NameCensus.

UK surname

Lucy

Derived from a place name meaning "light," possibly referring to a clearing in the woods.

In the 1881 census there were 626 people recorded with the Lucy surname, ranking it #5,649 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 711, ranked #7,621, down from #5,649 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redbridge, Dover and Chorley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lucy is 911 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.6%.

1881 census count

626

Ranked #5,649

Modern count

711

2016, ranked #7,621

Peak year

1891

911 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lucy had 626 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,649 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 711 in 2016, ranked #7,621.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 911 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Lucy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lucy surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lucy 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 659 #3,932
1861 historical 892 #3,102
1881 historical 626 #5,649
1891 historical 911 #4,532
1901 historical 782 #5,746
1911 historical 834 #5,293
1997 modern 646 #7,688
1998 modern 676 #7,680
1999 modern 665 #7,807
2000 modern 657 #7,870
2001 modern 633 #7,937
2002 modern 626 #8,196
2003 modern 616 #8,159
2004 modern 632 #8,004
2005 modern 635 #7,922
2006 modern 638 #7,917
2007 modern 624 #8,106
2008 modern 633 #8,071
2009 modern 643 #8,143
2010 modern 667 #8,082
2011 modern 661 #8,051
2012 modern 690 #7,687
2013 modern 700 #7,725
2014 modern 703 #7,744
2015 modern 693 #7,783
2016 modern 711 #7,621

Geography

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Where Lucys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick and Wollaston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redbridge, Dover, Chorley, Kettering and Knowsley. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Wollaston Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redbridge 014 Redbridge
2 Dover 004 Dover
3 Chorley 007 Chorley
4 Kettering 004 Kettering
5 Knowsley 014 Knowsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lucy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lucy

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Lucy 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

Lucy 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

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

Meaning and origin of Lucy

The surname Lucy originates from England and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French personal name "Luce," which was a feminine form of the Latin name "Lucius." The name Lucius itself is believed to come from the Latin word "lux," meaning "light."

Lucy is considered a locational surname, indicating that the earliest bearers of the name likely came from a place called Lucy or Lucey. There are several villages and towns in England with this name, such as Lucy in Northamptonshire and Lucey in Somerset.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Lucy can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named "Lucia" in Hampshire.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named William Lucy was recorded as a nobleman and landowner in Warwickshire. He was born around 1230 and played a significant role in the Second Barons' War against King Henry III.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Sir Thomas Lucy, who lived from 1532 to 1605. He was an English Member of Parliament and is believed to have been the inspiration for the character Sir Thomas Lucy in William Shakespeare's play "The Merry Wives of Windsor."

Sir Spencer Lyle Lucy, born in 1816, was a British naval officer and explorer. He served in the Royal Navy and is known for his exploration of the Arctic regions.

In the literary world, Austen Lucy was a renowned English novelist who lived from 1874 to 1932. She is best known for her novel "The Masqueraders," published in 1904.

Henry W. Lucy, born in 1845, was a British journalist and author. He is remembered for his works on parliamentary life and his coverage of the British House of Commons.

