NameCensus.

UK surname

Lovett

A surname of French origin, derived from the Old French personal name Louet or Lovet, meaning "little wolf."

In the 1881 census there were 2,717 people recorded with the Lovett surname, ranking it #1,638 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,870, ranked #1,746, down from #1,638 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, Old Shettleston and Parkhead North and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lovett is 4,116 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.4%.

1881 census count

2,717

Ranked #1,638

Modern count

3,870

2016, ranked #1,746

Peak year

1998

4,116 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lovett had 2,717 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,638 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,870 in 2016, ranked #1,746.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,055 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lovett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lovett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lovett 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 1,841 #1,566
1861 historical 1,803 #1,607
1881 historical 2,717 #1,638
1891 historical 2,892 #1,634
1901 historical 3,508 #1,588
1911 historical 4,055 #1,265
1997 modern 3,939 #1,653
1998 modern 4,116 #1,638
1999 modern 4,085 #1,660
2000 modern 4,058 #1,668
2001 modern 3,969 #1,667
2002 modern 4,040 #1,671
2003 modern 3,903 #1,694
2004 modern 3,812 #1,744
2005 modern 3,690 #1,766
2006 modern 3,729 #1,761
2007 modern 3,800 #1,734
2008 modern 3,769 #1,761
2009 modern 3,907 #1,739
2010 modern 3,949 #1,759
2011 modern 3,924 #1,746
2012 modern 3,876 #1,736
2013 modern 3,952 #1,734
2014 modern 3,933 #1,747
2015 modern 3,906 #1,739
2016 modern 3,870 #1,746

Geography

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Where Lovetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, Old Shettleston and Parkhead North, Charnwood and Cheshire East. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Barrow-on-Soar (Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Maplewell), Beaumanor, Roth Leicestershire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 001 South Norfolk
2 Old Shettleston and Parkhead North Glasgow City
3 Charnwood 014 Charnwood
4 Charnwood 011 Charnwood
5 Cheshire East 013 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lovett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lovett

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

Lovett 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

Lovett falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lovett 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 Lovett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lovett

The surname Lovett is an English name derived from the French word 'l'ouette', which means 'the lark'. It originated in the medieval period and is believed to have been first used as a nickname for someone with a cheerful or musical disposition, akin to the singing of a lark.

The earliest known record of the name Lovett dates back to the 12th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166. During this time, the name was often spelled as 'Lovet' or 'Loveyt'. It is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it is recorded as 'Louet'.

In the 13th century, the name Lovett was associated with several notable individuals, including Sir John Lovett, who fought in the Battle of Evesham in 1265 during the Second Barons' War. Another early bearer of the name was Sir Robert Lovett, a prominent landowner in Staffordshire, who lived during the reign of King Edward I (1272-1307).

The Lovett family held lands in various parts of England, including Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Staffordshire. The name is also linked to several place names, such as Lovett's Mill in Gloucestershire and Lovett's Folly in Hertfordshire.

One of the most famous bearers of the name Lovett was Sir Robert Lovett (1617-1696), an English judge and politician who served as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under King Charles II. Another notable figure was Richard Lovett Edgeworth (1744-1817), an English inventor and writer who was the father of the famous novelist Maria Edgeworth.

Other historical figures with the surname Lovett include John Lovett (1761-1818), an English engraver and painter; William Lovett (1800-1877), a British political activist and Chartist leader; and Sir Jonathan Lovett (1676-1736), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament.

