NameCensus.

UK surname

Leaming

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "clearing" or "meadow".

In the 1881 census there were 155 people recorded with the Leaming surname, ranking it #15,174 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 88, ranked #32,396, down from #15,174 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Hull Holy Trinity and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Hull and Ipswich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leaming is 215 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 43.2%.

1881 census count

155

Ranked #15,174

Modern count

88

2016, ranked #32,396

Peak year

1861

215 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 1911

Key insights

  • Leaming had 155 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,174 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 88 in 2016, ranked #32,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 215 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Leaming surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leaming surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leaming 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 76 #20,127
1861 historical 215 #11,316
1881 historical 155 #15,174
1891 historical 202 #14,808
1901 historical 84 #24,759
1911 historical 121 #20,336
1997 modern 74 #30,218
1998 modern 85 #29,439
1999 modern 82 #29,933
2000 modern 84 #29,706
2001 modern 83 #29,617
2002 modern 84 #29,982
2003 modern 91 #29,121
2004 modern 92 #29,197
2005 modern 91 #29,406
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 92 #30,286
2009 modern 96 #30,239
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 105 #29,287
2012 modern 95 #31,107
2013 modern 82 #32,903
2014 modern 85 #32,743
2015 modern 86 #32,604
2016 modern 88 #32,396

Geography

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Where Leamings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Hull Holy Trinity, Birmingham Town: Birmingham, Preston and Driffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingston upon Hull and Ipswich. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Driffield Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Hull 002 Kingston upon Hull, City of
2 Kingston upon Hull 001 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 Kingston upon Hull 006 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 Ipswich 016 Ipswich
5 Kingston upon Hull 016 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leaming

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leaming

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Leaming surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Leaming household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Leaming 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

Leaming 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

Leaming 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 Leaming is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Leaming

The surname LEAMING originates from England, with its roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "leming," which means "lame" or "crippled." This suggests that the name was initially a descriptive nickname given to someone with a physical disability or impairment.

The earliest recorded instance of the name LEAMING can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated around 1190. These rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, and they provide valuable insights into the names and occupations of individuals living during that era.

Throughout the Medieval period, the LEAMING surname was primarily concentrated in the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire. Several variations of the spelling existed, including Lemyng, Lemmynge, and Lemmyn, reflecting the fluidity of name spellings in those times.

One of the earliest known bearers of the LEAMING name was Sir John Leaming, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in Gloucestershire during the 13th century. His name appears in various medieval charters and records, solidifying the presence of the surname in the region.

In the 14th century, the LEAMING family established themselves in the village of Leaming, located in Worcestershire. This place-name, derived from the Old English "leming" and "ing" (meaning "people of"), further reinforced the connection between the surname and its linguistic origins.

Notable individuals with the LEAMING surname include:

1. Robert Leaming (c. 1570-1640), an English merchant and member of the Virginia Company, who played a role in the early colonization efforts in North America. 2. Thomas Leaming (1608-1677), an English Quaker and pioneer settler in New Jersey, who arrived in America in 1677 and established a prominent family line. 3. Edward Leaming (1691-1767), an American landowner and judge from New Jersey, known for his influential role in colonial politics and legal affairs. 4. Jeremiah Leaming (1720-1804), an American lawyer and judge from New Jersey, who served as a member of the Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary War. 5. Sir Jeremiah Leaming (1816-1892), a British diplomat and politician, who served as the Governor of South Australia from 1856 to 1862.

The LEAMING surname has a rich history rooted in the medieval English countryside, with its origins reflecting the descriptive nature of early surnames. Over the centuries, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, settlers, lawyers, judges, and politicians, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leaming families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leaming 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 53 Leamings recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.54x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 53 3.54x
Lancashire 42 2.34x
Lincolnshire 28 11.58x
Warwickshire 9 2.36x
Middlesex 7 0.46x
Cumberland 6 4.61x
Surrey 3 0.41x
Cheshire 2 0.60x
Kent 2 0.39x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.98x
Derbyshire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mirfield in Yorkshire leads with 13 Leamings recorded in 1881 and an index of 157.96x.

Place Total Index
Mirfield 13 157.96x
Birmingham 9 7.08x
Sculcoates 9 37.89x
Marton 8 672.27x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 17.85x
Blackburn 7 14.67x
Great Driffield 7 228.01x
Newington 7 169.49x
Scawby 7 875.00x
Dewsbury 6 39.06x
Oughterside Allerby 6 2307.69x
Barrow On Humber 5 357.14x
Pendleton In Salford 5 23.40x
Barnetby Le Wold 4 909.09x
Barton St Peter 4 360.36x
Coleby West Halton 3 2307.69x
Dalton In Furness 3 43.35x
Moss Side 3 31.78x
Preston 3 6.25x
St Giles In Fields London 3 40.43x
Accrington 2 12.26x
Bagmore Burton By 2 1250.00x
Birkenhead 2 7.52x
East Langdon Oxney 2 1176.47x
Everton 2 3.50x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 20.75x
Patrington 2 281.69x
St Dunstan In West London 2 425.53x
Bisley 1 294.12x
Droylsden 1 17.09x
Epworth 1 88.50x
Habergham Eaves 1 6.10x
Hemsworth 1 116.28x
Holy Trinity 1 2.78x
Leeds 1 1.18x
Matlock 1 31.45x
North South Killingholme 1 250.00x
Norwood 1 28.90x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.90x
Nottingham St Peter 1 44.05x
Pannal 1 69.44x
Plompton 1 1111.11x
Sheffield 1 2.10x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.29x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 66.23x
St Swithin Lincoln 1 26.32x
Streatham 1 8.91x
York Holy Trinity 1 77.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Sarah 10
Elizabeth 6
Annie 4
Jane 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Angelica 1
Anna 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Ellena 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Fany 1
Frances 1
Judith 1
Lavinia 1
Lily 1
Maggie 1
Matilday 1
Rebecca 1
Rebekah 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 11
William 7
George 6
John 5
Henry 4
James 4
Richard 4
Walter 4
Charles 3
Edward 3
Joseph 3
Arthur 2
Samuel 2
Tom 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Ben 1
Edmund 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Hartley 1
Jas. 1
Jerh. 1
Matthew 1
Robert 1
Sam 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Leaming surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leaming surname in 1881?

In 1881, 155 people were recorded with the Leaming surname. That placed it at #15,174 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leaming surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 88 in 2016. That gives Leaming a modern rank of #32,396.

What does the Leaming surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "clearing" or "meadow".

What does the Leaming map show?

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