NameCensus.

UK surname

Leadbetter

An occupational surname for someone who mined, smelted, or worked with lead.

In the 1881 census there were 1,547 people recorded with the Leadbetter surname, ranking it #2,720 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,076, ranked #3,117, down from #2,720 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Meols, Poulton and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre, Braes Villages and Halton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leadbetter is 2,189 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.2%.

1881 census count

1,547

Ranked #2,720

Modern count

2,076

2016, ranked #3,117

Peak year

1999

2,189 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leadbetter had 1,547 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,720 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,076 in 2016, ranked #3,117.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,860 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Leadbetter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leadbetter surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leadbetter 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 790 #3,376
1861 historical 694 #3,891
1881 historical 1,547 #2,720
1891 historical 1,575 #2,818
1901 historical 1,860 #2,827
1911 historical 1,706 #2,875
1997 modern 2,143 #2,883
1998 modern 2,186 #2,932
1999 modern 2,189 #2,954
2000 modern 2,155 #2,975
2001 modern 2,101 #2,982
2002 modern 2,138 #2,996
2003 modern 2,078 #3,017
2004 modern 2,095 #2,991
2005 modern 2,032 #3,042
2006 modern 2,052 #3,017
2007 modern 2,072 #3,021
2008 modern 2,084 #3,028
2009 modern 2,144 #3,024
2010 modern 2,174 #3,055
2011 modern 2,128 #3,071
2012 modern 2,050 #3,124
2013 modern 2,090 #3,122
2014 modern 2,110 #3,116
2015 modern 2,076 #3,134
2016 modern 2,076 #3,117

Geography

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Where Leadbetters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Meols, Poulton, Edinburgh, Colwich (Colwich), Stowe, Colton and Childwall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre, Braes Villages and Halton. 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 North Meols Lancashire
2 Poulton Lancashire
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Colwich (Colwich), Stowe, Colton Staffordshire
5 Childwall Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre 001 Wyre
2 Wyre 002 Wyre
3 Braes Villages Falkirk
4 Halton 003 Halton
5 Halton 007 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leadbetter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leadbetter

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Leadbetter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Leadbetter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Leadbetter 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

Leadbetter is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leadbetter falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Leadbetter 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 Leadbetter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Leadbetter

The surname "Leadbetter" is of English origin, originating in the northern counties of England during the medieval period. It is an occupational surname derived from the Old English words "lead," meaning to guide or lead, and "beter," meaning a beater or one who clears a path.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, with references found in various historical documents and records. One such reference is in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, where a John Leadbeter is mentioned.

The name is believed to have originated as a designation for individuals whose occupation involved guiding or leading travelers and merchants along paths and roads, particularly through forests or other difficult terrain. These individuals would often carry sticks or staffs to clear away obstacles and mark the path.

In the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, a Robert le Ledebetere is listed, indicating the early use of the name in that region. The prefix "le" was a common addition to surnames during that period, denoting an occupational or descriptive name.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Leadbetter throughout history. One of the earliest recorded is Richard Leadbetter, who served as the Sheriff of London in 1498. Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Leadbetter (1647-1728), an English merchant and philanthropist who founded several charitable institutions in London.

In the realm of literature, Charles Leadbetter (1847-1918) was a British author and journalist known for his works on occultism and theosophy. He was a prominent figure in the Theosophical Society and wrote several books on esoteric subjects.

Other notable individuals with the surname include John Leadbetter (1760-1833), a British painter and engraver, and Michael Leadbetter (1941-2022), a professional golfer and golf instructor from England.

Throughout its history, the surname Leadbetter has been associated with various occupations, from guides and pathfinders to merchants, authors, and sportsmen, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leadbetter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leadbetter 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. Lancashire leads with 513 Leadbetters recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.86x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 513 2.86x
Staffordshire 166 3.25x
Midlothian 145 7.15x
Surrey 70 0.95x
Middlesex 53 0.35x
Sussex 52 2.04x
Gloucestershire 50 1.68x
Kent 41 0.79x
Shropshire 40 3.06x
Lanarkshire 39 0.80x
Berkshire 33 2.90x
Durham 29 0.64x
Leicestershire 29 1.73x
Cheshire 27 0.81x
Hampshire 27 0.87x
Warwickshire 27 0.71x
Derbyshire 23 0.97x
Worcestershire 19 0.96x
Northumberland 18 0.80x
Cambridgeshire 16 1.67x
Lincolnshire 14 0.58x
Norfolk 11 0.47x
Yorkshire 11 0.07x
Ayrshire 10 0.88x
Fife 9 1.00x
Northamptonshire 9 0.63x
Selkirkshire 9 6.57x
Angus 8 0.57x
East Lothian 8 3.99x
Essex 7 0.23x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.66x
Isle of Man 5 1.78x
Denbighshire 4 0.70x
Herefordshire 4 0.64x
Cumberland 3 0.23x
Berwickshire 2 1.09x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.49x
Monmouthshire 2 0.18x
Royal Navy 2 1.11x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.80x
Kinross-shire 1 2.61x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x
Oxfordshire 1 0.11x
Perthshire 1 0.15x
Roxburghshire 1 0.36x
Somerset 1 0.04x
West Lothian 1 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thornton In Fylde in Lancashire leads with 124 Leadbetters recorded in 1881 and an index of 315.52x.

