When I started researching c1996 I found the surname Luffman did not go back earlier than 1798 in Lincolnshire, whilst most records of it were in Southern England, primarily according to the IGI in Wiltshire. Further research showed that the first bearer of that name in Lincolnshire, John Luffman, was a member of the Somerset Militia, which had been stationed in the market towns of Lincolnshire in 1794 to resist a French invasion. Various militia units were stationed around the country, and particularly in coastal counties for the same purpose. Invariably the unit was not local to the area, the reason being that the authorities did not trust the locals not to fire on their officers, and thus give support to the invaders, like any other repressive regime throughout history.
Steve, bearing in mind the above, and Norfolk being an east coast county it is well worth checking which militia unit was stationed there in the 1790s and the incidence of surnames you are reesearching in that county.
Chris, Taking the two together you can certainly build up a picture on the most common surnames, also there is software available that shows surname locations in 1881, forget the name of it though.In my experience most electoral registers are available at the local library, in the case of Doncaster pre WW2, registers were available at th late lamented FRC, where are they now?
