NameCensus.

UK surname

Leak

An English occupational surname referring to a person who thatches or repairs roofs.

In the 1881 census there were 1,151 people recorded with the Leak surname, ranking it #3,478 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,123, ranked #5,248, down from #3,478 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall, Preston and Sculcoates. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, East Riding of Yorkshire and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leak is 1,327 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.4%.

1881 census count

1,151

Ranked #3,478

Modern count

1,123

2016, ranked #5,248

Peak year

1911

1,327 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leak had 1,151 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,478 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,123 in 2016, ranked #5,248.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,327 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Leak surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leak surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leak 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 1,064 #2,632
1861 historical 1,018 #2,752
1881 historical 1,151 #3,478
1891 historical 1,236 #3,495
1901 historical 1,287 #3,865
1911 historical 1,327 #3,602
1997 modern 1,145 #4,901
1998 modern 1,158 #5,025
1999 modern 1,143 #5,137
2000 modern 1,133 #5,146
2001 modern 1,108 #5,138
2002 modern 1,125 #5,192
2003 modern 1,078 #5,269
2004 modern 1,071 #5,300
2005 modern 1,079 #5,208
2006 modern 1,104 #5,125
2007 modern 1,093 #5,213
2008 modern 1,095 #5,239
2009 modern 1,154 #5,120
2010 modern 1,164 #5,182
2011 modern 1,147 #5,194
2012 modern 1,120 #5,207
2013 modern 1,145 #5,196
2014 modern 1,142 #5,229
2015 modern 1,135 #5,212
2016 modern 1,123 #5,248

Geography

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Where Leaks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall, Preston, Sculcoates, Great Yarmouth and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull and Boston. 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 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Great Yarmouth Norfolk
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 004 Purbeck
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 017 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Kingston upon Hull 012 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 Boston 007 Boston
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 018 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leak

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leak

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Leak, 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 Leak surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Leak 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Leak is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Leak is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leak 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 Leak 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 Leak, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Leak

The surname Leak originates from England and is believed to have derived from the Old English word "leac," meaning a garden vegetable or plant. It is thought to have been an occupational name for someone who grew or sold leeks or other vegetables.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries for people with the name Leac or Le Leke, which are considered early variations of the modern surname Leak.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Leak is found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a John le Leke is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1272, which mentions a Thomas le Leke.

Over time, the name evolved from its Old English roots, with variations like Le Leke, Leyk, and Leyke appearing in different regions of England. The spelling Leak became more common in the 16th and 17th centuries.

A notable figure with the surname Leak was Sir Walter Leak (1555-1629), an English merchant and diplomat who served as the ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during the reign of King James I.

Another prominent individual was Richard Leak (1628-1695), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Principal of Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and was known for his writings on religious topics.

In the 18th century, Archibald Leak (1720-1785) was a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Edinburgh, funding the construction of public buildings and supporting charitable causes.

The name Leak has also been associated with places in England, such as Leak Hall in Derbyshire, which dates back to the 16th century and was once the seat of a family with the surname Leak.

John Leak (1761-1834), a British naval officer and explorer, is remembered for his voyages to the Pacific and his efforts in mapping and charting remote islands and coastlines.

