NameCensus.

UK surname

Leason

An anglicized variation of the French surname 'Lesion', meaning meadow or pasture.

In the 1881 census there were 313 people recorded with the Leason surname, ranking it #9,436 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 345, ranked #13,321, down from #9,436 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Shirley, Snelston and Driffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, East Staffordshire and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leason is 367 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.2%.

1881 census count

313

Ranked #9,436

Modern count

345

2016, ranked #13,321

Peak year

2010

367 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leason had 313 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,436 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 345 in 2016, ranked #13,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 364 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Leason surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leason surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leason 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 191 #10,808
1861 historical 302 #8,393
1881 historical 313 #9,436
1891 historical 355 #9,721
1901 historical 319 #11,166
1911 historical 364 #9,985
1997 modern 331 #12,668
1998 modern 355 #12,418
1999 modern 358 #12,416
2000 modern 349 #12,585
2001 modern 344 #12,526
2002 modern 356 #12,449
2003 modern 364 #12,068
2004 modern 354 #12,358
2005 modern 349 #12,390
2006 modern 343 #12,626
2007 modern 345 #12,714
2008 modern 355 #12,565
2009 modern 357 #12,766
2010 modern 367 #12,775
2011 modern 367 #12,647
2012 modern 345 #13,093
2013 modern 346 #13,291
2014 modern 354 #13,153
2015 modern 349 #13,189
2016 modern 345 #13,321

Geography

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Where Leasons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Shirley, Snelston, Driffield, Boylstone and Scarborough. 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, East Staffordshire and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Shirley, Snelston Derbyshire
3 Driffield Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Boylstone Staffordshire
5 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 045 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 East Staffordshire 002 East Staffordshire
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 044 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Kingston upon Hull 010 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 East Staffordshire 006 East Staffordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leason

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leason

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Leason is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Leason is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leason falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Leason

The surname Leason has its origins in England, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "leah," which means a woodland clearing or meadow. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived in or near such an area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Leysing." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of landholdings across England and provides valuable insights into the names and occupations of individuals during that time period.

Over the centuries, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Leasen, Leason, Leeson, and Leasing. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the names.

The Leason surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was Sir John Leason (1570-1636), an English merchant and diplomat who served as the ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during the reign of King James I.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Robert Leason (1645-1720), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including St. Paul's Church in Covent Garden, London.

In the literary world, Ellen Leason (1812-1878) was a British author known for her works on travel and social commentary, such as "Daughters of England" and "Travels in the East."

The name Leason has also been associated with places and geographical locations. For example, Leasingham in Lincolnshire, England, derives its name from the Old English word "Lesingan," meaning "the people of the woodland clearing."

Additionally, Leason House in County Durham, England, was a notable manor house that dates back to the 16th century and was once owned by the Leason family.

While the surname Leason is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including diplomacy, architecture, and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leason families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leason 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 82 Leasons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.82x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 82 2.82x
Staffordshire 62 6.26x
Lancashire 43 1.23x
Derbyshire 35 7.61x
Middlesex 15 0.51x
Warwickshire 14 1.89x
Lincolnshire 11 2.34x
Cheshire 8 1.23x
Worcestershire 6 1.56x
Leicestershire 5 1.54x
Cambridgeshire 3 1.61x
Channel Islands 3 3.45x
Essex 3 0.52x
Cumberland 2 0.79x
Oxfordshire 2 1.10x
Sussex 2 0.40x
Cornwall 1 0.30x
Northamptonshire 1 0.36x
Northumberland 1 0.23x
Renfrewshire 1 0.44x
Surrey 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Driffield in Yorkshire leads with 47 Leasons recorded in 1881 and an index of 787.27x.

Place Total Index
Great Driffield 47 787.27x
Stoke Upon Trent 23 21.89x
Sutton On Hill 13 3170.73x
Beverley St Martin 11 226.34x
Barrow In Furness 8 16.88x
Bourn 8 211.08x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 14.45x
Sambourn 8 1509.43x
Bridlington 7 105.11x
Etwall 7 1320.75x
Uttoxeter 7 138.07x
Islington London 6 2.11x
Mayfield 6 483.87x
Alton 5 467.29x
Ashborne 5 159.74x
Burton Upon Trent 5 21.56x
Falsgrave 5 116.55x
Manchester 5 3.19x
Toxteth Park 5 4.24x
Wirksworth 5 119.62x
Blackburn 4 4.32x
Everton 4 3.60x
Wolverhampton 4 5.25x
Beswick 3 33.67x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 10.84x
Burbage 3 176.47x
Cheadle 3 63.03x
Cowley 3 600.00x
Fulham London 3 7.05x
Kidderminster Borough 3 13.37x
Leek Lowe 3 22.74x
St Andrewthe Less 3 14.12x
St Helier 3 10.59x
Tranmere 3 12.59x
Arlecdon 2 29.76x
Aston 2 0.98x
Birkenhead 2 3.87x
Birmingham 2 0.81x
Broughton 2 344.83x
Cheadle 2 16.16x
Cubley 2 666.67x
Hammersmith London 2 2.77x
Langtoft 2 322.58x
Leeds 2 1.22x
Liverpool 2 0.95x
Stone 2 15.77x
Upperswinford 2 61.73x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 10.80x
Brandesburton 1 131.58x
Burntwood Edial 1 15.80x
Clent 1 99.01x
Colchester All Sts 1 222.22x
Draycott In Clay 1 222.22x
Falmouth 1 8.50x
Fimber 1 555.56x
Grantham 1 16.34x
Hanbury 1 185.19x
Hastings St Andrew 1 56.50x
Leamington Priors 1 5.49x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.26x
Lewes St John Southover 1 30.12x
Leyton 1 10.02x
Longford 1 238.10x
Mappleton Rowlston 1 555.56x
Marchington 1 217.39x
Mirfield 1 6.26x
Nailstone 1 135.14x
Norbury 1 66.23x
Passenham 1 88.50x
Rudston 1 163.93x
Scarborough 1 3.78x
Seamer In Scarborough 1 106.38x
Skerne 1 555.56x
Spittlegate 1 15.41x
St Marylebone London 1 0.64x
Wandsworth 1 3.54x
Warwick St Mary 1 15.55x
West Ham 1 0.78x
Westleigh 1 12.64x
Weston 1 117.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 14
Ann 11
Elizabeth 8
Jane 8
Eliza 6
Ellen 6
Emma 5
Alice 4
Emily 4
Elizth. 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Harriett 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Sophia 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Agatha 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Edna 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Georgiana 1
Harriet 1
Hester 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Jeminia 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Oliva 1
Phillis 1
Rachael 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 26
George 13
John 11
Joseph 11
James 10
Thomas 9
Arthur 6
Charles 6
Robert 5
Frank 4
Herbert 4
Alfred 3
Henry 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Jonathan 2
Robt. 2
Benjamin 1
Bob 1
Brigham 1
Bryan 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Fredk.John 1
Geo. 1
Harvey 1
Johnson 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Robson 1
Robt.W. 1
Thos. 1
Thos.W. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Leason surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leason surname in 1881?

In 1881, 313 people were recorded with the Leason surname. That placed it at #9,436 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leason surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 345 in 2016. That gives Leason a modern rank of #13,321.

What does the Leason surname mean?

An anglicized variation of the French surname 'Lesion', meaning meadow or pasture.

What does the Leason map show?

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