NameCensus.

UK surname

Leake

Derived from a Middle English word referring to a leaky stream, a stream flowing through boggy land, or a field.

In the 1881 census there were 1,234 people recorded with the Leake surname, ranking it #3,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,652, ranked #3,773, down from #3,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Kings Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Herefordshire and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leake is 1,969 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.9%.

1881 census count

1,234

Ranked #3,284

Modern count

1,652

2016, ranked #3,773

Peak year

1911

1,969 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leake had 1,234 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,652 in 2016, ranked #3,773.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,969 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Leake surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leake surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leake 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 915 #3,016
1861 historical 753 #3,632
1881 historical 1,234 #3,284
1891 historical 1,368 #3,171
1901 historical 1,752 #2,962
1911 historical 1,969 #2,520
1997 modern 1,797 #3,341
1998 modern 1,882 #3,328
1999 modern 1,906 #3,308
2000 modern 1,884 #3,326
2001 modern 1,838 #3,330
2002 modern 1,820 #3,419
2003 modern 1,763 #3,458
2004 modern 1,761 #3,462
2005 modern 1,733 #3,483
2006 modern 1,722 #3,506
2007 modern 1,727 #3,530
2008 modern 1,727 #3,548
2009 modern 1,734 #3,608
2010 modern 1,736 #3,676
2011 modern 1,727 #3,646
2012 modern 1,692 #3,661
2013 modern 1,717 #3,672
2014 modern 1,698 #3,727
2015 modern 1,679 #3,728
2016 modern 1,652 #3,773

Geography

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Where Leakes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Kings Norton, Thurcaston 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 East Riding of Yorkshire, Herefordshire, Charnwood and Wakefield. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Kings Norton Worcestershire
4 Thurcaston Leicestershire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 042 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Herefordshire 017 Herefordshire, County of
3 Charnwood 014 Charnwood
4 Wakefield 016 Wakefield
5 Wakefield 027 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leake

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leake

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Leake surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Leake 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Leake 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

Leake 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

Leake falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Leake

The surname Leake is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the Old English word "leac," which means a garden plot or a small meadow. It is likely that the name initially referred to someone who lived near or worked on such a plot of land.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Leake can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Lech." This entry suggests that the name was already in use in England during the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name was also recorded as "Lek" and "Leke," which were variations closer to the modern spelling of Leake. These early spellings provide insights into the evolution of the name over time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Sir John Leake, an English naval officer who lived from 1656 to 1720. He played a significant role in several naval battles during the War of the Spanish Succession and was later knighted for his service.

Another notable individual with the Leake surname was Stephen Martin Leake, an English antiquarian and numismatist born in 1702. He made significant contributions to the study of ancient Greek and Roman coins and published several works on the subject.

In the 18th century, John Leake, an English clergyman and author, was born in 1729. He wrote several religious works and served as a chaplain in the British army during the American Revolutionary War.

The name Leake is also associated with place names in England, such as Leake in Lincolnshire and Leacroft in Staffordshire. These place names likely derived from the same Old English word that gave rise to the surname.

Throughout history, the Leake surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including military personnel, clergy, scholars, and others. While not as widespread as some other English surnames, it has left its mark on the historical record and continues to be carried by families today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leake families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leake 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 314 Leakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.64x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 314 2.64x
Leicestershire 100 7.51x
Middlesex 98 0.82x
Lancashire 90 0.63x
Shropshire 82 7.90x
Staffordshire 60 1.48x
Surrey 59 1.01x
Lincolnshire 46 2.40x
Nottinghamshire 40 2.47x
Warwickshire 40 1.32x
Herefordshire 39 7.92x
Derbyshire 29 1.54x
Worcestershire 25 1.59x
Hampshire 17 0.69x
Kent 17 0.41x
Durham 15 0.42x
Northamptonshire 15 1.33x
Essex 14 0.59x
Buckinghamshire 12 1.65x
Northumberland 12 0.67x
Oxfordshire 12 1.62x
Cheshire 11 0.42x
Hertfordshire 10 1.21x
Norfolk 10 0.54x
Somerset 9 0.47x
Berkshire 8 0.89x
Sussex 7 0.35x
Monmouthshire 6 0.69x
Lanarkshire 5 0.13x
Angus 4 0.36x
Denbighshire 4 0.88x
Glamorgan 4 0.19x
Cardiganshire 3 1.02x
Devon 3 0.12x
Dorset 3 0.38x
Gloucestershire 3 0.13x
Bedfordshire 2 0.32x
Suffolk 2 0.14x
Radnorshire 1 1.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kings Norton in Worcestershire leads with 23 Leakes recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.36x.