Throughout history, the surname Leak has been found in various regions of England, with concentrations in counties like Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, and Derbyshire, reflecting its origins and early recorded instances.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leak families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leak 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. Yorkshire leads with 472 Leaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.22x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 472 4.22x
Lancashire 137 1.02x
Lincolnshire 111 6.16x
Staffordshire 95 2.50x
Middlesex 40 0.35x
Leicestershire 37 2.96x
Norfolk 36 2.08x
Nottinghamshire 29 1.91x
Surrey 22 0.40x
Warwickshire 21 0.74x
Durham 20 0.60x
Westmorland 17 6.86x
Derbyshire 16 0.91x
Essex 15 0.67x
Cheshire 12 0.48x
Suffolk 12 0.87x
Glamorgan 8 0.41x
Herefordshire 7 1.51x
Kent 7 0.18x
Dorset 5 0.68x
Somerset 5 0.28x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.56x
Shropshire 4 0.41x
Sussex 4 0.21x
Berkshire 3 0.35x
Channel Islands 3 0.90x
Hampshire 3 0.13x
Cornwall 2 0.16x
Monmouthshire 2 0.25x
Worcestershire 2 0.14x
Bedfordshire 1 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.45x
Oxfordshire 1 0.14x
Radnorshire 1 1.10x
Royal Navy 1 0.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 42 Leaks recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.41x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 42 10.41x
Hunslet 39 22.38x
Holbeck 32 43.23x
Leeds 29 4.60x
Holy Trinity 19 7.07x
Sculcoates 19 10.72x
Holme In Huddersfield 17 648.86x
Great Yarmouth 15 10.44x
Leicester St Margaret 15 4.92x
Islington London 14 1.28x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 14 26.97x
Bentham 13 152.58x
Darlington 13 10.04x
Ancaster 12 476.19x
Camberwell 12 1.67x
Gorleston 12 34.39x
Middlesbrough 12 8.25x
Snenton 12 20.09x
Trentham 12 37.07x
Barlborough 11 168.45x
Boston 11 20.11x
Kendal 11 24.25x
Lancaster 11 13.82x
Rawcliffe In Goole 11 172.96x
Warrington 11 6.93x
Birmingham 10 1.06x
Marsh Chapel 10 450.45x
Norton In Moors 10 49.63x
Worsbrough 10 30.54x
Bridlington 9 35.18x
Colchester St Botolph 9 47.54x
Cottingham 9 37.38x
Drax 9 629.37x
Nottingham St Mary 9 2.29x
Stickney 9 337.08x
Wolstanton 9 7.78x
Austonley 8 126.38x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 8 20.93x
Binbrooke 8 178.17x
Featherstone 8 63.75x
Hedon 8 213.33x
Middleton On Wolds 8 326.53x
Preston 8 2.23x
Bury 7 4.58x
Lambeth 7 0.71x
Runton 7 357.14x
Saltfleetby All Sts 7 1076.92x
Solihull 7 34.25x
Spittlegate 7 28.07x
Upper Allithwaite E 7 322.58x
Wortley In Bramley 7 7.91x
York St Maurice 7 33.27x
Acklam With Barthorpe 6 540.54x
Batley 6 5.65x
Birtle Cum Bamford 6 68.73x
Bottesford 6 116.73x
Crigglestone 6 55.76x
Glooston 6 1463.41x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 4.13x
North Somercotes 6 127.12x
Rawdon 6 45.59x
Rawmarsh 6 15.20x
Smallthorne 6 42.46x
Swansea St Thomas 6 30.43x
West Ham 6 1.22x
Withington 6 13.92x
Applethwaite 5 67.66x
Brightside Bierlow 5 2.28x
Chapel Allerton 5 29.90x
Dewsbury 5 4.36x
Great Grimsby 5 4.37x
Howden 5 65.88x
Selby 5 21.41x
Stretford 5 6.79x
Theddlethorpe St Helen 5 312.50x
West Derby 5 1.28x
Wolstanton Oldcott 5 36.26x
Burrow With Burrow 4 481.93x
Monks Coppenhall 4 4.26x
Sowerby In Halifax 4 10.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 106
Sarah 45
Elizabeth 36
Ann 33
Annie 27
Emma 26
Hannah 20
Eliza 19
Jane 18
Alice 17
Martha 12
Ellen 11
Charlotte 8
Harriet 8
Louisa 8
Anne 7
Florence 7
Margaret 7
Clara 6
Agnes 5
Caroline 5
Ada 4
Catherine 4
Edith 4
Esther 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Susan 4
Bertha 3
Betsy 3
Christiana 3
Elizth. 3
Emily 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Lydia 3
Maria 3
Minnie 3
Sophia 3
Amelia 2
Edna 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Fanney 2
Gertrude 2
Jessie 2
Leah 2
Lily 2
Phebe 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 91
William 79
Thomas 41
Robert 29
George 28
Charles 26
James 24
Joseph 23
Henry 22
Edward 17
Alfred 14
Samuel 10
Arthur 9
Richard 9
Harry 8
Walter 8
Albert 7
Frederick 7
Edwin 5
David 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Tom 4
Wm. 4
Anthony 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Robt. 3
Thos. 3
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
Fred 2
Harold 2
Lewis 2
Saml. 2
Wm 2
Alice 1
Bertram 1
Byron 1
C. 1
Ed. 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Elihua 1
Elijah 1
Elizabeth 1
Emanuel 1
Hawley 1
Hector 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Leak surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leak surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,151 people were recorded with the Leak surname. That placed it at #3,478 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leak surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,123 in 2016. That gives Leak a modern rank of #5,248.

What does the Leak surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who thatches or repairs roofs.

What does the Leak map show?

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