NameCensus.

UK surname

Lyford

An English habitational name for someone from Lifford, England.

In the 1881 census there were 262 people recorded with the Lyford surname, ranking it #10,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 408, ranked #11,711, down from #10,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Battersea and Bucklebury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Vale of White Horse, West Berkshire and South Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lyford is 457 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.7%.

1881 census count

262

Ranked #10,721

Modern count

408

2016, ranked #11,711

Peak year

1998

457 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lyford had 262 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 408 in 2016, ranked #11,711.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 422 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lyford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lyford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lyford 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 228 #9,418
1861 historical 227 #10,749
1881 historical 262 #10,721
1891 historical 323 #10,480
1901 historical 335 #10,782
1911 historical 422 #8,936
1997 modern 427 #10,476
1998 modern 457 #10,279
1999 modern 457 #10,342
2000 modern 429 #10,834
2001 modern 414 #10,942
2002 modern 423 #10,975
2003 modern 416 #10,941
2004 modern 422 #10,838
2005 modern 408 #11,024
2006 modern 421 #10,798
2007 modern 423 #10,888
2008 modern 417 #11,100
2009 modern 404 #11,636
2010 modern 422 #11,493
2011 modern 403 #11,806
2012 modern 376 #12,262
2013 modern 403 #11,850
2014 modern 419 #11,592
2015 modern 417 #11,532
2016 modern 408 #11,711

Geography

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Where Lyfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Battersea and Bucklebury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Vale of White Horse, West Berkshire, South Oxfordshire and Ealing. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Battersea London (South Districts)
4 London parishes London 2
5 Bucklebury Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Vale of White Horse 010 Vale of White Horse
2 West Berkshire 001 West Berkshire
3 South Oxfordshire 014 South Oxfordshire
4 Vale of White Horse 004 Vale of White Horse
5 Ealing 009 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lyford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lyford

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

Lyford is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lyford 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 Lyford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lyford

The surname LYFORD is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English words "hli-fford", meaning "hill ford" or "ford by a hill". It is believed to have originated in the county of Devon, England, where it was first recorded in the 13th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LYFORD can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Richard de Lyfforde. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I.

The LYFORD surname is also mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry refers to a settlement called "Lifford" in Devonshire.

During the medieval period, the name LYFORD was often associated with various locations in Devon, such as Lifton, Lyford, and Lydford. These place names likely influenced the spelling variations of the surname, including Lifford, Lyfford, and Lyveford.

Notable individuals bearing the LYFORD surname throughout history include:

1. John Lyford (c. 1580 - c. 1620), an English Puritan minister who was involved in the early settlement of Plymouth Colony in North America. 2. William Lyford (1598 - 1653), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of St. John's College, Oxford. 3. Sir Samuel Lyford (1630 - 1696), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle in Devon. 4. Thomas Lyford (c. 1725 - 1799), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. 5. Edward Lyford (1784 - 1847), a British painter and engraver known for his landscapes and coastal scenes.

The LYFORD surname has been present in various regions of England for centuries, with concentrations in Devon, Somerset, and parts of the West Country. While the name has since spread globally, its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon settlements in southwest England during the medieval period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lyford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lyford 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. Berkshire leads with 114 Lyfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.43x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 114 59.43x
Middlesex 36 1.41x
Surrey 36 2.89x
Oxfordshire 27 17.11x
Gloucestershire 12 2.39x
Northamptonshire 11 4.58x
Kent 8 0.92x
Derbyshire 5 1.25x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.94x
Hampshire 3 0.57x
Somerset 3 0.73x
Denbighshire 1 1.04x
Devon 1 0.19x
Essex 1 0.20x
Warwickshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reading St Mary in Berkshire leads with 19 Lyfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 123.70x.

Place Total Index
Reading St Mary 19 123.70x
Battersea 13 13.82x
Didcot 12 3636.36x
Bucklebury 10 1000.00x
Swyncombe 9 2812.50x
Shiplake 7 1296.30x
Sutton Courtney 7 886.08x
Bromley London 6 10.67x
Drayton 6 1111.11x
St George Hanover Square 6 13.32x
Westminster St James 6 22.84x
Whitchurch 6 759.49x
Charlton Kings 5 144.09x
Cheltenham 5 12.93x
Church Gresley 5 78.49x
Lamport 5 3571.43x
Oxford St Ebbe 5 107.53x
Reading St Giles 5 26.57x
Remenham 5 925.93x
Wallingford St Peter 5 1219.51x
Windlesham 5 213.68x
Ashton In Stumford 4 4444.44x
Bermondsey 4 5.26x
Chelsea London 4 5.19x
East West Hanney 4 533.33x
Lewisham 4 8.60x
Sutton Wick 4 1290.32x
Abingdon St Helen 3 53.48x
Barkham 3 1578.95x
Bridgewater 3 26.86x
Bromley 3 22.57x
Clerkenwell London 3 4.97x
Eynsham 3 300.00x
Heston 3 35.34x
Sandhurst 3 80.65x
Steventon 3 370.37x
Wimbledon 3 21.46x
Basildon 2 344.83x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 11.97x
Easthampstead 2 194.17x
Kensington London 2 1.41x
Portsea 2 1.95x
St Martin In Fields 2 13.07x
Tilehurst 2 51.55x
West Horsley 2 384.62x
Wokingham 2 45.66x
Aldershot 1 5.70x
Bampton 1 81.97x
Barking 1 6.78x
Birmingham 1 0.47x
Camberwell 1 0.61x
Caterham 1 18.18x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 11.00x
Charney 1 526.32x
Croydon 1 1.45x
Dawlish 1 25.19x
Earley 1 31.25x
East Bedfont 1 78.74x
Edlesborough 1 70.92x
Egham 1 13.09x
Frimley 1 28.17x
Gresford 1 108.70x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.34x
Lambeth 1 0.45x
Langley Marish 1 52.63x
Mitcham 1 12.71x
Olney 1 46.73x
Oxford St Aldate 1 60.24x
Radley 1 208.33x
Rothwell 1 41.49x
Somerton 1 333.33x
Sonning 1 47.17x
Speen 1 31.85x
Staines 1 24.69x
Thatcham 1 33.78x
Wallingford St Leonard 1 112.36x
Warfield 1 57.47x
West Swallowfield 1 109.89x
Westminster St Margaret 1 8.11x
Wootton 1 312.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 13
Emily 10
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Sarah 6
Ann 5
Alice 4
Ellen 4
Emma 4
Edith 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Agnes 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Ruth 2
Adelaide 1
B.S. 1
Bertha 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth. 1
Ellinor 1
Ernestine 1
Harriett 1
Isabel 1
Jenny 1
Kezia 1
Lelia 1
Lily 1
Lousia 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Margrett 1
Marianne 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Miriam 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rosina 1
Sophy 1
Susannah 1
Tryphena 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
Charles 12
Thomas 9
James 8
John 8
Frederick 7
George 7
Arthur 6
Frank 4
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Gabriel 2
Harry 2
Percy 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Belcher 1
Benjamin 1
Benjm. 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Ezekiel 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Harrie 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Jno. 1
Nathan 1
Oliver 1
Philip 1
Simeon 1

FAQ

Lyford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lyford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 262 people were recorded with the Lyford surname. That placed it at #10,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lyford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 408 in 2016. That gives Lyford a modern rank of #11,711.

What does the Lyford surname mean?

An English habitational name for someone from Lifford, England.

What does the Lyford map show?

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