NameCensus.

UK surname

Lucky

A nickname-derived surname for a fortunate person or for someone associated with Lucia, the Saint of Light.

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Lucky surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 109, ranked #29,402, up from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wandsworth, Tollcross and Merton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lucky is 109 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 990.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

109

2016, ranked #29,402

Peak year

2016

109 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lucky had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016, ranked #29,402.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 27 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Lucky surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lucky surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lucky 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 14 #30,790
1861 historical 22 #31,140
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1891 historical 27 #32,115
1901 historical 17 #32,146
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 37 #33,964
1998 modern 37 #34,149
1999 modern 32 #34,717
2000 modern 39 #34,066
2001 modern 41 #33,753
2002 modern 52 #33,110
2003 modern 57 #32,704
2004 modern 64 #32,286
2005 modern 57 #33,178
2006 modern 61 #33,142
2007 modern 60 #33,539
2008 modern 64 #33,402
2009 modern 63 #33,751
2010 modern 68 #33,632
2011 modern 73 #33,230
2012 modern 77 #33,124
2013 modern 83 #32,813
2014 modern 95 #31,792
2015 modern 99 #31,168
2016 modern 109 #29,402

Geography

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Where Luckys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wandsworth, Tollcross, Merton, Epping Forest and Norwich. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wandsworth 015 Wandsworth
2 Tollcross City of Edinburgh
3 Merton 008 Merton
4 Epping Forest 011 Epping Forest
5 Norwich 003 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lucky

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lucky

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Lucky surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Lucky 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Lucky is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Lucky is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lucky falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lucky is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Lucky

The surname Lucky is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "gelucca," which means fortune or luck. The name was likely originally bestowed upon someone who was considered fortunate or lucky, perhaps due to a significant stroke of good fortune or a prosperous life.

The earliest recorded instances of the Lucky surname can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries, such as the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273, which mentions a William le Luky, and the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301, listing a Thomas Lucki.

During the medieval period, the Lucky surname was also associated with certain place names, particularly in areas where the name was prevalent. For example, the village of Lucky in Wiltshire, England, may have contributed to the surname's development in that region.

One notable early bearer of the Lucky surname was Sir Thomas Lucky, a prominent English landowner and knight who lived during the reign of Edward III in the 14th century. He was recorded as holding lands in Oxfordshire and Berkshire, and his name appears in various legal documents and land transactions from that era.

Another historically significant individual with the Lucky surname was John Lucky, a merchant and alderman who lived in London during the 16th century. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and served as Sheriff of London in 1544.

In the 17th century, the Lucky surname gained further recognition with the birth of William Lucky (1623-1681), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Treatise on the Soul of Man" and "The Doctrine of the Last Judgement."

Moving into the 18th century, we encounter Sir Francis Lucky (1705-1772), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Wars of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was knighted for his military achievements.

Another notable figure from this era was the poet and playwright Richard Lucky (1732-1804), whose works included the popular play "The Jealous Wife" and several volumes of poetry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lucky families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lucky 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. Essex leads with 3 Luckys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.63x.

County Total Index
Essex 3 15.63x
Middlesex 2 2.06x
Cumberland 1 11.93x
Durham 1 3.46x
Glamorgan 1 5.90x
Kent 1 3.01x
Surrey 1 2.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stansted Mountfitchet in Essex leads with 3 Luckys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6000.00x.

Place Total Index
Stansted Mountfitchet 3 6000.00x
Bethnal Green London 1 23.64x
Cardiff St Mary 1 107.53x
Dearham 1 909.09x
Leatherhead 1 833.33x
St Gilesin Fields London 1 1250.00x
Stockton On Tees 1 71.43x
Woolwich 1 81.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Charlotte 1
Isabel 1
Lydia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 3
James 2
George 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Lucky surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lucky surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Lucky surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lucky surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016. That gives Lucky a modern rank of #29,402.

What does the Lucky surname mean?

A nickname-derived surname for a fortunate person or for someone associated with Lucia, the Saint of Light.

What does the Lucky map show?

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