Place Total Index
Thornton In Fylde 124 315.52x
Lasswade 45 97.05x
North Meols 43 24.45x
Broseley 40 172.12x
Pebworth 40 1117.32x
Speke 35 1315.79x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 34 4.17x
Prescot 32 98.49x
South Leith 26 11.39x
Hesketh Cum Becconsall 25 556.79x
Bilston 23 23.22x
Glencorse 23 295.25x
Scarisbrick 22 105.52x
Lambeth 21 1.59x
Garston 20 37.72x
Walsall Foreign 19 7.20x
Widnes 19 14.66x
Birmingham 15 1.18x
Stafford St Mary 15 20.74x
Stowe 15 781.25x
West Swallowfield 15 278.29x
Sherfield Upon Loddon 14 420.42x
Glasgow 13 1.50x
Halewood 13 135.14x
Wolverhampton 13 3.31x
Allerton 12 279.07x
Barony 12 0.97x
Hamilton 12 8.79x
Horsham 12 24.20x
Much Woolton 12 49.22x
Wolstanton Knutton 12 38.46x
Battersea 11 1.97x
Burton Upon Trent 11 9.20x
Lowesby 11 1486.49x
Walsoken 11 78.57x
Arborfield 10 714.29x
Aston 10 0.95x
Bromsgrove 10 15.03x
Toxteth Park 10 1.64x
Wednesbury 10 7.83x
Formby 9 44.25x
Great Crosby 9 18.37x
Otford 9 124.83x
Tottenham 9 3.73x
Warnham 9 163.04x
West Derby 9 1.71x
Wigan 9 3.58x
Wisbech St Peter 9 18.71x
Broughton In Salford 8 4.87x
Camberwell 8 0.83x
Cheetham 8 5.97x
Codnor Park 8 143.88x
Monifieth 8 16.15x
Newdigate 8 231.88x
Oldhamstocks 8 272.11x
Rugeley 8 21.82x
Shenstone 8 61.59x
Ashton In Makerfield 7 13.69x
Benfieldside 7 23.63x
Chatham 7 4.93x
Hastings Holy Trinity 7 37.21x
Holy Trinity 7 1.94x
Holywell 7 60.40x
Melrose 7 20.31x
Morpeth 7 26.43x
Penge 7 7.24x
Salford 7 1.32x
Weedon Loys 7 299.15x
West Ham 7 1.06x
Birkdale 6 13.20x
Darlington 6 3.45x
Dunfermline 6 4.35x
Great Bolton 6 2.52x
Hastings St Clement 6 24.98x
Islington London 6 0.41x
Knossington 6 397.35x
Maidstone 6 3.90x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 1.11x
Upperswinford 6 35.86x
Wycombe 6 8.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 84
Elizabeth 54
Ellen 38
Sarah 36
Ann 33
Margaret 33
Jane 30
Alice 25
Emma 20
Hannah 20
Martha 20
Eliza 17
Annie 15
Emily 14
Charlotte 9
Harriet 9
Louisa 8
Lucy 8
Harriett 7
Isabella 7
Caroline 6
Clara 6
Edith 6
Maria 6
Ada 5
Catherine 5
Jessie 5
Amelia 4
Amy 4
Anne 4
Betty 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Agnes 3
Anna 3
Eleanor 3
Nanny 3
Rebecca 3
Tabitha 3
Barbara 2
Bertha 2
Dorothy 2
Ester 2
Florance 2
Jenny 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Marth 2
Maud 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 98
John 85
Thomas 61
George 48
James 45
Henry 39
Joseph 31
Richard 25
Robert 24
Alfred 13
Charles 13
Peter 12
Albert 8
Harry 8
Samuel 8
Edward 7
Arthur 6
Frederick 5
Percy 5
Andrew 4
Daniel 4
David 4
Isaac 4
Nicholas 4
Thos. 4
Walter 4
Christopher 3
Edwin 3
Enoch 3
Ernest 3
Hugh 3
Lewis 3
Abraham 2
Austin 2
Benjamin 2
Enock 2
Herbert 2
Job 2
Mark 2
Paul 2
Wm. 2
Caleb 1
Foster 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Gilbert 1
Levi 1
Luke 1
Wm.W. 1

FAQ

Leadbetter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leadbetter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,547 people were recorded with the Leadbetter surname. That placed it at #2,720 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leadbetter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,076 in 2016. That gives Leadbetter a modern rank of #3,117.

What does the Leadbetter surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who mined, smelted, or worked with lead.

What does the Leadbetter map show?

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