1891 historical 567 #6,705
1901 historical 645 #6,678
1911 historical 720 #5,933
1997 modern 696 #7,278
1998 modern 735 #7,218
1999 modern 763 #7,047
2000 modern 724 #7,312
2001 modern 708 #7,308
2002 modern 704 #7,474
2003 modern 687 #7,493
2004 modern 696 #7,437
2005 modern 684 #7,490
2006 modern 677 #7,565
2007 modern 669 #7,703
2008 modern 669 #7,743
2009 modern 696 #7,673
2010 modern 701 #7,770
2011 modern 680 #7,863
2012 modern 629 #8,285
2013 modern 651 #8,213
2014 modern 646 #8,299
2015 modern 647 #8,224
2016 modern 637 #8,304

Geography

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Where Loverings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tallaton, London parishes, Ilfracombe, Cardiff St John and St Mary and Braunton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Monmouthshire, Cardiff, Cornwall and Lancaster. 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 Tallaton Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ilfracombe Devon
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 Braunton Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 004 East Devon
2 Monmouthshire 004 Monmouthshire
3 Cardiff 045 Cardiff
4 Cornwall 040 Cornwall
5 Lancaster 001 Lancaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lovering

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lovering

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lovering, 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 Lovering surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lovering 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lovering 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

Lovering is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lovering 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 Lovering 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 Lovering, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lovering

The surname Lovering is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "lufu" meaning love and "rine" meaning protector or keeper. It is believed to have originated in the county of Suffolk, England, during the Middle Ages.

The earliest known recorded instance of the name Lovering dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Loverinus" in Suffolk. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the 11th century.

During the 13th century, variations of the name such as "Loveringes" and "Loveringg" can be found in various historical records and tax rolls from Suffolk and Norfolk counties. It is likely that the name was initially used as a descriptive surname for someone who was considered a protector or guardian of love.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Sir William Lovering, a knight who lived in the late 12th century and was documented in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195.

In the 14th century, the Lovering family held lands and property in the villages of Lovering, near Halesworth in Suffolk, and Lovering's Manor in the parish of Tittleshall, Norfolk. This indicates that the name had become associated with specific places by that time.

Notable individuals with the surname Lovering include John Lovering (c. 1610-1675), an early settler in New England who immigrated from England to Massachusetts in the 1630s and became a prominent landowner and freeman in the town of Watertown.

Another notable bearer was Thomas Lovering (1804-1893), an English merchant and philanthropist from Wigan, Lancashire, who established the Lovering Trust Fund to support education and charities in his hometown.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Lovering surname spread across various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, and Lancashire, as well as in London. Some notable individuals from this period include William Lovering (1768-1849), an English naval officer and author, and George Lovering (1808-1851), an English architect known for his church designs in London and the surrounding areas.

Overall, the surname Lovering has a long and rich history in England, dating back to the Middle Ages, and has been associated with various regions, particularly in the eastern counties of Suffolk and Norfolk, where it is believed to have originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lovering families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lovering 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. Devon leads with 225 Loverings recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.60x.

County Total Index
Devon 225 21.60x
Glamorgan 87 9.98x
Middlesex 47 0.94x
Kent 29 1.70x
Cornwall 27 4.77x
Surrey 23 0.94x
Somerset 22 2.73x
Lancashire 13 0.22x
Carmarthenshire 10 4.74x
Dorset 8 2.44x
Gloucestershire 7 0.71x
Norfolk 6 0.78x
Yorkshire 4 0.08x
Berkshire 2 0.53x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 1.68x
Worcestershire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ilfracombe in Devon leads with 53 Loverings recorded in 1881 and an index of 494.40x.

Place Total Index
Ilfracombe 53 494.40x
Neath 34 191.77x
Ottery St Mary 22 322.11x
Braunton 19 538.24x
Georgeham 18 1374.05x
Talaton 16 2025.32x
Payhembury 12 1600.00x
Combmartin 11 486.73x
Fowey 11 423.08x
Clase 10 30.86x
Llandaff 10 34.49x
Llanelly 10 21.05x
Feniton 9 1475.41x
Greenwich 9 11.30x
Tawstock 9 486.49x
Edmonton 8 19.84x
Marytavy 8 522.88x
Rochester St Margaret 8 44.44x
St Austell 8 41.32x
Bedminster 7 9.25x
Camberwell 7 2.19x
Chatham 7 14.90x
Marwood 7 507.25x
Mile End Old Town London 7 6.57x
Ratcliffe London 7 25.33x
Clist Hydon 6 1276.60x
Coedfrank 6 99.34x
Llansamlet Lower 6 76.05x
Lyng 6 1176.47x
Symondsbury 6 287.08x
Wreningham 6 714.29x
Barnstaple 5 30.58x
Lambeth 5 1.15x
Openshaw 5 17.98x
Plumstead 5 8.79x
Rhyndwyclydach 5 82.78x
Roath 5 12.64x
St Marylebone London 5 1.87x
Bideford 4 35.84x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 12.22x
Camborne 4 17.14x
Cardiff St Mary 4 8.34x
Great Torrington 4 67.68x
Islington London 4 0.82x
Kingston 4 246.91x
Leeds 4 1.43x
Llantwit Lower 4 52.22x
St Pancras London 4 0.99x
Toxteth Park 4 1.99x
All Hallows Less London 3 4285.71x
Bermondsey 3 2.01x
Clifton 3 6.05x
Fremington 3 141.51x
Haughton 3 34.64x
Tottenham 3 3.76x
Wandsworth 3 6.23x
Bathwick 2 22.45x
Battersea 2 1.09x
Bishops Tawton 2 61.54x
Chelsea London 2 1.33x
Cookham 2 17.08x
Dorchester All Sts 2 127.39x
Kentisbury 2 333.33x
Morthoe 2 270.27x
Pilton 2 58.14x
Putney 2 8.77x
St Columb Minor 2 42.02x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.27x
Aberavon 1 12.47x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 0.77x
Atherington 1 112.36x
Calstock 1 9.00x
Cardiff St John 1 3.51x
Exeter St Leonard 1 35.09x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 4.19x
Honiton 1 17.36x
Madron Penzance 1 4.85x
Royal Navy 1 1.96x
St Helens 1 13.40x
Tavistock 1 8.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Elizabeth 26
Eliza 14
Annie 11
Sarah 11
Ellen 10
Alice 8
Emma 8
Ann 7
Emily 7
Maria 7
Anne 6
Catherine 5
Elizth. 5
Jane 5
Margaret 5
Martha 5
Edith 4
Matilda 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Betsy 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Grace 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Susan 3
Bessie 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Helen 2
Lucy 2
Beatrice 1
Catharine 1
Claria 1
E. 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth.E. 1
Eluna 1
Henrietta 1
Ida 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Johannah 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Lora 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 43
John 35
George 29
Thomas 17
James 14
Henry 9
Edward 8
Richard 8
Frederick 7
Wm. 6
Albert 5
Charles 5
Edwin 5
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Walter 4
Arthur 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Nicholas 2
Thos. 2
Chas 1
David 1
Eli 1
Elie 1
Ellen 1
Ernest 1
Ezekiel 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Horatio 1
Howard 1
Humphry 1
Hy. 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Montague 1
Ralph 1
Sidney 1
Thos.E. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Lovering surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lovering surname in 1881?

In 1881, 513 people were recorded with the Lovering surname. That placed it at #6,647 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lovering surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 637 in 2016. That gives Lovering a modern rank of #8,304.

What does the Lovering surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from a nickname meaning "affectionate" or "loving".

What does the Lovering map show?

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