NameCensus.

UK surname

Leatham

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a meadow or pasture.

In the 1881 census there were 392 people recorded with the Leatham surname, ranking it #8,080 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 578, ranked #8,965, down from #8,080 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mirfield, Dudley and Silkstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale, Lancaster and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leatham is 623 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.4%.

1881 census count

392

Ranked #8,080

Modern count

578

2016, ranked #8,965

Peak year

2010

623 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leatham had 392 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,080 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 578 in 2016, ranked #8,965.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 455 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Leatham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leatham surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Leatham 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 187 #10,978
1861 historical 332 #7,673
1881 historical 392 #8,080
1891 historical 455 #8,009
1901 historical 447 #8,746
1911 historical 423 #8,924
1997 modern 572 #8,424
1998 modern 582 #8,555
1999 modern 588 #8,561
2000 modern 563 #8,781
2001 modern 560 #8,684
2002 modern 595 #8,510
2003 modern 595 #8,383
2004 modern 586 #8,487
2005 modern 579 #8,482
2006 modern 579 #8,509
2007 modern 577 #8,604
2008 modern 587 #8,562
2009 modern 605 #8,544
2010 modern 623 #8,533
2011 modern 597 #8,723
2012 modern 571 #8,921
2013 modern 579 #8,965
2014 modern 593 #8,884
2015 modern 583 #8,925
2016 modern 578 #8,965

Geography

Back to top

Where Leathams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mirfield, Dudley, Silkstone, Bonhill and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Calderdale, Lancaster, Harrogate and Wiltshire. 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 Mirfield Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bonhill Dunbarton
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 007 Calderdale
2 Lancaster 011 Lancaster
3 Lancaster 020 Lancaster
4 Harrogate 004 Harrogate
5 Wiltshire 054 Wiltshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Leatham

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Leatham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Leatham, 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 Leatham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Leatham 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, Leatham 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

Leatham is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leatham falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Leatham

The surname Leatham is believed to have originated in England, specifically in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "leod" meaning people and "ham" meaning homestead or village, indicating that the name may have referred to a settlement or dwelling place for a group of people.

One of the earliest known references to the Leatham name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Ledham" or "Ledehame." This suggests that the name has roots dating back to the 11th century or earlier.

During the medieval period, variations of the spelling included "Ledeham," "Ledham," and "Leidham." These variations likely reflect the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

In the 16th century, records show the name spelled as "Leatham" in Yorkshire, indicating that the modern spelling had emerged by that point.

One notable early bearer of the Leatham name was Robert Leatham, born in 1532 in Yorkshire. He was a prominent landowner and served as a Justice of the Peace in his local community.

In the 17th century, the Leatham family established themselves as successful merchants and industrialists in the textile trade, particularly in the West Riding of Yorkshire. William Leatham (1663-1742) was a prominent figure in this industry and his descendants continued to play an influential role in the region's economic development.

Another notable individual with the Leatham surname was Edward Aldam Leatham (1828-1900), a British politician and banker. He served as a Member of Parliament for various constituencies in Yorkshire and was a prominent advocate for electoral reform and social causes.

The name Leatham has also been associated with several place names in Yorkshire, including Leatham Village and Leatham Park, both of which were likely named after members of the Leatham family who owned land in those areas.

Throughout history, the Leatham surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, merchants, politicians, and professionals. While not as widespread as some other English surnames, it has a rich history rooted in the Yorkshire region and has left a lasting mark on the culture and heritage of that area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Leatham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leatham 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 130 Leathams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.43x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 130 3.43x
Lancashire 80 1.76x
Cheshire 31 3.67x
Northumberland 26 4.57x
Middlesex 18 0.47x
Durham 17 1.49x
Cornwall 12 2.77x
Worcestershire 12 2.40x
Aberdeenshire 11 3.11x
Renfrewshire 11 3.71x
Gloucestershire 10 1.33x
Kent 9 0.69x
Leicestershire 5 1.18x
Surrey 5 0.27x
Dunbartonshire 4 3.89x
Cumberland 3 0.91x
Essex 3 0.40x
Staffordshire 2 0.15x
Isle of Man 1 1.41x
Lanarkshire 1 0.08x
Perthshire 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barnsley in Yorkshire leads with 15 Leathams recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.38x.

