NameCensus.

UK surname

Lycett

A habitation surname derived from a place name, most likely referring to someone from Licet in Normandy.

In the 1881 census there were 614 people recorded with the Lycett surname, ranking it #5,725 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,159, ranked #5,092, up from #5,725 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, Tamworth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cannock Chase and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lycett is 1,283 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.8%.

1881 census count

614

Ranked #5,725

Modern count

1,159

2016, ranked #5,092

Peak year

2000

1,283 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lycett had 614 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,725 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,159 in 2016, ranked #5,092.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 991 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Lycett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lycett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lycett 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 264 #8,419
1861 historical 312 #8,127
1881 historical 614 #5,725
1891 historical 705 #5,565
1901 historical 914 #5,084
1911 historical 991 #4,571
1997 modern 1,130 #4,961
1998 modern 1,265 #4,679
1999 modern 1,269 #4,702
2000 modern 1,283 #4,635
2001 modern 1,247 #4,651
2002 modern 1,254 #4,723
2003 modern 1,237 #4,687
2004 modern 1,214 #4,768
2005 modern 1,215 #4,714
2006 modern 1,195 #4,789
2007 modern 1,199 #4,817
2008 modern 1,188 #4,876
2009 modern 1,225 #4,857
2010 modern 1,218 #4,978
2011 modern 1,210 #4,931
2012 modern 1,196 #4,928
2013 modern 1,213 #4,939
2014 modern 1,224 #4,935
2015 modern 1,184 #5,030
2016 modern 1,159 #5,092

Geography

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Where Lycetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, Tamworth, London parishes, Rugeley and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cannock Chase and Sheffield. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 Tamworth Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Rugeley Staffordshire
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cannock Chase 003 Cannock Chase
2 Cannock Chase 002 Cannock Chase
3 Cannock Chase 012 Cannock Chase
4 Cannock Chase 008 Cannock Chase
5 Sheffield 056 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lycett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lycett

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Lycett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lycett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Lycett 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

Lycett is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lycett falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lycett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lycett

The surname Lycett originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "lycc" or "lice," meaning a corpse or dead body, and "hyt," meaning a dwelling or shelter. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a mortuary or a place where the dead were kept.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lycett can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named William Lycett is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where it is spelled "Lychett."

In the 13th century, the name Lycett was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Westmorland. It is believed that the name may have originated in these regions, possibly in the vicinity of a mortuary or a place associated with the dead.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Lycett. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as "Liccefeld" and "Lichefelde."

Notable individuals with the surname Lycett throughout history include:

1. Sir Francis Lycett (1608-1675), an English politician and member of Parliament for Worcestershire. 2. William Lycett (1770-1836), an English artist and engraver known for his drawings of animals and landscapes. 3. Mary Lycett (1851-1932), a British social reformer and activist for women's rights and education. 4. John Lycett (1884-1962), an English cricketer who played for Warwickshire County Cricket Club. 5. Reginald Lycett (1892-1976), a British military officer who served in World War I and later became an author and historian.

The name Lycett has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Lycett Green in Staffordshire and Lycett Hill in Cumbria. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lycett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lycett 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. Staffordshire leads with 282 Lycetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.93x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 282 13.93x
Lancashire 44 0.62x
Warwickshire 42 2.78x
Shropshire 34 6.56x
Yorkshire 32 0.54x
Worcestershire 29 3.70x
Cheshire 28 2.11x
Middlesex 27 0.45x
Leicestershire 22 3.31x
Surrey 19 0.65x
Northumberland 13 1.46x
Derbyshire 11 1.17x
Herefordshire 7 2.85x
Hampshire 6 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.74x
Kent 3 0.15x
Sussex 3 0.30x
Devon 2 0.16x
Glamorgan 2 0.19x
Durham 1 0.06x
Essex 1 0.08x
Northamptonshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rugeley in Staffordshire leads with 49 Lycetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 337.23x.

Place Total Index
Rugeley 49 337.23x
Pelsall 27 448.51x
Stone 25 96.53x
Walsall Foreign 25 23.90x
Wednesfield 21 70.47x
Birmingham 17 3.37x
Wigan 17 17.09x
West Bromwich 16 13.80x
Willenhall 15 39.55x
Brightside Bierlow 13 11.15x
Islington London 13 2.24x
Aston 12 2.88x
Pontesbury 12 190.48x
Wolstanton 12 19.51x
Hoyland Nether 11 75.45x
Wolstanton Chesterton 11 106.28x
Cannock 10 28.30x
Fazeley 10 271.74x
Sandbach 10 88.57x
Stourbridge 10 49.60x
Sutton 10 47.28x
Wharton 10 138.70x
Whitwick 10 118.20x
Packington 8 337.55x
Seaton Delaval 8 102.04x
Eccleshall 7 91.15x
Hammerwich 7 243.90x
Polesworth 7 97.49x
Albrighton 6 240.00x
Ashley 6 361.45x
Battersea 6 2.72x
Chelsea London 6 3.32x
Church Gresley 6 40.16x
Manchester 6 1.87x
Mansfield 6 21.44x
Marston 6 437.96x
Shifnal 6 42.64x
Worcester Blockhouse 6 139.53x
Bedlington 5 16.78x
Lye 5 38.34x
Nether Hallam 5 6.22x
Oldham 5 2.18x
Adbaston 4 360.36x
Blackfordby 4 188.68x
Cleobury Mortimer 4 122.32x
Everton 4 1.76x
Liverpool 4 0.93x
Marchington Woodlands 4 606.06x
Pensax 4 408.16x
Rowley Regis 4 7.09x
Southampton St Mary 4 5.17x
Thornbury 4 833.33x
Toxteth Park 4 1.66x
Wolverhampton 4 2.57x
Bowdon 3 57.14x
Brighton 3 1.47x
Burton Upon Trent 3 6.33x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.90x
Lapley 3 196.08x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.35x
Warwick St Mary 3 22.85x
Winslow 3 352.94x
Yoxall 3 112.36x
Bolehall Glascote 2 31.20x
Burslem 2 3.45x
Challacombe 2 434.78x
Falsgrave 2 22.83x
Kensington London 2 0.60x
Middle 2 141.84x
Mobberley 2 66.23x
Pemberton 2 7.05x
South Stoneham 2 7.50x
St George Martyr London 2 16.46x
Swansea Town 2 2.34x
Burntwood Edial 1 7.73x
East Ham 1 4.55x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 0.83x
Litchurch 1 2.65x
Mickleover 1 34.48x
Wishaw 1 277.78x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 48
John 31
Thomas 19
George 18
James 17
Joseph 14
Edward 9
Henry 9
Francis 8
Alfred 7
Charles 7
Richard 7
Arthur 6
Samuel 6
Albert 5
Enoch 5
Frederick 5
Herbert 5
Robert 5
Frank 3
Job 3
Michael 3
Patrick 3
Thos. 3
Archibald 2
Asher 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Enock 2
Fred 2
Isaiah 2
Jabez 2
Jonah 2
Levi 2
Lewis 2
Meshack 2
Silas 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Caleb 1
Carmi 1
Clement 1
Edwind 1
Eli 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
Howard 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1

FAQ

Lycett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lycett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 614 people were recorded with the Lycett surname. That placed it at #5,725 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lycett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,159 in 2016. That gives Lycett a modern rank of #5,092.

What does the Lycett surname mean?

A habitation surname derived from a place name, most likely referring to someone from Licet in Normandy.

What does the Lycett map show?

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