NameCensus.

UK surname

Leather

A topographic surname referring to one who lived near leatherworkers or tanners.

In the 1881 census there were 2,043 people recorded with the Leather surname, ranking it #2,154 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,050, ranked #3,150, down from #2,154 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leather is 2,641 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.3%.

1881 census count

2,043

Ranked #2,154

Modern count

2,050

2016, ranked #3,150

Peak year

1911

2,641 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leather had 2,043 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,154 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,050 in 2016, ranked #3,150.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,641 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Leather surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leather surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leather 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 1,285 #2,229
1861 historical 1,331 #2,150
1881 historical 2,043 #2,154
1891 historical 2,040 #2,262
1901 historical 2,354 #2,305
1911 historical 2,641 #1,952
1997 modern 2,156 #2,869
1998 modern 2,234 #2,881
1999 modern 2,240 #2,896
2000 modern 2,209 #2,915
2001 modern 2,159 #2,917
2002 modern 2,188 #2,934
2003 modern 2,129 #2,946
2004 modern 2,098 #2,983
2005 modern 2,051 #3,008
2006 modern 2,077 #2,982
2007 modern 2,054 #3,047
2008 modern 2,056 #3,069
2009 modern 2,120 #3,052
2010 modern 2,149 #3,079
2011 modern 2,112 #3,089
2012 modern 2,076 #3,088
2013 modern 2,081 #3,140
2014 modern 2,097 #3,134
2015 modern 2,072 #3,139
2016 modern 2,050 #3,150

Geography

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Where Leathers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Eccles, Manchester, Childwall and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Harrogate and Barnsley. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Eccles Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Childwall Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 021 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Halton 005 Halton
3 Harrogate 016 Harrogate
4 Barnsley 013 Barnsley
5 Halton 007 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leather

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leather

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Leather surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Leather household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Leather 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

Leather is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leather 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 Leather is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Leather

The surname Leather is an occupational name that originated in England. It is derived from the Old English word "leþer," which means "leather worker" or "tanner." This surname was likely given to individuals who were involved in the trade of tanning and working with leather.

The earliest known record of the surname Leather can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this document, the name appears as "Ledere" and "Leder."

During the medieval period, the surname Leather was commonly found in areas with a thriving leather industry, such as London, Bristol, and other towns in the southwest of England. As the leather trade grew, so did the prevalence of the surname.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Leather was John Leather, a merchant from Bristol, England, who lived in the 14th century. Another notable figure was William Leather, a clergyman and academic who was born in Derbyshire, England, in 1520.

In the 16th century, the surname Leather appeared in various spellings, including "Lether," "Lethar," and "Lethyr." During this time, the name was also associated with place names, such as "Leatherhead" in Surrey, England, which was originally known as "Lederede" or "Lederede."

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Leather have achieved notable recognition. These include:

1. John Leather (c. 1590-1668), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan. 2. Thomas Leather (1628-1679), an English churchman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. 3. John Leather (1727-1793), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London. 4. Robert Leather (1786-1870), an English printer and writer who published works on typography and printing history. 5. William Leather (1828-1912), a British architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Overall, the surname Leather has a rich history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in the leather industry of England. Its earliest origins can be traced back to the Old English language, and it has been associated with various notable individuals throughout the years.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leather families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leather 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. Lancashire leads with 1,249 Leathers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.28x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,249 5.28x
Yorkshire 280 1.42x
Cheshire 195 4.43x
Middlesex 106 0.53x
Warwickshire 56 1.11x
Westmorland 31 7.07x
Surrey 26 0.27x
Durham 18 0.30x
Kent 16 0.24x
Essex 9 0.23x
Lanarkshire 8 0.12x
Norfolk 8 0.26x
Cumberland 6 0.35x
Hampshire 6 0.15x
Midlothian 6 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.22x
Staffordshire 6 0.09x
Shropshire 3 0.17x
Herefordshire 2 0.24x
Royal Navy 2 0.84x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.12x
Denbighshire 1 0.13x
Devon 1 0.02x
Gloucestershire 1 0.03x
Somerset 1 0.03x
Suffolk 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Derby in Lancashire leads with 62 Leathers recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.95x.