Place Total Index
Barnsley 15 38.38x
Everton 13 8.99x
Bedlington 11 57.89x
Birkenhead 11 16.35x
Redruth 11 89.80x
Dudley 10 16.47x
Great Bolton 10 16.64x
Bramley In Bramley 9 62.03x
Darton 9 231.96x
Eastwood 9 49.32x
Warmfield Cum Heath 9 703.13x
Elswick 8 17.62x
Levenshulme 8 171.31x
West Derby 8 6.03x
Aberdeen Old Machar 7 9.47x
Crossgate 7 140.85x
Holy Trinity 7 7.68x
Holywell 7 238.91x
Liverpool 7 2.54x
Tranmere 7 22.57x
Woolwich 7 14.52x
Almondbury 6 32.75x
Fishlake 6 833.33x
Grimstn Krby Wharf N 6 1818.18x
Royton 6 43.23x
Balne 5 1063.83x
Bromley London 5 5.94x
Doncaster 5 18.06x
Fishburn 5 1190.48x
Lower Bebington 5 99.80x
Salford 5 3.75x
St George Hanover Square 5 7.42x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 4 6.04x
Bonhill 4 24.26x
Goostrey Cum Barnshaw 4 833.33x
Hemsworth 4 183.49x
Mirfield 4 19.23x
St Martin In Fields 4 17.47x
Toxteth Park 4 2.60x
Above Derwent 3 245.90x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 3 21.80x
Askham Bryan 3 750.00x
Batley 3 8.33x
Beswick 3 25.86x
Birkdale 3 26.13x
Kingston On Thames 3 6.70x
Middlestone 3 131.58x
Swepstone 3 434.78x
Woodford 3 35.13x
Worsbrough 3 27.03x
Abbey 2 4.42x
Avening 2 75.47x
Aylestone 2 59.88x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 2 15.43x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 8.00x
Cheltenham 2 3.46x
Farnley In Bramley 2 42.28x
Great Harwood 2 24.39x
Great Little Hampton 2 240.96x
Hulme 2 2.11x
Leeds 2 0.93x
Manchester 2 0.98x
Miserdine 2 350.88x
Norton In Malton 2 43.57x
Oldham 2 1.37x
Pontefract 2 24.51x
Putney 2 11.47x
Ulleskelf 2 333.33x
Walsall Borough 2 19.96x
Westminster St John 2 4.29x
Wombwell 2 18.10x
Wotton St Mary 2 51.41x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.62x
Bowdon 1 29.85x
Didsbury 1 16.61x
Knapton 1 217.39x
Macclesfield 1 2.67x
Manningham 1 2.14x
Northowram 1 3.76x
St Just In Penwith 1 11.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Margaret 15
Elizabeth 13
Jane 10
Ann 7
Frances 7
Alice 6
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Ellen 6
Sarah 6
Catherine 5
Beatrice 3
Hannah 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Dorothy 2
Elizth 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizth.S. 1
Ethel 1
Eveline 1
Ez. 1
Flora 1
Gertrude 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Julia 1
Katie 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Mabel 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Mariah 1
Matilda 1
Mildred 1
Minnie 1
Williamina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 22
George 12
James 12
Joseph 10
Edward 8
Richard 8
Robert 8
Thomas 8
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Henry 4
Arthur 3
Edmund 3
Frederick 3
Wm. 3
Herbert 2
Samuel 2
Bertram 1
Butler 1
Cecil 1
Chares 1
Clarence 1
Claude 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Emily 1
Ernest 1
Eustace 1
Ezekiel 1
Fielding 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Gerald 1
Hannibor 1
Harold 1
Harrison 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Isiac 1
Joshua 1
Mary 1
Nicholas 1
Octavius 1
Randolph 1
Reginald 1

FAQ

Leatham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leatham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 392 people were recorded with the Leatham surname. That placed it at #8,080 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leatham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 578 in 2016. That gives Leatham a modern rank of #8,965.

What does the Leatham surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a meadow or pasture.

What does the Leatham map show?

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