Throughout history, the surname Lucy has been found in various spellings, such as Lucey, Lucie, and Luce, reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lucy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lucy 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 134 Lucys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.21x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 134 2.21x
Surrey 84 2.85x
Lancashire 56 0.78x
Gloucestershire 52 4.38x
Kent 41 1.98x
Worcestershire 35 4.42x
Essex 33 2.76x
Northamptonshire 26 4.56x
Warwickshire 26 1.70x
Staffordshire 21 1.03x
Herefordshire 18 7.25x
Glamorgan 14 1.33x
Somerset 11 1.13x
Devon 9 0.71x
Suffolk 9 1.22x
Wiltshire 8 1.49x
Cheshire 7 0.52x
Yorkshire 6 0.10x
Channel Islands 4 2.23x
Lanarkshire 4 0.20x
Monmouthshire 3 0.69x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.37x
Pembrokeshire 3 1.56x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.55x
Cornwall 2 0.29x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 2.28x
Sussex 2 0.20x
Flintshire 1 0.61x
Hertfordshire 1 0.24x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Northumberland 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 1.39x
Rutland 1 2.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 16 Lucys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.66x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 16 3.66x
Ledbury 14 164.13x
St Pancras London 14 2.87x
Camberwell 13 3.36x
Clerkenwell London 13 9.09x
Wollaston 13 415.34x
Lambeth 12 2.27x
Barking 11 31.44x
Deptford St Paul 11 6.90x
Bermondsey 10 5.54x
Woolwich 10 13.10x
Portishead 9 124.14x
St Marylebone London 9 2.78x
Worcester St Helen 9 355.73x
Cretingham 8 1250.00x
Dudley 8 8.32x
Ealing 8 14.78x
Lewisham 8 7.26x
Mile End Old Town London 8 6.20x
West Ham 8 3.03x
Whitechapel London 8 13.40x
Worcester St John 8 84.66x
Bristol St Michael 7 68.69x
Charlecote 7 1296.30x
Everton 7 3.06x
Gorton 7 10.36x
Mears Ashby 7 666.67x
St George Hanover Square 7 6.56x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 3.23x
Tranmere 7 14.25x
Wanstead 7 33.43x
Woking 7 39.35x
Battersea 6 2.69x
Birmingham 6 1.18x
East Ham 6 27.04x
Heston 6 29.82x
Hornsey 6 7.83x
Isleworth 6 22.28x
Penge 6 15.50x
Peterborough 6 14.55x
West Dean 6 31.09x
Westbury On Trym 6 14.91x
Aston 5 1.19x
Bristol St Paul In 5 15.80x
Chelsea London 5 2.74x
Croydon 5 3.05x
Gelligaer 5 20.76x
Islington London 5 0.85x
Newent 5 82.78x
Painswick 5 59.52x
Preshute 5 151.98x
Preston 5 2.60x
Rushall 5 41.56x
St John Near Swansea 5 38.34x
Tamworth 5 45.75x
Wandsworth 5 8.57x
Worcester St Michael 5 549.45x
Enfield 4 10.06x
Exeter St Sidwell 4 13.85x
Farnham 4 17.43x
Govan 4 0.83x
Hammersmith London 4 2.68x
Hampstead London 4 4.24x
Harescombe 4 1290.32x
Hayes 4 64.72x
Hillingdon 4 20.71x
Much Hoole 4 333.33x
Newington 4 1.79x
Old Stratford 4 46.24x
Paddington London 4 1.80x
St Helier 4 6.84x
Stoke Damerel 4 4.53x
Wellesbourne Mountford 4 273.97x
Bedwellty 3 3.88x
Clifton 3 5.00x
Holmer 3 67.11x
Manchester 3 0.93x
Marlborough St Peter St 3 108.70x
Ratcliffe London 3 8.97x
Rawmarsh 3 14.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Elizabeth 23
Ellen 19
Sarah 16
Catherine 11
Eliza 11
Jane 11
Margaret 11
Anne 8
Maria 8
Alice 7
Ann 7
Emily 7
Emma 7
Hannah 6
Edith 5
Florence 5
Agnes 4
Annie 4
Bridget 4
Gertrude 4
Louisa 4
Minnie 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Caroline 3
Mabel 3
Betsy 2
Cathrine 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Joyce 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Meliscent 2
Olivia 2
Rosa 2
Adelaide 1
Bertha 1
Blanche 1
E. 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Helena 1
Y.F. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 37
John 26
James 21
George 20
Thomas 17
Charles 14
Arthur 10
Joseph 8
Walter 8
Cornelius 7
Frederick 6
Henry 6
Edward 5
Robert 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Daniel 4
Wm. 4
Michael 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Thos. 3
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Jeremiah 2
Patrick 2
Reginald 2
Bertram 1
Chas.H. 1
Denis 1
Enoch 1
Felix 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Geoffery 1
Hy. 1
Jerry 1
Leonard 1
Lionel 1
Marion 1
Martin 1
Mary 1
Wm.H.W. 1

FAQ

Lucy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lucy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 626 people were recorded with the Lucy surname. That placed it at #5,649 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lucy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 711 in 2016. That gives Lucy a modern rank of #7,621.

What does the Lucy surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "light," possibly referring to a clearing in the woods.

What does the Lucy map show?

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