NameCensus.

UK surname

Ludford

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Lincolnshire or Shropshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 344 people recorded with the Ludford surname, ranking it #8,864 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 489, ranked #10,141, down from #8,864 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and St John Westminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Coventry, Manchester and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ludford is 543 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.2%.

1881 census count

344

Ranked #8,864

Modern count

489

2016, ranked #10,141

Peak year

2010

543 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ludford had 344 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,864 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 489 in 2016, ranked #10,141.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 446 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Ludford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ludford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ludford 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 233 #9,272
1861 historical 282 #8,895
1881 historical 344 #8,864
1891 historical 371 #9,405
1901 historical 429 #9,018
1911 historical 446 #8,566
1997 modern 529 #8,923
1998 modern 539 #9,065
1999 modern 537 #9,146
2000 modern 531 #9,194
2001 modern 519 #9,204
2002 modern 533 #9,203
2003 modern 529 #9,109
2004 modern 516 #9,302
2005 modern 480 #9,718
2006 modern 502 #9,463
2007 modern 506 #9,482
2008 modern 509 #9,513
2009 modern 534 #9,377
2010 modern 543 #9,443
2011 modern 522 #9,645
2012 modern 489 #10,039
2013 modern 501 #10,006
2014 modern 494 #10,170
2015 modern 494 #10,083
2016 modern 489 #10,141

Geography

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Where Ludfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, St John Westminster and Hitchin. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Coventry, Manchester, Breckland and Harborough. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 St John Westminster London (West Districts)
5 Hitchin Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Coventry 038 Coventry
2 Coventry 035 Coventry
3 Manchester 023 Manchester
4 Breckland 016 Breckland
5 Harborough 010 Harborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ludford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ludford

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ludford is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ludford 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

Ludford falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ludford

The surname LUDFORD is of English origin, deriving from a place name in the county of Somerset. The name is thought to have emerged during the 11th or 12th century, with the earliest recorded spelling being Ludeford in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset from 1196. The name is derived from the Old English words "lud" meaning "loud" or "murmuring," and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing.

The name LUDFORD is believed to have originated in the village of the same name, located near the town of Glastonbury in Somerset. This village is situated on the River Brue, and the name likely referred to the "loud" or "murmuring" sound of the river at the ford crossing point. The Domesday Book of 1086 records the place name as "Lodeford," which supports the Old English derivation.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname was Roger de Ludford, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272. Another early record is that of Robert de Ludford, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. These early records indicate that the surname had spread beyond its place of origin by the 13th and 14th centuries.

During the 16th century, the name LUDFORD appeared in various forms, including Ludeford, Ludforde, and Ludford. One notable bearer was Sir Edmund Ludlow (1617-1692), an English republican and regicide who served as a Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. He was one of the signatories of the death warrant for King Charles I and later fled to Switzerland after the Restoration of the monarchy.

In the 17th century, another prominent LUDFORD was Roger Ludlow (1590-1665), an English lawyer and colonial magistrate who co-founded the settlement of Dorchester, Massachusetts, and later served as the Deputy Governor of Connecticut Colony. He played a significant role in the development of early New England law and government.

Other notable individuals with the surname LUDFORD include:

1. John Ludford (c.1480-1556), an English Catholic clergyman and theologian who served as the Abbot of Winchcombe Abbey.

2. Simon Ludford (fl. 1450-1470), an English composer of the Renaissance period, known for his church music and sacred choral works.

3. William Ludford (c.1365-1444), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Henry VI.

4. Edward Ludford (1896-1986), a British artist and painter known for his landscapes and scenes of rural life in the Cotswolds region.

While the surname LUDFORD has its roots in Somerset, it has since spread throughout England and beyond, with bearers of the name contributing to various fields, including politics, law, religion, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ludford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ludford 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. Warwickshire leads with 119 Ludfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.06x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 119 14.06x
Middlesex 70 2.09x
Surrey 43 2.63x
Hampshire 27 3.93x
Staffordshire 16 1.41x
Hertfordshire 14 6.05x
Lancashire 11 0.28x
Kent 10 0.87x
Bedfordshire 8 4.60x
Derbyshire 7 1.33x
Leicestershire 6 1.61x
Carmarthenshire 4 2.83x
Worcestershire 2 0.46x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Berkshire 1 0.40x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.74x
Midlothian 1 0.22x
Norfolk 1 0.19x
Wiltshire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Coventry St Michael in Warwickshire leads with 28 Ludfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 103.02x.

Place Total Index
Coventry St Michael 28 103.02x
Coventry Holy Trinity 25 98.93x
Portsea 23 17.06x
Aston 19 8.15x
Westminster St John 16 39.16x
Hitchin 14 134.10x
Polesworth 14 348.26x
Birmingham 11 3.90x
Hackney London 11 5.85x
Willesden 11 34.78x
Leatherhead 10 244.50x
Lambeth 9 3.08x
Woolwich 9 21.28x
Camberwell 8 3.73x
Chelsea London 8 7.91x
Clifton 8 476.19x
Newington 7 5.65x
Willenhall 7 33.00x
Chilvers Coton 6 172.41x
Foleshill 6 67.42x
Islington London 6 1.84x
Kensington London 6 3.22x
Leire 6 1818.18x
Poplar London 6 9.47x
Whittington 6 82.53x
Bury 5 10.99x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 7.91x
Sutton Coldfield 5 56.24x
Battersea 4 3.24x
Hawley 4 307.69x
Llanelly 4 12.56x
Sedgley 4 9.51x
Shoreditch London 4 2.75x
Wilnecote 4 164.61x
Bermondsey 3 3.00x
Croydon 2 2.20x
Handsworth 2 7.16x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 3.23x
Beckenham 1 6.68x
Beoley 1 142.86x
Castle Church 1 14.68x
Ditchingham 1 81.30x
Fazeley 1 48.54x
Litchurch 1 4.73x
Llandudno 1 20.66x
Martin 1 169.49x
Powick 1 33.00x
Preston 1 0.94x
South Leith 1 1.98x
St Pancras London 1 0.37x
Tamworth 1 16.50x
Tilehurst 1 19.65x
Upper Hallam 1 34.60x
Warwick St Mary 1 13.61x
Whitechapel London 1 3.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Sarah 19
Alice 9
Ann 9
Elizabeth 9
Annie 7
Jane 7
Eliza 6
Emma 4
Gertrude 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Catherine 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Lizzie 3
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Georgeina 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Hester 2
Jessie 2
Lucy 2
Mabel 2
May 2
Millicent 2
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Cath. 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Eunice 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Isabel 1
Johanna 1
Lenar 1
Lydia 1
Margarett 1
Margrett 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
George 16
John 16
Thomas 14
Joseph 9
Edward 8
Alfred 7
James 7
Charles 5
Robert 5
Walter 4
Ernest 3
Henry 3
Jonathan 3
Samuel 3
Wm. 3
David 2
Jesse 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Albert 1
Benjamen 1
Benjamin 1
Caleb 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Ezra 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Hedley 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Reuben 1
Saml. 1
Simeon 1
Thos.C. 1

FAQ

Ludford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ludford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 344 people were recorded with the Ludford surname. That placed it at #8,864 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ludford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 489 in 2016. That gives Ludford a modern rank of #10,141.

What does the Ludford surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Lincolnshire or Shropshire, England.

What does the Ludford map show?

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