NameCensus.

UK surname

Lean

An occupational surname referring to a person of slender build or leanness.

In the 1881 census there were 877 people recorded with the Lean surname, ranking it #4,326 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 876, ranked #6,422, down from #4,326 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redruth, London parishes and Gwennap. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lean is 1,021 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.1%.

1881 census count

877

Ranked #4,326

Modern count

876

2016, ranked #6,422

Peak year

1891

1,021 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lean had 877 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,326 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 876 in 2016, ranked #6,422.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,021 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Lean surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lean surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lean 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 896 #3,070
1861 historical 900 #3,078
1881 historical 877 #4,326
1891 historical 1,021 #4,078
1901 historical 924 #5,043
1911 historical 788 #5,532
1997 modern 805 #6,508
1998 modern 828 #6,578
1999 modern 840 #6,544
2000 modern 862 #6,377
2001 modern 828 #6,480
2002 modern 847 #6,475
2003 modern 827 #6,471
2004 modern 812 #6,589
2005 modern 794 #6,646
2006 modern 790 #6,701
2007 modern 806 #6,637
2008 modern 804 #6,716
2009 modern 821 #6,733
2010 modern 848 #6,706
2011 modern 834 #6,706
2012 modern 834 #6,628
2013 modern 862 #6,562
2014 modern 867 #6,557
2015 modern 858 #6,548
2016 modern 876 #6,422

Geography

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Where Leans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redruth, London parishes, Gwennap, St Kew and Kea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot and Cornwall. 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 Redruth Cornwall
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gwennap Cornwall
4 St Kew Cornwall
5 Kea Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 019 Neath Port Talbot
2 Cornwall 027 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 043 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 036 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 038 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lean

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lean

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lean, 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 Lean surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Lean 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Lean is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Lean is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lean falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Lean

The surname Lean originates from England, tracing its roots back to the Anglo-Saxon period, which spanned from the 5th to the 11th centuries. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "leán," meaning "lean" or "thin," suggesting that the name was originally a descriptive nickname given to an individual with a slender physique.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lean can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book mentions a landowner named Levenoth Lean in Warwickshire, indicating that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Lean surname appeared in various historical records and documents, often spelled differently due to the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation at the time. Some notable early examples include William le Lene, recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1208, and John Lene, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327.

As the Lean surname evolved, it also became associated with certain place names. For instance, the village of Lean in Oxfordshire, England, may have contributed to the surname's development and spread. Additionally, the surname Lean shares similarities with the place name Laine, derived from the Old French word "layne," meaning "wooded area."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Lean. One of the earliest was Sir John Lean (c. 1485-1556), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another prominent figure was Henry Lean (1561-1622), a British merchant and colonist who helped establish the first permanent English settlement in Bermuda.

In the 18th century, Sir David Lean (1708-1791) was a Scottish naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. Later, in the 19th century, Walter Lean (1857-1937) was an English cricketer who played for Surrey County Cricket Club and was considered one of the best wicket-keepers of his time.

More recently, the acclaimed British film director David Lean (1908-1991) gained international recognition for his epic films, including "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago," both of which won multiple Academy Awards.

While the surname Lean may have originated as a descriptive nickname, over the centuries it has become a well-established surname with a rich historical heritage, spanning various regions of England and encompassing individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lean families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lean 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. Cornwall leads with 426 Leans recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.29x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 426 44.29x
Lanarkshire 59 2.15x
Yorkshire 57 0.68x
Middlesex 55 0.65x
Devon 50 2.83x
Kent 29 1.00x
Surrey 29 0.70x
Glamorgan 27 1.83x
Lancashire 25 0.25x
Somerset 15 1.10x
Flintshire 11 4.82x
Gloucestershire 10 0.60x
Sussex 10 0.70x
Warwickshire 10 0.47x
Midlothian 9 0.79x
Staffordshire 8 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.89x
Worcestershire 7 0.63x
Essex 6 0.36x
Hampshire 5 0.29x
Dumfriesshire 4 2.13x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.56x
Cheshire 2 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.17x
Argyllshire 1 0.42x
Cumberland 1 0.14x
Dorset 1 0.18x
Leicestershire 1 0.11x
Morayshire 1 0.76x
Stirlingshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 24 Leans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.53x.

