NameCensus.

UK surname

Lumley

From a place name meaning "woodland clearing," derived from Old English elements "lum" (pool) and "leah" (woodland clearing).

In the 1881 census there were 1,824 people recorded with the Lumley surname, ranking it #2,386 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,464, ranked #2,671, down from #2,386 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, County Durham and Hambleton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lumley is 2,588 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.1%.

1881 census count

1,824

Ranked #2,386

Modern count

2,464

2016, ranked #2,671

Peak year

2010

2,588 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lumley had 1,824 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,386 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,464 in 2016, ranked #2,671.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,485 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lumley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lumley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Lumley 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 1,117 #2,524
1861 historical 1,053 #2,662
1881 historical 1,824 #2,386
1891 historical 1,792 #2,555
1901 historical 2,344 #2,314
1911 historical 2,485 #2,070
1997 modern 2,512 #2,506
1998 modern 2,579 #2,535
1999 modern 2,565 #2,564
2000 modern 2,563 #2,554
2001 modern 2,520 #2,544
2002 modern 2,553 #2,567
2003 modern 2,501 #2,567
2004 modern 2,487 #2,582
2005 modern 2,447 #2,586
2006 modern 2,448 #2,588
2007 modern 2,461 #2,602
2008 modern 2,488 #2,594
2009 modern 2,524 #2,623
2010 modern 2,588 #2,626
2011 modern 2,561 #2,615
2012 modern 2,482 #2,639
2013 modern 2,537 #2,633
2014 modern 2,525 #2,653
2015 modern 2,477 #2,676
2016 modern 2,464 #2,671

Geography

Back to top

Where Lumleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead and St James Clerkenwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, County Durham, Hambleton and Harrogate. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 County Durham 031 County Durham
3 Hambleton 006 Hambleton
4 County Durham 027 County Durham
5 Harrogate 004 Harrogate

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Lumley

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Lumley

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Lumley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lumley 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Lumley 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

Lumley 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

Lumley falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lumley

The surname Lumley originated in England, with records indicating its existence as far back as the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "lum," meaning a small stream or brook, and "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest. The name likely originated as a place name, referring to a location where a small stream flowed through a meadow or clearing.

The earliest recorded mention of the Lumley surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals bearing the name were present in England during the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, a notable member of the Lumley family was Ralph de Lumley, who was recorded as holding lands in Northumberland. Another early record is from 1273, when John de Lumley was listed as a landowner in Yorkshire.

The Lumleys were an influential family in the North of England, particularly in County Durham. One of the most prominent members was George Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley (c. 1535-1609), who served as a Member of Parliament and held various positions at the court of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure was Richard Lumley, 1st Earl of Scarbrough (1650-1721), who was a distinguished military leader and served as Governor of Hull. He was also a patron of the arts and supported the establishment of the Lumley Library, which contained a valuable collection of manuscripts and books.

In later centuries, the Lumley name continued to be associated with various noteworthy individuals. One example is Benjamin Lumley (1831-1887), an English impresario and theatre manager who was instrumental in promoting Italian opera in London during the Victorian era.

The surname Lumley has also been found in various spellings over the centuries, including Lumly, Lumbley, and Lumbly. Despite variations, the name has maintained its connection to its English origins and the historical significance of the Lumley family.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Lumley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lumley 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 562 Lumleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.19x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 562 3.19x
Durham 411 7.76x
Middlesex 220 1.24x
Lancashire 109 0.52x
Surrey 89 1.03x
Suffolk 57 2.63x
Northumberland 50 1.89x
Lincolnshire 28 0.98x
Essex 25 0.71x
Montgomeryshire 23 5.64x
Merionethshire 22 6.75x
Kent 21 0.35x
Leicestershire 20 1.01x
Cheshire 18 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 16 0.67x
Glamorgan 14 0.45x
Cumberland 12 0.78x
Staffordshire 11 0.18x
Shropshire 9 0.59x
Somerset 8 0.28x
Stirlingshire 8 1.22x
Cardiganshire 7 1.61x
Gloucestershire 7 0.20x
Midlothian 7 0.29x
Monmouthshire 7 0.54x
Berkshire 6 0.45x
Caernarfonshire 6 0.83x
Hampshire 6 0.16x
Northamptonshire 6 0.36x
Oxfordshire 5 0.45x
Sussex 5 0.17x
Warwickshire 5 0.11x
Dorset 4 0.34x
Fife 4 0.38x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.28x
Lanarkshire 3 0.05x
Derbyshire 2 0.07x
Devon 2 0.05x
Anglesey 1 0.32x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.09x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.13x
Cornwall 1 0.05x
Hertfordshire 1 0.08x
Norfolk 1 0.04x
Worcestershire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whickham in Durham leads with 42 Lumleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.19x.