Across the centuries, the surname Lovett has maintained its roots and significance, reflecting the rich history and heritage of those who have borne this name throughout the ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lovett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lovett 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 497 Lovetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.86x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 497 1.86x
Leicestershire 259 8.75x
Surrey 252 1.94x
Lancashire 206 0.65x
Hertfordshire 130 7.06x
Nottinghamshire 125 3.47x
Norfolk 117 2.85x
Suffolk 111 3.41x
Warwickshire 89 1.32x
Essex 87 1.65x
Shropshire 85 3.69x
Hampshire 75 1.37x
Yorkshire 71 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 66 4.09x
Durham 60 0.76x
Cheshire 56 0.95x
Kent 45 0.49x
Staffordshire 39 0.43x
Glamorgan 35 0.75x
Wiltshire 29 1.23x
Gloucestershire 27 0.52x
Lincolnshire 26 0.61x
Sussex 26 0.58x
Worcestershire 20 0.57x
Northumberland 19 0.48x
Derbyshire 17 0.41x
Berkshire 15 0.75x
Northamptonshire 15 0.60x
Oxfordshire 12 0.73x
Channel Islands 11 1.39x
Dorset 11 0.63x
Monmouthshire 11 0.57x
Brecknockshire 10 1.87x
Carmarthenshire 10 0.89x
Devon 10 0.18x
Huntingdonshire 10 1.89x
Bedfordshire 9 0.65x
Somerset 8 0.19x
Flintshire 7 0.98x
Royal Navy 7 2.20x
Lanarkshire 6 0.07x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.30x
Cumberland 5 0.22x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.19x
Anglesey 1 0.21x
Ayrshire 1 0.05x
Herefordshire 1 0.09x
Renfrewshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 52 Lovetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.23x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 52 2.23x
Battersea 47 4.78x
Loughborough 44 32.76x
Birmingham 43 1.92x
Nottingham St Mary 42 4.51x
Poplar London 40 7.94x
Islington London 39 1.51x
St Pancras London 38 1.77x
West Ham 35 3.01x
Camberwell 33 1.94x
St Marylebone London 32 2.24x
Mile End Old Town London 31 5.46x
Portsea 30 2.80x
Barrow Upon Soar 29 118.61x
Croydon 27 3.74x
Hemel Hempstead 27 32.56x
Aston 26 1.40x
Shoreditch London 26 2.25x
Bethnal Green London 24 2.07x
Leicester St Margaret 24 3.32x
Wandsworth 23 8.95x
Hackney London 22 1.47x
Bermondsey 21 2.64x
Dawley 21 25.02x
Fonthill Gifford 21 480.55x
Lenton 21 24.77x
Limehouse London 21 7.16x
Heigham 20 9.08x
Liverpool 18 0.94x
Paddington London 18 1.83x
Princes Risborough 17 78.63x
Salford 17 1.82x
Sheffield 16 1.90x
Aldeburgh 15 77.92x
Leicester St Mary 15 6.27x
Bromley London 14 2.38x
Radford 14 7.66x
Spotland 14 3.97x
Swannington 14 128.09x
Bishopwearmouth 13 1.91x
Deptford St Paul 13 1.85x
Harpenden 13 46.31x
Hazlewood 13 1666.67x
Middlesbrough 13 3.77x
Watford 13 9.11x
Benfieldside 12 22.97x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 2.43x
Colne 12 12.71x
Dorchester 12 129.59x
Leicester All Sts 12 20.64x
Macclesfield 12 4.58x
Margate St John Baptist 12 7.19x
Neath 12 12.69x
Nether Broughton 12 289.16x
St George Hanover Square 12 2.55x
Dukinfield 11 4.04x
Ecclesall Bierlow 11 2.04x
Quorndon 11 66.19x
St Helier 11 4.27x
Tottenham 11 2.59x
Acton 10 6.39x
Great Gaddesden 10 116.01x
Hammersmith London 10 1.52x
Llanelly 10 15.65x
South Mimms 10 27.31x
Waltham On The Wolds 10 183.82x
Broxbourne 9 24.68x
Caundle Bishop 9 294.12x
Eynesbury 9 73.29x
Finchley 9 8.79x
Honingham 9 287.54x
Lambley 9 122.45x
Little Hulton 9 17.16x
Llanelly 9 3.55x
Penge 9 5.28x
Sheepshed 9 22.18x
Shrewsbury St Julian 9 15.77x
St Andrew Holborn London 9 7.79x
Stoke Newington London 9 4.33x
West Derby 9 0.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 186
Sarah 104
Elizabeth 97
Ann 67
Ellen 56
Alice 51
Eliza 51
Jane 48
Emma 39
Emily 36
Annie 31
Maria 25
Charlotte 24
Lucy 22
Caroline 21
Hannah 21
Martha 21
Kate 20
Louisa 20
Clara 18
Ada 17
Harriet 17
Margaret 16
Edith 15
Catherine 14
Harriett 14
Florence 12
Susan 12
Fanny 11
Esther 8
Frances 8
Isabella 8
Lizzie 8
Rebecca 8
Rose 8
Anne 7
Eleanor 7
Susannah 7
Amelia 6
Anna 6
Lydia 6
Marian 6
Sophia 6
Agnes 5
Gertrude 5
Julia 5
Laura 5
E. 4
Grace 4
Minnie 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 175
John 145
George 106
Thomas 96
James 83
Henry 68
Charles 57
Joseph 41
Alfred 34
Edward 34
Frederick 32
Arthur 28
Walter 25
Samuel 24
Harry 23
Robert 22
Albert 18
Richard 17
Frank 15
Ernest 11
Herbert 10
Fredk. 8
Daniel 7
Thos. 7
Francis 6
Stephen 6
Wm. 6
Chas. 5
David 5
Frederic 5
Edwin 4
Geo. 4
Isaac 4
Jas. 4
Michael 4
Willm. 4
Alexander 3
Andrew 3
Benjamin 3
Horace 3
Jonathan 3
Mark 3
Matthew 3
Percy 3
Reuben 3
Robt. 3
Willie 3
Nelson 2
Newton 2
Patrick 2

FAQ

Lovett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lovett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,717 people were recorded with the Lovett surname. That placed it at #1,638 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lovett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,870 in 2016. That gives Lovett a modern rank of #1,746.

What does the Lovett surname mean?

A surname of French origin, derived from the Old French personal name Louet or Lovet, meaning "little wolf."

What does the Lovett map show?

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