NameCensus.

UK surname

Loy

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a meadow or clearing in a forest.

In the 1881 census there were 226 people recorded with the Loy surname, ranking it #11,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 642, ranked #8,249, up from #11,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ecclesfield, Darfield and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Auchinleck, Cumnock South and Craigens and Mauchline Rural.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Loy is 705 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 184.1%.

1881 census count

226

Ranked #11,889

Modern count

642

2016, ranked #8,249

Peak year

2010

705 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Loy had 226 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 642 in 2016, ranked #8,249.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 329 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Loy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Loy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Loy 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 212 #9,965
1881 historical 226 #11,889
1891 historical 68 #28,300
1901 historical 329 #10,927
1997 modern 610 #8,047
1998 modern 639 #8,006
1999 modern 630 #8,160
2000 modern 646 #7,974
2001 modern 633 #7,937
2002 modern 663 #7,826
2003 modern 630 #8,014
2004 modern 638 #7,939
2005 modern 627 #7,994
2006 modern 628 #8,016
2007 modern 646 #7,901
2008 modern 644 #7,967
2009 modern 676 #7,848
2010 modern 705 #7,739
2011 modern 692 #7,748
2012 modern 660 #7,975
2013 modern 667 #8,042
2014 modern 667 #8,088
2015 modern 642 #8,278
2016 modern 642 #8,249

Geography

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Where Loys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ecclesfield, Darfield, Sheffield, Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough and Auchinleck. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Auchinleck, Cumnock South and Craigens, Mauchline Rural, Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl and Summerville. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ecclesfield Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Darfield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Auchinleck Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Auchinleck East Ayrshire
2 Cumnock South and Craigens East Ayrshire
3 Mauchline Rural East Ayrshire
4 Lower Bow and Larkfield, Fancy Farm, Mallard Bowl Inverclyde
5 Summerville Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Loy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Loy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Loy, 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 Loy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Loy 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Loy 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

Loy 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

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

Meaning and origin of Loy

The surname LOY has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "loh," meaning a small hill or mound. Alternatively, it may also have stemmed from the Old English word "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest.

One of the earliest records of the LOY surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners in England. The name was listed as "de Loye," referring to someone who hailed from a place called Loy or Loye.

The LOY surname is closely associated with the village of Loy in Essex, England. This place name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "loh" or "leah," further strengthening the connection between the surname and its geographical roots.

In the 13th century, a man named Richard de Loye was recorded as a landowner in the county of Essex. He is one of the earliest known individuals to bear the LOY surname.

Another notable figure with the LOY surname was Sir John Loy, who lived during the 15th century and served as a military commander in the Wars of the Roses. He fought alongside the House of Lancaster and was renowned for his bravery on the battlefield.

During the 16th century, the LOY surname gained prominence through the works of the English poet and playwright, Thomas Loy (1539-1605). His writings were widely acclaimed and helped to establish the surname's literary legacy.

In the 17th century, the LOY surname was associated with the village of Loy in Somerset, England. A prominent figure from this era was Sir Edward Loy (1618-1687), who served as a Member of Parliament and was known for his involvement in local politics.

Another well-known individual with the LOY surname was the English botanist, John Loy (1672-1737). He made significant contributions to the study of plants and is credited with the discovery of several new species.

As the LOY surname spread across England, it also took on various spellings, such as Loye, Loy, and Loie. These variations reflect the regional dialects and linguistic changes that occurred over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Loy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Loy 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. Yorkshire leads with 115 Loys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.52x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 115 4.52x
Durham 40 5.24x
Lancashire 17 0.56x
Ayrshire 14 7.29x
Middlesex 14 0.55x
Midlothian 11 3.20x
Wiltshire 9 3.97x
West Lothian 8 20.71x
Kent 7 0.80x
Dunbartonshire 6 8.70x
Cumberland 4 1.81x
Westmorland 4 7.09x
Derbyshire 3 0.75x
Hertfordshire 3 1.70x
Renfrewshire 2 1.01x
Berkshire 1 0.52x
Devon 1 0.19x
Glamorgan 1 0.22x
Hampshire 1 0.19x
Somerset 1 0.24x
Stirlingshire 1 1.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brightside Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 18 Loys recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.10x.

Place Total Index
Brightside Bierlow 18 36.10x
Ecclesfield 17 91.20x
Conside Knitsley 15 252.95x
Pickering 13 406.25x
Corsham 9 271.90x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 6.51x
Kilbirnie 9 195.23x
Sheffield 9 11.12x
Cowpen Bewley 8 930.23x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 15.47x
Whitburn 8 143.37x
Wombwell 8 107.96x
St Luke London 7 17.01x
Warrington 7 19.40x
Hadlow 6 276.50x
Nether Hallam 6 17.45x
Upper Hallam 6 271.49x
Bradfield 5 51.02x
Gateshead 5 8.75x
Hedleyhope 5 378.79x
Old Cumnock 5 117.10x
Heeley 4 51.81x
Hoyland Nether 4 64.21x
Middlesbrough 4 12.08x
Penrith 4 49.02x
Aston Cum Aughton 3 144.23x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.69x
Dalton In Furness 3 25.53x
Dumbarton 3 31.28x
East Barnet 3 85.47x
Stockton On Tees 3 8.15x
Totley 3 508.47x
Bonhill 2 18.07x
Greasbrough 2 59.52x
Great Ayton 2 128.21x
Kirkby Stephen 2 136.99x
Kirkleatham 2 58.31x
South Leith 2 5.17x
Wolsingham 2 28.74x
Bridewell Precinct London 1 400.00x
Buckland Brewer 1 153.85x
Cardross 1 12.08x
Carnforth 1 59.88x
Crewkerne 1 22.78x
Crosby Ravensworth 1 144.93x
Crossgate 1 29.94x
Erskine 1 69.44x
Eston 1 18.05x
Fulham London 1 2.69x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 3.03x
Ince In Makerfield 1 7.06x
Lee 1 7.87x
Lower Booths 1 18.35x
Orton 1 59.17x
Parr 1 9.18x
Pilsworth 1 149.25x
Port Glasgow 1 10.41x
Preston 1 1.23x
Reading St Giles 1 5.29x
Roath 1 4.93x
Rusholme 1 12.32x
Ryde 1 8.85x
Shoreditch London 1 0.90x
St George Bloomsbury 1 6.79x
Stirling 1 8.38x
Thornaby 1 10.53x
Wath On Dearne 1 19.72x
York St Lawrence 1 37.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 7
Ellen 7
Jane 7
Annie 5
Margaret 4
Alice 3
Eliza 3
Martha 3
Rose 3
Barbara 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Maria 2
Rosa 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Barbary 1
Beatrice 1
Cathrine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Emily 1
Erea 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Henry 1
Isabel 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Mariana 1
Maud 1
Miranda 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rosannah 1
Susanna 1
Sushannah 1
Violetta 1
Virginia 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
Thomas 10
William 9
Charles 8
George 8
Robert 5
Henry 4
Patrick 4
Samuel 4
James 3
Peter 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Joseph 2
Martin 2
Michael 2
Parkin 2
AH 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Bernard 1
Dominic 1
Emile 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Ira 1
Lancelot 1
Launcelot 1
Leonard 1
Marcus 1
Richard 1
Sam 1
Walt 1
Wentworth 1
Wilford 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Loy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Loy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 226 people were recorded with the Loy surname. That placed it at #11,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Loy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 642 in 2016. That gives Loy a modern rank of #8,249.

What does the Loy surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a meadow or clearing in a forest.

What does the Loy map show?

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