NameCensus.

UK surname

Luis

A Spanish surname derived from the given name Luis, which originated from the Germanic name Ludwig, meaning "famous warrior."

In the 1881 census there were 42 people recorded with the Luis surname, ranking it #27,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 438, ranked #11,028, up from #27,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, St Leonard Shoreditch and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Hertfordshire, Swindon and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Luis is 438 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 942.9%.

1881 census count

42

Ranked #27,721

Modern count

438

2016, ranked #11,028

Peak year

2016

438 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Luis had 42 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 438 in 2016, ranked #11,028.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 122 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Luis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Luis surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Luis 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 122 #18,036
1881 historical 42 #27,721
1891 historical 61 #29,103
1901 historical 30 #30,724
1911 historical 30 #30,073
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 182 #19,162
1999 modern 192 #18,689
2000 modern 205 #17,940
2001 modern 191 #18,453
2002 modern 203 #18,115
2003 modern 207 #17,746
2004 modern 219 #17,180
2005 modern 216 #17,283
2006 modern 241 #16,139
2007 modern 270 #15,080
2008 modern 291 #14,430
2009 modern 309 #14,135
2010 modern 325 #13,946
2011 modern 343 #13,277
2012 modern 371 #12,396
2013 modern 392 #12,100
2014 modern 407 #11,848
2015 modern 415 #11,583
2016 modern 438 #11,028

Geography

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Where Luis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, St Leonard Shoreditch, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Hertfordshire, Swindon, Lambeth, West Lancashire and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Hertfordshire 005 North Hertfordshire
2 Swindon 015 Swindon
3 Lambeth 007 Lambeth
4 West Lancashire 001 West Lancashire
5 Kensington and Chelsea 021 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Luis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Luis

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Luis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Luis 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Luis 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

Luis 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

Luis 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 Luis 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Luis

The surname Luis originated in Spain during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old Spanish name Lois, which in turn comes from the Germanic name Lodowicus, a Latinized form of the Old Frankish name Hlodowig, meaning "famous warrior."

In the 8th century, the name was borne by the Frankish ruler Clovis I, who united the Frankish tribes and founded the Merovingian dynasty. The name Luis appeared in early medieval Spanish records and manuscripts, such as the Becerro Gótico de Cardeña, a 12th-century cartulary from the monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname Luis was Gonzalo Luis, a 13th-century nobleman and military leader from the Kingdom of León. Another notable figure was Juan Luis de Segura (c. 1520-1571), a Spanish poet and soldier who fought against the Moriscos in Granada.

The surname Luis has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. These include Luis de Góngora (1561-1627), a renowned Spanish poet of the Baroque period; Luis de León (1527-1591), a Spanish poet, humanist, and mystic of the Spanish Renaissance; and Luis Vives (1492-1540), a Spanish scholar and humanist who was a contemporary of Erasmus.

In the 19th century, Luis de Rivas (1791-1865) was a Spanish dramatist and politician, while Luis Buñuel (1900-1983) was a renowned Spanish filmmaker and a central figure in the Surrealist movement. More recently, Luis Suárez (born 1987) is a Uruguayan professional soccer player who has played for clubs like Liverpool and Barcelona.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Luis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Luis 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. Angus leads with 13 Luis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.47x.

County Total Index
Angus 13 33.47x
Midlothian 9 16.03x
Yorkshire 8 1.93x
Kent 5 3.50x
Lancashire 2 0.40x
Denbighshire 1 6.31x
Essex 1 1.21x
Middlesex 1 0.24x
Perthshire 1 5.31x
Royal Navy 1 20.00x
Somerset 1 1.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liff Benvie in Angus leads with 13 Luis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 220.34x.

Place Total Index
Liff Benvie 13 220.34x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 39.84x
Holy Trinity 8 80.08x
Farnborough 5 2380.95x
Accrington 1 22.12x
Bath St Michael 1 294.12x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 12.66x
Hackney London 1 4.26x
Llanynys 1 1000.00x
Monzie 1 909.09x
Royal Navy 1 23.42x
Upminster 1 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Louise 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Sarah 1
Saries 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
William 2
Carl 1
Charles 1
Damis 1
Elias 1
George 1
Harry 1

FAQ

Luis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Luis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 42 people were recorded with the Luis surname. That placed it at #27,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Luis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 438 in 2016. That gives Luis a modern rank of #11,028.

What does the Luis surname mean?

A Spanish surname derived from the given name Luis, which originated from the Germanic name Ludwig, meaning "famous warrior."

What does the Luis map show?

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