NameCensus.

UK surname

Lydford

In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Lydford surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, down from #19,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Gillingham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, North Dorset and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lydford is 180 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.9%.

1881 census count

103

Ranked #19,410

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

1901

180 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lydford had 103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 180 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lydford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lydford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lydford 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 64 #21,914
1861 historical 113 #19,151
1881 historical 103 #19,410
1891 historical 123 #20,939
1901 historical 180 #16,171
1911 historical 171 #16,461
1997 modern 156 #20,593
1998 modern 155 #21,227
1999 modern 150 #21,826
2000 modern 142 #22,544
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 151 #21,809
2003 modern 136 #23,045
2004 modern 136 #23,207
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 139 #23,044
2007 modern 139 #23,377
2008 modern 141 #23,383
2009 modern 137 #24,371
2010 modern 144 #24,147
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 142 #24,547
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

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Where Lydfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Gillingham, London parishes, Sturminster Newton Castle and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, North Dorset, Babergh, West Berkshire and East Dorset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Gillingham Dorset
3 London parishes London 3
4 Sturminster Newton Castle Dorset
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 060 Cornwall
2 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
3 Babergh 007 Babergh
4 West Berkshire 011 West Berkshire
5 East Dorset 009 East Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lydford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lydford

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

Lydford is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Lydford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lydford 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. Dorset leads with 54 Lydfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.89x.

County Total Index
Dorset 54 81.89x
Somerset 27 16.70x
Middlesex 7 0.70x
Glamorgan 4 2.29x
Surrey 4 0.82x
Hampshire 3 1.46x
Gloucestershire 2 1.02x
Essex 1 0.50x
Kent 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gillingham in Dorset leads with 25 Lydfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 2212.39x.

Place Total Index
Gillingham 25 2212.39x
Sturminster 18 2812.50x
Sixpenny Handley 7 2187.50x
Dunkerton 6 1714.29x
Nunney 6 1714.29x
Wincanton 6 722.89x
Shepton Montague 5 4545.45x
Battersea 4 10.82x
Islington London 4 4.11x
Roath 4 50.31x
Shaftesbury St Peter 4 1290.32x
Holdenhurst 3 55.56x
Castle Cary 2 285.71x
Bibury 1 416.67x
Compton Pauncefoot 1 1428.57x
Fulham London 1 6.86x
Gloucester St Nicholas 1 109.89x
Lewisham 1 5.47x
Shepton Mallet 1 55.25x
St George Hanover Square 1 5.65x
St Marylebone London 1 1.86x
West Ham 1 2.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 5
Eliza 3
Mary 3
Rose 3
Emily 2
Emma 2
Laura 2
Rachel 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Gwynne 1
Hannah 1
Julia 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Sason 1
Selina 1
Susanah 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Lydford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lydford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Lydford surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lydford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Lydford a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Lydford map show?

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