NameCensus.

UK surname

Le

A French surname derived from the definite article "le", indicating a specific place, person, or characteristic.

In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Le surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,531, ranked #4,045, up from #31,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Greenwich and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Le is 1,531 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10106.7%.

1881 census count

15

Ranked #31,451

Modern count

1,531

2016, ranked #4,045

Peak year

2016

1,531 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Le had 15 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,531 in 2016, ranked #4,045.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Le surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Le surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Le 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 2 #33,133
1881 historical 15 #31,451
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1997 modern 602 #8,123
1998 modern 655 #7,854
1999 modern 693 #7,580
2000 modern 743 #7,154
2001 modern 767 #6,863
2002 modern 848 #6,466
2003 modern 892 #6,134
2004 modern 900 #6,089
2005 modern 919 #5,926
2006 modern 1,030 #5,428
2007 modern 974 #5,727
2008 modern 927 #6,001
2009 modern 979 #5,864
2010 modern 1,116 #5,369
2011 modern 1,043 #5,620
2012 modern 1,360 #4,403
2013 modern 1,450 #4,253
2014 modern 1,466 #4,247
2015 modern 1,496 #4,149
2016 modern 1,531 #4,045

Geography

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Where Les are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, Greenwich and Lewisham. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Birmingham 039 Birmingham
2 Greenwich 011 Greenwich
3 Lewisham 002 Lewisham
4 Greenwich 005 Greenwich
5 Greenwich 004 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Le

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Le

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Le surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Le 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Le is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

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

Le is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Le falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Le 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
Asian - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Le

The surname "Le" is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "le", which means "the". It is believed to have originated as a nickname or descriptive name during the Middle Ages, sometime between the 11th and 13th centuries.

This surname was commonly found in various regions of France, particularly in the northern and central parts of the country. It is thought to have been used as a distinguishing name for individuals who lived near a prominent landmark or feature, such as a hill, river, or forest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Le" can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document contains references to individuals with the surname "Le", suggesting that the name had already gained recognition by that time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure bearing the surname "Le" was Robert le Bougre, a French knight who participated in the Seventh Crusade. He was born around 1215 and is mentioned in several historical accounts of the crusade.

Another prominent individual with the surname "Le" was Philippe le Hardi, better known as Philip the Bold, who was the Duke of Burgundy from 1363 to 1404. He played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War and was known for his military prowess and political acumen.

During the Renaissance period, a French philosopher and writer named Étienne de La Boétie, born in 1530, gained recognition for his influential work "Discourse on Voluntary Servitude". He was a close friend of the famous essayist Michel de Montaigne.

In the 17th century, a French painter named Claude Le Lorrain, born in 1600, became renowned for his landscape paintings, which significantly influenced the development of the Baroque style in art.

Another notable figure with the surname "Le" was François Le Vau, a French architect born in 1612. He was a prominent figure in the French Baroque architectural movement and designed several important buildings, including the East Wing of the Louvre Palace in Paris.

As the surname "Le" spread throughout France and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations and place-name associations, reflecting the diverse regions where it was adopted. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in the Old French word "le", signifying a descriptive or locational identifier.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Le families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Le 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. Derbyshire leads with 1 Les recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.45x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 1 16.45x
Glamorgan 1 14.77x
Middlesex 1 2.57x
Surrey 1 5.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hampstead London in Middlesex leads with 1 Les recorded in 1881 and an index of 163.93x.

Place Total Index
Hampstead London 1 163.93x
Kingston On Thames 1 222.22x
Mickleover 1 5000.00x
Priscerwyn 1 10000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Hannah 1
Jane 1
M. 1
Margaret 1

FAQ

Le surname: questions and answers

How common was the Le surname in 1881?

In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Le surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Le surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,531 in 2016. That gives Le a modern rank of #4,045.

What does the Le surname mean?

A French surname derived from the definite article "le", indicating a specific place, person, or characteristic.

What does the Le map show?

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