NameCensus.

UK surname

Lyddon

A surname denoting someone from any of the places named Lyddon.

In the 1881 census there were 326 people recorded with the Lyddon surname, ranking it #9,167 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 388, ranked #12,133, down from #9,167 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Molton, Highbray, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne, West Somerset and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lyddon is 424 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.0%.

1881 census count

326

Ranked #9,167

Modern count

388

2016, ranked #12,133

Peak year

1891

424 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lyddon had 326 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,167 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 388 in 2016, ranked #12,133.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 424 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Lyddon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lyddon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lyddon 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 241 #9,037
1861 historical 239 #10,273
1881 historical 326 #9,167
1891 historical 424 #8,446
1901 historical 404 #9,426
1911 historical 408 #9,161
1997 modern 371 #11,645
1998 modern 390 #11,563
1999 modern 396 #11,527
2000 modern 391 #11,591
2001 modern 381 #11,637
2002 modern 376 #11,989
2003 modern 370 #11,919
2004 modern 361 #12,175
2005 modern 366 #11,964
2006 modern 352 #12,396
2007 modern 359 #12,356
2008 modern 358 #12,485
2009 modern 369 #12,447
2010 modern 371 #12,679
2011 modern 381 #12,300
2012 modern 371 #12,396
2013 modern 370 #12,626
2014 modern 375 #12,578
2015 modern 378 #12,405
2016 modern 388 #12,133

Geography

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Where Lyddons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Molton, Highbray, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Dulverton, Brompton Regis and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle upon Tyne, West Somerset, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend and The Vale of Glamorgan. 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 North Molton, Highbray Devon
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Dulverton, Brompton Regis Devon
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle upon Tyne 030 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 West Somerset 005 West Somerset
3 Neath Port Talbot 019 Neath Port Talbot
4 Bridgend 010 Bridgend
5 The Vale of Glamorgan 011 Vale of Glamorgan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lyddon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lyddon

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Lyddon is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

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

Lyddon 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

Lyddon falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lyddon

The surname Lyddon originated in the county of Devon, England, during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "hlidgeat," which means "swing gate," or from the place name "Liddenton" or "Littleton," which means "small town or farm."

Lyddon is a locational surname, meaning it was initially given to someone who lived in or came from a particular place. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Lidestone" and "Lideton."

In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Lydeton" and "Lydton." One of the earliest known individuals with the surname was Adam de Lydeton, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1203.

During the 14th century, the name took on various spellings, including "Lyddon," "Lyddon," and "Liddone." In the Subsidy Rolls of Devonshire in 1327, the name appears as "Robert Lyddon."

Notable individuals with the surname Lyddon throughout history include:

1. Sir John Lyddon (c. 1520-1580), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Devonshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. Thomas Lyddon (c. 1570-1626), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Okehampton in Devon.

3. Reverend Roger Lyddon (1630-1702), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on religious subjects.

4. John Lyddon (1751-1826), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

5. William Lyddon (1773-1843), an English artist and engraver known for his landscape paintings and etchings of rural scenes in Devon.

The name Lyddon is also associated with several place names in Devon, such as Lyddon Cross, Lyddon Farm, and Lyddon Gorge, which further reinforces its locational origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lyddon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lyddon 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. Devon leads with 61 Lyddons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.22x.

County Total Index
Devon 61 9.22x
Somerset 49 9.57x
Middlesex 42 1.32x
Surrey 42 2.71x
Glamorgan 32 5.78x
Gloucestershire 32 5.13x
Kent 21 1.94x
Worcestershire 13 3.13x
Brecknockshire 9 14.15x
Berkshire 6 2.51x
Monmouthshire 6 2.61x
Norfolk 3 0.61x
Northumberland 3 0.63x
Derbyshire 2 0.40x
Sussex 2 0.37x
Fife 1 0.53x
Hampshire 1 0.15x
Hertfordshire 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newcastle Higher in Glamorgan leads with 25 Lyddons recorded in 1881 and an index of 664.89x.

Place Total Index
Newcastle Higher 25 664.89x
Lambeth 18 6.49x
Chagford 17 1075.95x
South Molton 14 384.62x
Westbury On Trym 13 61.52x
Battersea 11 9.40x
Islington London 11 3.57x
Limehouse London 10 28.65x
Poplar London 9 15.00x
Bristol St James St Paul 8 38.46x
Kings Norton 8 21.48x
Llanelly 8 105.12x
Brompton Ralph 7 1521.74x
Carshalton 7 118.04x
Maidstone 7 21.66x
North Molton 7 542.64x
Twitchen 7 3181.82x
Bedwellty 6 14.78x
Bicknoller 6 1666.67x
Plymouth Charles The 6 20.58x
Reading St Lawrence 6 117.42x
Wiveliscombe 6 210.53x
Greenwich 5 9.88x
Henbury 5 164.47x
Oldbury 5 24.47x
Treborough 5 3125.00x
Bath St James 4 74.91x
Chatham 4 13.40x
Wonersh 4 207.25x
Acton 3 16.09x
Bitton 3 55.25x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 5.11x
Burlescombe 3 333.33x
Cwmdu 3 44.44x
Dulverton 3 200.00x
Kings Brompton Brompton 3 1111.11x
Longbenton 3 14.97x
Minehead 3 155.44x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 3 122.45x
St Pancras London 3 1.17x
Aberdare 2 5.26x
Blackwell 2 81.63x
Clevedon 2 37.59x
Cutcombe 2 327.87x
Exton 2 454.55x
Faversham 2 19.32x
Harbledown 2 256.41x
Lydeard St Lawrence 2 350.88x
Abbotshall 1 14.22x
Aston 1 161.29x
Belstone 1 588.24x
Bradninch 1 53.48x
Bromley London 1 1.43x
Brompton Regis 1 178.57x
Chelsea London 1 1.04x
Coulsdon 1 35.46x
Devonport 1 13.14x
Holdenhurst 1 5.85x
Hove 1 4.25x
Kensington London 1 0.57x
Langford Budville 1 250.00x
Littleham 1 20.66x
Llangattock 1 19.31x
Mayfield 1 31.55x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.48x
Paddington London 1 0.86x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.96x
Plymtree 1 212.77x
Ramsgate 1 5.65x
Richmond 1 4.61x
Roath 1 3.98x
Somerton 1 47.85x
St John Near Swansea 1 14.60x
Stoke Newington London 1 4.04x
Topsham 1 32.05x
Wellington 1 14.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 20
Eliza 11
Annie 7
Emma 7
Sarah 7
Jane 6
Edith 5
Emily 5
Ada 4
Florence 4
Anne 3
Ellen 3
Kate 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Ann 2
Beatrice 2
Bessie 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Isabella 2
Sophia 2
Bell 1
Bertha 1
Blender 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Ellenor 1
Elsie 1
Eveline 1
Florrie 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Infant 1
Isset 1
Jenney 1
Joanna 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lillias 1
Lucretia 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 23
George 14
James 13
Henry 9
Thomas 9
Charles 7
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Herbert 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Benjamin 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Arthur 1
Chas 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Harrold 1
Hebert 1
Horatio 1
Horran 1
Matthew 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Reginald 1
Spencer 1
Vivian 1

FAQ

Lyddon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lyddon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 326 people were recorded with the Lyddon surname. That placed it at #9,167 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lyddon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 388 in 2016. That gives Lyddon a modern rank of #12,133.

What does the Lyddon surname mean?

A surname denoting someone from any of the places named Lyddon.

What does the Lyddon map show?

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