Place Total Index
Whickham 42 86.19x
Clerkenwell London 38 9.04x
Camberwell 36 3.17x
Gateshead 28 7.06x
St Pancras London 28 1.95x
Oldham 27 3.96x
Islington London 26 1.51x
Kyo 26 104.29x
Ixworth 24 392.16x
Kensington London 22 2.22x
Paddington London 21 3.21x
Leeds 20 2.01x
Stockton On Tees 19 7.44x
Belgrave 18 40.40x
Elvet 17 44.47x
Billingham 16 175.44x
Selby 16 43.40x
Tanfield 16 25.40x
Benfieldside 15 43.07x
Bishopwearmouth 15 3.30x
Hartlepool 15 19.93x
Scarborough 15 9.36x
St Marylebone London 15 1.58x
Elswick 14 6.62x
Northallerton 14 62.17x
Westoe 14 4.66x
Bradford 13 3.04x
Machynlleth 13 88.26x
Merthyr Tydfil 13 4.36x
Saffron Walden 13 35.01x
Gorton 12 6.04x
Llanfihangel Y Pennant 12 243.90x
Nottingham St Mary 12 1.93x
Birstwith 11 367.89x
Scorton 11 441.77x
Soothill 11 17.26x
Wingate 11 30.29x
Beddington 10 29.81x
Bury 10 4.14x
Middlesbrough 10 4.35x
Ryton 10 53.73x
Sudbury St Peter 10 84.18x
Appleby 9 271.08x
Bilton In Wetherby 9 620.69x
Bishop Thornton 9 308.22x
Darlington 9 4.40x
Lambeth 9 0.58x
Manchester 9 0.95x
Monkwearmouth 9 17.75x
Ovington 9 276.92x
Pickhill With Roxby 9 523.26x
Sawley In Ripon 9 396.48x
Tranmere 9 6.23x
Winlaton 9 17.71x
York St Cuthbert 9 55.73x
York St Maurice 9 27.09x
Beverley St Martin 8 27.16x
Denny 8 22.91x
Eskdaleside 8 92.27x
Framwellgate 8 25.49x
Hackney London 8 0.80x
Hunslet 8 2.91x
Knaresborough 8 28.87x
Liverpool 8 0.62x
Long Melford 8 39.70x
Newbottle 8 27.66x
Sherburn 8 49.63x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 1.52x
Crook Billy Row 7 10.32x
Harborne 7 3.63x
Hornsey 7 3.11x
Kirby Sigston 7 1129.03x
Kirkby Moorside 7 62.33x
Monkwearmouth Shore 7 6.77x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 4.42x
Ripon 7 17.10x
Southwick 7 13.96x
West Auckland 7 36.14x
Whitehaven 7 8.57x
Woolwich 7 3.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 133
Elizabeth 69
Sarah 62
Jane 57
Ann 38
Margaret 34
Emma 27
Ellen 25
Annie 22
Eliza 18
Hannah 18
Isabella 18
Alice 14
Anne 12
Emily 12
Frances 12
Martha 10
Caroline 9
Edith 9
Florence 9
Rebecca 9
Ada 8
Agnes 8
Elizth. 8
Kate 8
Catherine 7
Dorothy 7
Esther 7
Harriet 7
Maria 7
Clara 6
Louisa 6
Sophia 6
Fanny 5
Susan 5
Eleanor 4
Ethel 4
Harriett 4
Helena 4
Laura 4
Rachel 4
Amy 3
Eva 3
Francis 3
Gertrude 3
Helen 3
Jessie 3
Margt. 3
Matilda 3
Rose 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 117
William 103
Thomas 78
George 57
Charles 51
Joseph 49
Robert 44
James 37
Henry 28
Edward 26
Richard 24
Arthur 20
Frederick 18
Alfred 14
Harry 11
Albert 10
Mark 10
Walter 10
Christopher 8
David 8
Philip 8
Samuel 8
Tom 7
Geo. 5
Herbert 5
Lewis 5
Andrew 4
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Anthony 3
Hugh 3
Michael 3
Stephen 3
W. 3
Willie 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Cuthbert 2
Edmund 2
Evan 2
Fred 2
Leonard 2
Lumley 2
Marmaduke 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Richd. 2
Thos. 2

FAQ

Lumley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lumley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,824 people were recorded with the Lumley surname. That placed it at #2,386 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lumley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,464 in 2016. That gives Lumley a modern rank of #2,671.

What does the Lumley surname mean?

From a place name meaning "woodland clearing," derived from Old English elements "lum" (pool) and "leah" (woodland clearing).

What does the Lumley map show?

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