Place Total Index
Govan 24 3.53x
Gwennap 21 115.70x
St Kew 21 654.21x
Redruth 18 66.15x
Stoke Damerel 18 14.54x
Brotton 17 154.69x
Antony 16 172.23x
Kea 16 223.15x
Lanreath 16 975.61x
Camborne 15 37.84x
Kenwyn 15 59.64x
Lanlivery 14 346.53x
Lesmahagow 13 44.74x
Pelynt 13 666.67x
Symington 13 970.15x
Ackworth 12 185.47x
Blisland 12 740.74x
Budock 12 165.75x
Crayford 12 94.79x
Plymouth St Andrew 12 8.81x
Bodmin St Mabyn 11 2037.04x
Habergham Eaves 11 11.94x
Swansea Town 11 9.07x
Feock 10 166.11x
Maker 10 112.49x
Probus 10 253.81x
St Issey 10 507.61x
St Stephen In Brannel 10 114.03x
Boconnoc 9 1153.85x
Brighton 9 3.11x
Lostwithel 9 329.67x
Plymouth Charles The 9 11.55x
Shoreditch London 9 2.44x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 1.75x
Gorran 8 296.30x
Hammersmith London 8 3.82x
Merther 8 1111.11x
St Breock 8 153.85x
Altarnun 7 209.58x
Bermondsey 7 2.77x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 4.37x
Gillingham 7 11.71x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 7 112.54x
Kings Norton 7 7.04x
Peterhead 7 16.82x
St Austell 7 21.29x
Walcot 7 9.61x
West Looe 7 276.68x
Aston 6 1.02x
Calstock 6 31.81x
Lanteglos By Fowey 6 153.45x
Leeds 6 1.26x
Meliden 6 180.18x
St Veep 6 384.62x
Tottenham 6 4.43x
West Ham 6 1.62x
Cardiff St Mary 5 6.14x
Ealing 5 6.59x
Liskeard 5 31.06x
Llanasa 5 63.13x
St Clement 5 49.80x
St Columb Minor 5 61.88x
St Merryn 5 314.47x
St Michael Carhayes 5 1315.79x
St Pancras London 5 0.73x
St Winnow 5 151.98x
Wimbledon 5 10.76x
Barony 4 0.58x
Clapham 4 3.77x
Dawlish 4 30.33x
Edenbridge 4 70.30x
Holy Trinity 4 1.98x
Lambeth 4 0.54x
Madron Penzance 4 11.44x
Mevagissey 4 62.60x
Morval 4 203.05x
Penpont 4 115.94x
Portsea 4 1.17x
St Stithians 4 75.47x
Wandsworth 4 4.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Elizabeth 39
Jane 20
Ellen 19
Emma 16
Ann 14
Catherine 11
Edith 11
Eliza 11
Sarah 10
Alice 9
Annie 9
Emily 8
Harriet 8
Bessie 7
Caroline 6
Maria 6
Clara 5
Amelia 4
Frances 4
Grace 4
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Martha 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Beatrice 3
Dora 3
Elizth. 3
Fanny 3
Helen 3
Jemima 3
Lucy 3
Matilda 3
Rebecca 3
Selina 3
Anne 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Georgina 2
Hannah 2
Johanna 2
Laura 2
Lavinia 2
Lucinda 2
Mabel 2
Polly 2
Betsy 1
Dorothy 1
Tamson 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 62
William 53
James 25
Thomas 23
George 18
Henry 17
Charles 15
Richard 15
Christopher 9
Joseph 8
Samuel 8
Francis 6
Frederick 6
Herbert 6
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Benjamin 4
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Nicholas 4
Philip 4
Robert 4
Archibald 3
Edward 3
Michael 3
Roger 3
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Louis 2
Matthew 2
Sampson 2
Sidney 2
Baby 1
Clement 1
David 1
Donald 1
Eustace 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Guy 1
Harry 1
Jno. 1
Jno.G. 1
Lawrance 1
Mary 1
Nathaniel 1
Nicolas 1
Noah 1
Wm.Barron 1

FAQ

Lean surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lean surname in 1881?

In 1881, 877 people were recorded with the Lean surname. That placed it at #4,326 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lean surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 876 in 2016. That gives Lean a modern rank of #6,422.

What does the Lean surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person of slender build or leanness.

What does the Lean map show?

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