NameCensus.

UK surname

Luther

A surname derived from the Germanic name Lothair, meaning "famous warrior" or "famous army."

In the 1881 census there were 426 people recorded with the Luther surname, ranking it #7,620 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 740, ranked #7,378, up from #7,620 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Westbury, Poole St James and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Tyneside, North Tyneside and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Luther is 763 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.7%.

1881 census count

426

Ranked #7,620

Modern count

740

2016, ranked #7,378

Peak year

2010

763 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Luther had 426 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,620 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 740 in 2016, ranked #7,378.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 571 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Luther surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Luther surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Luther 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 235 #9,206
1861 historical 300 #8,432
1881 historical 426 #7,620
1891 historical 441 #8,197
1901 historical 514 #7,888
1911 historical 571 #7,092
1997 modern 720 #7,082
1998 modern 740 #7,178
1999 modern 760 #7,072
2000 modern 739 #7,190
2001 modern 715 #7,242
2002 modern 728 #7,277
2003 modern 706 #7,331
2004 modern 722 #7,213
2005 modern 734 #7,074
2006 modern 754 #6,957
2007 modern 740 #7,134
2008 modern 733 #7,238
2009 modern 758 #7,189
2010 modern 763 #7,297
2011 modern 754 #7,282
2012 modern 733 #7,356
2013 modern 755 #7,302
2014 modern 758 #7,306
2015 modern 739 #7,400
2016 modern 740 #7,378

Geography

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Where Luthers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Westbury, Poole St James, London parishes, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace and Canford Magna. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Tyneside, North Tyneside and West Lindsey. 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 Westbury Shropshire
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 London parishes London 3
4 Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace Shropshire
5 Canford Magna Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Tyneside 023 South Tyneside
2 North Tyneside 011 North Tyneside
3 South Tyneside 004 South Tyneside
4 South Tyneside 018 South Tyneside
5 West Lindsey 008 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Luther

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Luther

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Luther, 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 Luther surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Luther 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Luther is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Luther 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

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

Meaning and origin of Luther

The surname LUTHER originated in Germany during the medieval period. It is derived from the Germanic root "liut," meaning "people" or "nation," and likely referred to someone who was well-known or respected among their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LUTHER can be found in the German town of Eisleben, where Martin Luther, the famous Protestant reformer, was born in 1483. Luther's theological writings and actions sparked the Protestant Reformation, a pivotal event in European history that challenged the authority of the Catholic Church.

The LUTHER surname can also be traced back to the Low German word "lüdde," meaning "small" or "little." This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname for a person of short stature or someone considered insignificant within their community.

In England, the LUTHER surname is believed to have originated as a variant of the more common surname "Luthier," which referred to a maker of stringed musical instruments, particularly lutes. This connection to the craft of luthiery may have contributed to the spread and adoption of the LUTHER name in certain regions.

Notable historical figures with the surname LUTHER include: 1. Martin Luther (1483-1546), the German monk and theologian who initiated the Protestant Reformation. 2. John Luther (1510-1595), a German mathematician and astronomer. 3. Seth Luther (1795-1863), an American minister and educator who served as the president of Erie College. 4. Robert Luther (1868-1940), a German chemist and Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry in 1908. 5. Hans Luther (1879-1962), a German politician and Chancellor of Germany from 1925 to 1926.

The LUTHER surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Lutherville, a community in Maryland, and Luther, a town in Oklahoma, both of which likely derived their names from individuals bearing the LUTHER surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Luther families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Luther 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. Shropshire leads with 104 Luthers recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.24x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 104 29.24x
Middlesex 39 0.95x
Dorset 32 11.84x
Surrey 32 1.60x
Hampshire 27 3.20x
Kent 23 1.64x
Wiltshire 23 6.32x
Lancashire 21 0.43x
Durham 20 1.63x
Herefordshire 17 10.07x
Sussex 16 2.31x
Yorkshire 14 0.34x
Worcestershire 8 1.49x
Brecknockshire 7 8.50x
Glamorgan 7 0.98x
Northumberland 7 1.14x
Perthshire 5 2.71x
Warwickshire 4 0.39x
Cheshire 3 0.33x
Derbyshire 3 0.47x
Royal Navy 3 6.12x
Montgomeryshire 2 2.12x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.40x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.35x
Somerset 1 0.15x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kinson in Dorset leads with 26 Luthers recorded in 1881 and an index of 492.42x.