Place Total Index
West Derby 62 8.95x
Halewood 52 410.09x
Toxteth Park 49 6.11x
Manchester 44 4.13x
Salford 43 6.18x
Barton Upon Irwell 39 21.89x
Warrington 39 13.90x
Bedford 38 76.75x
Much Woolton 38 118.31x
Widnes 37 21.67x
Everton 36 4.77x
Flockton 36 446.65x
Sutton 35 44.09x
Dewsbury 34 16.77x
Windle 32 24.03x
Coventry St Michael 31 19.18x
Eccleston In Prescot 31 26.09x
Great Bolton 31 9.89x
Leeds 30 2.69x
Liverpool 30 2.09x
Pennington In Leigh 30 66.05x
Castle Northwich 27 185.31x
Little Bolton 27 8.87x
Lymm 26 81.22x
Cronton 22 687.50x
Garston 22 31.49x
Wigan 21 6.35x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 20 21.78x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 20 29.35x
Newton In Makerfield 19 26.21x
Birkenhead 18 5.13x
Chorley 17 12.80x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 17 43.37x
Atherton 16 18.57x
Cheadle 16 19.02x
Hulme 16 3.24x
Worsley 16 10.97x
Denton 15 28.59x
Kendal 15 18.69x
Kimberworth 15 13.67x
Parr 15 17.71x
Batley 14 7.45x
Aston 13 0.94x
Bury 13 4.81x
Hindley 13 12.88x
St Martin In Fields 13 10.89x
Astley 12 65.72x
Haydock 12 29.42x
Huddersfield 12 4.17x
Westleigh 12 22.33x
Ashton Under Lyne 11 2.13x
Bethnal Green London 11 1.27x
Birmingham 11 0.66x
Darcy Lever 11 80.70x
Farnworth 11 7.76x
Higher Booths 11 25.78x
Pendleton In Salford 11 3.90x
Shoreditch London 11 1.27x
Brinnington 10 24.31x
Hackney London 10 0.89x
Pendlebury 10 20.01x
Radcliffe 10 8.76x
Tonge With Haulgh 10 21.70x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 2.39x
Cleckheaton 9 12.36x
Halliwell 9 10.45x
Huyton With Roby 9 32.44x
Islington London 9 0.47x
Kirkland 9 96.26x
Sutton In Macclesfield 9 19.69x
Ashton In Makerfield 8 11.87x
Bishopwearmouth 8 1.57x
Caton 8 107.82x
Hunshelf 8 82.56x
Lowton 8 49.69x
Oldham 8 1.05x
Stretford 8 6.14x
Worsbrough 8 13.81x
Barony 7 0.43x
Leyton 7 10.32x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 138
William 120
Thomas 83
James 82
George 56
Joseph 48
Robert 37
Richard 36
Henry 29
Peter 25
Edward 20
Samuel 16
Arthur 14
Charles 14
Frederick 13
Albert 11
Alfred 10
Herbert 9
Walter 8
David 7
Ernest 7
Fred 7
Frank 6
Wm. 6
Joe 5
Francis 4
Harry 4
Isaac 4
Percy 4
Andrew 3
Frederic 3
Joshua 3
Peers 3
Richd. 3
Sam 3
Thos. 3
Ben 2
Benjamin 2
Cyril 2
Edmund 2
Jas. 2
Jonathan 2
Leonard 2
Luke 2
Nathaniel 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2
Rowland 2
Saml. 2
Timothy 2

FAQ

Leather surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leather surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,043 people were recorded with the Leather surname. That placed it at #2,154 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leather surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,050 in 2016. That gives Leather a modern rank of #3,150.

What does the Leather surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to one who lived near leatherworkers or tanners.

What does the Leather map show?

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