Place Total Index
Kings Norton 23 16.36x
Lambeth 21 2.01x
Aston 19 2.28x
Holy Trinity 19 6.64x
Thurcaston 19 2065.22x
Shifnal 17 60.35x
Normanton 16 44.74x
Skelton In Great 16 1300.81x
North Cave Drewton 15 319.83x
Oldham 15 3.26x
Basford 14 18.77x
Kensington London 14 2.10x
Chigwell 13 58.11x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 12 7.76x
Mexborough 12 50.80x
Nottingham St Mary 12 2.87x
Nuneaton 12 34.21x
Camberwell 11 1.43x
Leeds 11 1.64x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 2.56x
Wellington 11 18.86x
Everton 10 2.20x
Hotham 10 653.59x
Leicester St Margaret 10 3.08x
Ludlow St Lawrence 10 48.45x
Melton Mowbray 10 41.77x
Newington 10 2.25x
Portsea 10 2.07x
St George Hanover Square 10 4.73x
Wolverhampton 10 3.21x
Heanor 9 32.01x
Leicester St Mary 9 8.37x
Preston 9 2.36x
Wellington 9 357.14x
Arnold 8 33.86x
Barnsley 8 6.52x
Barrow Upon Soar 8 72.73x
Brierley 8 402.01x
Haltwhistle 8 92.27x
Hugglescote 8 40.84x
Pembridge 8 147.33x
Sheffield 8 2.11x
Snydale 8 325.20x
South Lynn 8 38.39x
Swinton In Rotherham 8 25.42x
Walsall Borough 8 25.42x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 7 17.20x
Birmingham 7 0.69x
Bushbury 7 96.15x
Cranford 7 338.16x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 2.89x
High Hoyland 7 736.84x
Holme In Huddersfield 7 250.90x
Louth 7 15.91x
Paddington London 7 1.59x
Scarborough 7 6.47x
Sheepy Parva 7 1891.89x
South Cave 7 177.22x
South Cliff 7 1428.57x
Staines 7 36.80x
Albrighton 6 119.76x
Belgrave 6 19.97x
Birkenhead 6 2.84x
Broughton In Salford 6 4.61x
Crakehall 6 300.00x
Crigglestone 6 52.36x
Leicester All Sts 6 22.94x
Lichfield St Chad 6 65.79x
Llanthewy Rhytherch 6 413.79x
Loppington 6 270.27x
Plumstead 6 4.39x
Reading St Giles 6 6.79x
Sandal Magna 6 34.09x
Sculcoates 6 3.18x
Seaton Wassand 6 346.82x
Southampton St Mary 6 3.88x
Standon 6 70.42x
Weston 6 172.41x
Wolverton 6 39.95x
Govan 5 0.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 79
Sarah 61
Elizabeth 60
Jane 29
Ellen 27
Ann 26
Annie 24
Emma 24
Alice 18
Louisa 15
Margaret 15
Edith 11
Martha 10
Caroline 9
Eliza 9
Emily 9
Fanny 9
Hannah 9
Amy 8
Isabella 8
Ada 7
Frances 7
Clara 6
Elizth. 6
Florence 6
Maria 6
Catherine 5
Francis 5
Amelia 4
Charlotte 4
Eleanor 4
Harriett 4
Rose 4
Selina 4
Anne 3
Betty 3
Dorothy 3
Harriet 3
Isabel 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Sophia 3
Anna 2
Bridget 2
Elizh. 2
Grace 2
Julia 2
Lilly 2
Mabel 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 66
John 65
Thomas 43
James 30
Charles 28
Henry 28
George 26
Robert 24
Alfred 17
Joseph 15
Francis 12
Richard 12
Arthur 11
Edward 11
Frederick 11
Samuel 11
Walter 10
Albert 8
Harry 6
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Benjamin 4
Frank 4
Fred 4
Anthony 3
Daniel 3
David 3
Luke 3
Edwd. 2
Fredk. 2
Harold 2
Henery 2
Isaac 2
Joe 2
Stephen 2
W. 2
Willie 2
Ambrose 1
Amos 1
Bontoft 1
Chas. 1
Chrisr. 1
E.R. 1
Edwin 1
Elisha 1
Enoch 1
Foster 1
Herbet 1
Hugh 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Leake surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leake surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,234 people were recorded with the Leake surname. That placed it at #3,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leake surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,652 in 2016. That gives Leake a modern rank of #3,773.

What does the Leake surname mean?

Derived from a Middle English word referring to a leaky stream, a stream flowing through boggy land, or a field.

What does the Leake map show?

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