Place Total Index
Kinson 26 492.42x
Holdenhurst 20 90.38x
Minsterley 20 1526.72x
Islington London 14 3.51x
Shrewsbury St Julian 13 147.73x
Everton 11 7.07x
Upton Magna 10 1515.15x
Clun 9 355.73x
Clun Eddycliff 9 1343.28x
Fisherton Anger 9 133.53x
Shrewsbury St Mary 9 64.15x
Singleton 9 1153.85x
Bridlington 8 85.65x
Crayford 8 130.51x
Greencroft Langley 8 1481.48x
Kensington London 8 3.50x
Netherhampton 8 3076.92x
Putney 8 42.64x
Shoreditch London 8 4.48x
Wollaston 8 234.60x
Battersea 7 4.62x
Byford 7 2333.33x
Lewisham 7 9.35x
Llanelly 7 71.07x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 8.45x
Tynemouth 7 21.34x
Christchurch 6 32.79x
Rustington 6 1176.47x
Wateringbury 6 327.87x
Corfe Castle 5 200.00x
Coxhoe 5 144.09x
Gelligaer 5 30.54x
Logie 5 75.41x
Withington 5 1388.89x
Aston 4 1.40x
Brinsop 4 1739.13x
Camberwell 4 1.52x
Haughmond Demesne 4 2105.26x
Lambeth 4 1.11x
Ludlow St Lawrence 4 56.50x
N Lydbury 4 289.86x
Pontesbury 4 92.38x
St Pancras London 4 1.21x
Worthen 4 105.82x
Clerkenwell London 3 3.09x
Middlestone 3 121.95x
Barnsley 2 4.75x
Birkenhead 2 2.76x
Clunbury 2 143.88x
Coombe Bissett 2 392.16x
Derby St Alkmund 2 10.36x
Hopesay 2 222.22x
Linthorpe 2 8.22x
Liverpool 2 0.67x
Llandinam 2 91.74x
Llanveynoe 2 645.16x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 2.90x
Royal Navy 2 4.77x
Salisbury St Martin 2 52.77x
Shrewsbury St Alkmond 2 101.01x
Stretford 2 7.44x
Wigmore 2 338.98x
Bristol St Paul In 1 4.65x
Clungunford 1 120.48x
Eckington 1 6.39x
Edgton 1 322.58x
Elvet 1 11.31x
Great Sutton 1 212.77x
Huntington In Hereford 1 555.56x
Maidstone 1 2.39x
Manchester 1 0.46x
Medmenham 1 212.77x
Odstock 1 476.19x
Portsea 1 0.60x
Ryhope 1 11.76x
St Albans St Peter 1 10.45x
Toxteth Park 1 0.60x
Wimborne 1 30.58x
Withington 1 6.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 17
Elizabeth 14
Emily 9
Martha 9
Ann 8
Hannah 8
Jane 7
Annie 5
Beatrice 5
Eliza 5
Julia 5
Margaret 5
Agnes 4
Alice 4
Ellen 4
Emma 4
Louisa 4
Anne 3
Bessie 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Minnie 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
M.A. 2
Mabel 2
Rose 2
Adelaide 1
Anna 1
Blanche 1
Bridget 1
C. 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Jennet 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
L. 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
W.J. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 26
John 21
Thomas 18
Martin 14
George 8
Edward 6
Henry 6
James 6
Joseph 6
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Edwin 5
Frederick 5
Richard 4
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Peter 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Alonzo 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Elias 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Leopold 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Allen 1
Charls 1
Chas. 1
Christian 1
Cuthbert 1
Earnest 1
Edw. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Gilbert 1
Guy 1
Harry 1
Jas. 1
Jno 1
Marten 1
Richd. 1
Richmond 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Solomon 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Luther surname: questions and answers

How common was the Luther surname in 1881?

In 1881, 426 people were recorded with the Luther surname. That placed it at #7,620 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Luther surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 740 in 2016. That gives Luther a modern rank of #7,378.

What does the Luther surname mean?

A surname derived from the Germanic name Lothair, meaning "famous warrior" or "famous army."

What does the Luther map show?

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