UK surname
A habitational surname derived from the Old English "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow.
In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Leale surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 30, ranked #35,997, down from #22,617 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Anne Soho, Newchurch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leale is 144 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 61.0%.
1881 census count
77
Ranked #22,617
Modern count
30
2016, ranked #35,997
Peak year
1861
144 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Leale surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Leale surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 29 | #28,082 |
| 1861 | historical | 144 | #15,817 |
| 1881 | historical | 77 | #22,617 |
| 1891 | historical | 132 | #19,976 |
| 1901 | historical | 70 | #26,383 |
| 1911 | historical | 95 | #23,294 |
| 1997 | modern | 43 | #33,361 |
| 1998 | modern | 39 | #33,967 |
| 1999 | modern | 40 | #33,967 |
| 2000 | modern | 47 | #33,358 |
| 2001 | modern | 46 | #33,311 |
| 2002 | modern | 45 | #33,712 |
| 2003 | modern | 37 | #34,432 |
| 2004 | modern | 34 | #34,868 |
| 2005 | modern | 30 | #35,347 |
| 2006 | modern | 34 | #35,255 |
| 2007 | modern | 34 | #35,410 |
| 2008 | modern | 32 | #35,610 |
| 2009 | modern | 36 | #35,496 |
| 2010 | modern | 31 | #35,906 |
| 2011 | modern | 32 | #35,831 |
| 2012 | modern | 29 | #35,991 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 30 | #35,979 |
| 2016 | modern | 30 | #35,997 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Anne Soho, Newchurch, London parishes, Wendron and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Anne Soho | London (Central Districts) |
| 2 | Newchurch | Hampshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Wendron | Cornwall |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Leale surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Leale, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Leale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Leale household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Leale is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Leale is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Leale, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Leale is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "leah," which means a meadow, clearing, or woodland glade. This suggests that the name likely originated as a topographic name, describing someone who lived near or came from a particular meadow or clearing.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "de la Legh." This entry refers to a place called "Legh" in Cheshire, indicating that the name was already in use as a locational surname by the late 11th century.
Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Legh, Leigh, Lea, and Leale emerging. These different spellings reflect regional dialects and variations in pronunciation.
One notable bearer of the name was Sir Peter Legh (1487-1563), a landowner and member of the English gentry from Cheshire. He played a role in the rebellion against King Henry VIII known as the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536.
Another early example is William Leale (c. 1550-1620), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Redgrave, Suffolk, in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
In the 17th century, the Leale surname appears in records related to the English Civil War. Captain Thomas Leale (c. 1620-1680) was a Royalist officer who fought for King Charles I during the conflict.
The name also has connections to places like Leigh in Lancashire and Leighton in Shropshire, both of which derive from the Old English word "leah" and may have influenced the surname's development.
During the 18th century, a notable figure with the surname was Richard Leale (1726-1795), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy and participated in several significant battles during the American Revolutionary War.
In the 19th century, the Leale surname was borne by individuals such as John Leale (1813-1892), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the Leale's School in Clerkenwell, London, for the education of poor children.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leale surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hampshire leads with 36 Leales recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.83x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | 36 | 17.83x |
| Channel Islands | 24 | 82.22x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 1.12x |
| Surrey | 11 | 2.29x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.60x |
| Norfolk | 5 | 3.30x |
| Oxfordshire | 3 | 4.93x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.20x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.40x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ryde in Hampshire leads with 32 Leales recorded in 1881 and an index of 737.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ryde | 32 | 737.33x |
| St Michaelinthe Vale | 15 | 1442.31x |
| St Peter Port | 9 | 166.67x |
| Great Crosby | 7 | 219.44x |
| Lambeth | 7 | 8.15x |
| Palling | 5 | 3333.33x |
| Willesden | 5 | 53.82x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 4 | 20.18x |
| St George Martyr London | 4 | 200.00x |
| Chipping Norton | 3 | 212.77x |
| Barnsley | 1 | 9.93x |
| Carisbrooke | 1 | 35.71x |
| Grantham | 1 | 48.78x |
| Headley | 1 | 181.82x |
| Horton In Bradford | 1 | 6.56x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.05x |
| Rugby | 1 | 29.76x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 5.76x |
| St Helens | 1 | 68.03x |
| St Thomas Winchester | 1 | 69.93x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Leale surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 5 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Florence | 3 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Ethel | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Minnie | 2 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Cassandra | 1 |
| Celina | 1 |
| Charity | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Elise | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Eugenie | 1 |
| Eveline | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Louise | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Maude | 1 |
| Pricilla | 1 |
| Rachael | 1 |
| Rhoda | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| Winifred | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Leale surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Leale surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 30 in 2016. That gives Leale a modern rank of #35,997.
A habitational surname derived from the Old English "leah" meaning a clearing or meadow.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Leale bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.