NameCensus.

UK surname

Lead

An occupational surname referring to someone who worked with lead.

In the 1881 census there were 144 people recorded with the Lead surname, ranking it #15,891 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, down from #15,891 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kings Norton, Burslem and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Broxbourne, North Tyneside and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lead is 335 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.8%.

1881 census count

144

Ranked #15,891

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

1891

335 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lead had 144 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,891 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 335 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Lead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lead surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lead 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 133 #14,106
1861 historical 317 #8,031
1881 historical 144 #15,891
1891 historical 335 #10,181
1901 historical 170 #16,762
1911 historical 187 #15,600
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 124 #24,316
1999 modern 126 #24,239
2000 modern 134 #23,358
2001 modern 128 #23,665
2002 modern 129 #24,021
2003 modern 125 #24,265
2004 modern 117 #25,448
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 109 #27,253
2008 modern 109 #27,533
2009 modern 114 #27,363
2010 modern 125 #26,448
2011 modern 113 #27,967
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 113 #28,502
2014 modern 117 #28,109
2015 modern 114 #28,478
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Leads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kings Norton, Burslem, London parishes, Lambeth and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Broxbourne, North Tyneside, Winchester and Mid Devon. 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 Kings Norton Worcestershire
2 Burslem Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Broxbourne 009 Broxbourne
2 North Tyneside 019 North Tyneside
3 Winchester 012 Winchester
4 Mid Devon 005 Mid Devon
5 Mid Devon 002 Mid Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lead

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lead

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Lead surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Lead household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lead 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

Lead is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lead falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lead is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Lead

The surname LEAD originated in England in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "lead", meaning a place where lead was mined or a path or way leading somewhere. The name was likely first adopted by someone who lived near a lead mine or a well-traveled route.

The earliest known record of the surname LEAD dates back to 1199 in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, where a William de Ledes is mentioned. The spelling "Ledes" suggests the name referred to a place name, possibly derived from the Old English words "lad" (a way or path) and "dur" (a door or gate).

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various spellings such as Lede, Leede, and Leade, reflecting the dialectal variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. One notable bearer of the name was Sir John de Ledes, who served as Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1292.

The Domesday Book of 1086 contains several references to place names that may have contributed to the origin of the LEAD surname, including Ledes in Nottinghamshire and Ledesham in Kent.

By the 14th century, the surname had spread across England and was found in various regions, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One prominent figure was Sir Thomas de Lede, who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1347.

Other notable bearers of the LEAD surname throughout history include:

1. Robert Lede (c. 1390-1455), an English clergyman and diplomat who served as Ambassador to the Council of Basel. 2. John Leed (1572-1644), an English clergyman and writer who published several works on theology and religious topics. 3. Jane Lead (1624-1704), an English Christian mystic and writer who founded a spiritual group known as the Philadelphian Society. 4. Richard Lyde (1617-1668), an English politician and landowner who served as Member of Parliament for Taunton. 5. Thomas Lead (1764-1825), an English agriculturist and writer who published works on farming practices and rural economics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lead 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. Middlesex leads with 34 Leads recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.42x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 34 2.42x
Staffordshire 26 5.48x
Leicestershire 16 10.27x
Lancashire 15 0.90x
Warwickshire 13 3.67x
Surrey 9 1.32x
Derbyshire 5 2.27x
Suffolk 5 2.92x
Caithness 4 20.80x
Lincolnshire 3 1.34x
Kent 2 0.42x
Somerset 2 0.88x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.77x
Berkshire 1 0.95x
Berwickshire 1 5.88x
Essex 1 0.36x
Hampshire 1 0.35x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 4.92x
Northamptonshire 1 0.76x
Wigtownshire 1 5.36x
Worcestershire 1 0.55x
Yorkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barrow In Furness in Lancashire leads with 15 Leads recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.17x.

Place Total Index
Barrow In Furness 15 66.17x
Wolverhampton 14 38.40x
Edgbaston 13 118.40x
Burslem 11 81.00x
Acton 10 121.51x
Leicester St Margaret 9 23.70x
Tottenham 8 35.76x
Leicester St Mary 7 55.64x
Akenham 5 8333.33x
Litchurch 5 56.50x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 17.69x
Lambeth 4 3.27x
St Andrew Holborn London 4 65.79x
St Luke London 4 17.75x
Thurso 4 133.33x
Clee With Weelsby 3 60.98x
Westminster St John 3 17.53x
Bridgewater 2 32.57x
St George Hanover Square 2 8.08x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 4.11x
Aldershot 1 10.37x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.64x
Droitwich St Andrew 1 217.39x
Islington London 1 0.73x
Kirkmabreck 1 112.36x
Leyton 1 20.92x
Northampton All Sts 1 22.32x
Ramsgate 1 12.79x
Shellingford 1 833.33x
Shipley 1 13.85x
St Lawrence 1 30.40x
St Pancras London 1 0.88x
Stranraer 1 58.48x
Walsall Foreign 1 4.08x
Whitsome 1 370.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 7
Sarah 5
Emma 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Rosina 3
Catherine 2
Fanny 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Ann 1
Bridget 1
Carrie 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Joan 1
Lowisa 1
Lymer 1
Maud 1
Olive 1
Rosa 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 11
Henry 6
Alfred 4
Leonard 4
Thomas 4
Frederick 3
George 3
Oswald 3
Edwin 2
Albert 1
Charles 1
E.Reuben 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
James 1
Lewis 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
W.C. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Lead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 144 people were recorded with the Lead surname. That placed it at #15,891 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Lead a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Lead surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who worked with lead.

What does the Lead map show?

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