NameCensus.

UK surname

Leatherbarrow

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a wheelbarrow made of leather.

In the 1881 census there were 625 people recorded with the Leatherbarrow surname, ranking it #5,661 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 933, ranked #6,126, down from #5,661 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Meols, Wigan and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, St. Helens and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leatherbarrow is 1,032 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.3%.

1881 census count

625

Ranked #5,661

Modern count

933

2016, ranked #6,126

Peak year

1999

1,032 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leatherbarrow had 625 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,661 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 933 in 2016, ranked #6,126.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 860 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Leatherbarrow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leatherbarrow surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leatherbarrow 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 322 #7,215
1861 historical 427 #6,020
1881 historical 625 #5,661
1891 historical 733 #5,416
1901 historical 813 #5,549
1911 historical 860 #5,163
1997 modern 964 #5,654
1998 modern 995 #5,699
1999 modern 1,032 #5,570
2000 modern 1,014 #5,614
2001 modern 999 #5,582
2002 modern 1,017 #5,616
2003 modern 976 #5,706
2004 modern 964 #5,772
2005 modern 950 #5,778
2006 modern 959 #5,748
2007 modern 951 #5,847
2008 modern 952 #5,871
2009 modern 972 #5,891
2010 modern 1,016 #5,811
2011 modern 980 #5,909
2012 modern 943 #6,019
2013 modern 954 #6,061
2014 modern 947 #6,143
2015 modern 936 #6,147
2016 modern 933 #6,126

Geography

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Where Leatherbarrows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Meols, Wigan, Manchester, Liverpool and Ormskirk. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, St. Helens and Wigan. 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 North Meols Lancashire
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Ormskirk Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 033 Bolton
2 St. Helens 022 St. Helens
3 St. Helens 012 St. Helens
4 Wigan 005 Wigan
5 St. Helens 001 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leatherbarrow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leatherbarrow

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Leatherbarrow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Leatherbarrow 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Leatherbarrow is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Leatherbarrow 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

Leatherbarrow 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 Leatherbarrow 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 Leatherbarrow, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Leatherbarrow

The surname Leatherbarrow has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place name that referred to a tanner or leather worker who lived near a barrow or burial mound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1273, which mention a Robert de Ledrebaru. This spelling variation suggests that the name may have initially been spelled with a 'd' instead of the later 'th'.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Letherebaru and Letherbarwe, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. These variations highlight the name's connection to the leather trade and its proximity to a barrow or burial mound.

During the 16th century, the surname began to take its more modern form, with records showing spellings like Letherbarrow and Leatherbarrow. One notable individual bearing this name was William Leatherbarrow, a landowner and merchant from Lancashire, who was born in 1542 and died in 1612.

In the 17th century, the Leatherbarrow family had established roots in various parts of England, particularly in the northern counties. John Leatherbarrow (1628-1693) was a prominent figure from Yorkshire, known for his involvement in local politics and his role as a magistrate.

As the centuries progressed, the name continued to spread across England, with several notable bearers. Robert Leatherbarrow (1752-1826) was a respected clergyman from Cumbria, while Thomas Leatherbarrow (1801-1877) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Lancashire.

In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with individuals like William Leatherbarrow (1839-1915), a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the North West of England.

While not found in the Domesday Book, the surname Leatherbarrow has a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period, reflecting the occupational and locational roots of many English surnames. Its evolution and variations over time provide insight into the changing landscapes and industries that shaped the lives of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leatherbarrow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leatherbarrow 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 531 Leatherbarrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 531 7.33x
Cheshire 42 3.12x
Middlesex 21 0.34x
Yorkshire 12 0.20x
Derbyshire 10 1.05x
Kent 4 0.19x
Gloucestershire 2 0.17x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Northumberland 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 1.37x
Suffolk 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 55 Leatherbarrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.50x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 55 12.50x
Everton 42 18.19x
Scarisbrick 32 380.50x
Wigan 32 31.60x
Birkdale 22 120.02x
West Derby 19 8.96x
Great Bolton 18 18.75x
Ormskirk 16 115.44x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 16 76.70x
Hulme 15 9.92x
Walton On Hill 15 38.22x
Aughton 14 194.99x
Great Crosby 13 65.79x
Halsall 13 454.55x
Stretford 13 32.61x
Bootle Cum Linacre 12 20.86x
Salford 12 5.63x
Oxton 11 144.36x
Brightside Bierlow 10 8.43x
Glossop Dale 10 22.34x
Golborne 10 105.93x
Ince In Makerfield 10 29.66x
Lathom 10 114.29x
Little Crosby 10 854.70x
Chorley 9 22.13x
Chadderton 8 22.59x
Culcheth 8 168.42x
Litherland 7 46.20x
Prestwich 7 38.72x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.26x
Chester St Peter St 6 413.79x
Hollingworth 6 107.91x
Hyde 6 15.08x
Kirkdale 6 4.92x
Manchester 6 1.84x
St George Hanover Square 6 5.58x
Gorton 5 7.34x
Lancaster 5 11.60x
Newton In Makerfield 5 22.53x
Orrell 5 55.49x
Toxteth Park 5 2.04x
Whiston 5 88.50x
Crompton 4 19.38x
Downholland 4 400.00x
Latchford 4 44.69x
Little Bolton 4 4.29x
Lydiate 4 176.99x
Barrow In Furness 3 3.04x
Islington London 3 0.51x
Mottram 3 49.10x
Pendleton In Salford 3 3.48x
Plumstead 3 4.32x
Radcliffe 3 8.59x
Warrington 3 3.49x
West Broughton 3 122.45x
Astley 2 35.78x
Barton Upon Irwell 2 3.67x
Bickerstaffe 2 42.19x
Bristol St James In 2 11.36x
Burscough 2 180.18x
Cheetham 2 3.70x
Chester Holy Trinity 2 31.65x
Hindley 2 6.47x
Oldham 2 0.86x
St Martin Outwich London 2 1428.57x
St Pancras London 2 0.41x
West Kirby 2 85.11x
Ardwick 1 1.53x
Barony 1 0.20x
Birkenhead 1 0.93x
Gillingham 1 2.33x
Huyton With Roby 1 11.78x
Leeds 1 0.29x
Longbenton 1 2.60x
Middle Hulton 1 23.31x
Royal Navy 1 1.61x
Sheffield 1 0.52x
Tranmere 1 2.02x
Wavertree 1 4.31x
Whittingham 1 31.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 48
Elizabeth 38
Jane 27
Margaret 27
Ellen 23
Alice 20
Ann 19
Sarah 11
Hannah 10
Martha 10
Annie 7
Emma 5
Catherine 4
Charlotte 4
Elizth. 4
Agnes 3
Frances 3
Winifred 3
Emily 2
Florence 2
Isabella 2
Julia 2
Lousia 2
M. 2
Maria 2
Anne 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Elizh. 1
Ellis 1
Emiliar 1
Esther 1
F.M. 1
Fanny 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hetty 1
Jennet 1
Jessie 1
Josephenia 1
L. 1
Lena 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
M.Ann 1
Margt. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 43
James 40
John 38
William 33
Joseph 21
Henry 19
Edward 18
George 16
Richard 12
Robert 11
Charles 6
Wm. 5
Thos. 4
Arthur 3
Jas. 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Frederick 2
Isaac 2
Peter 2
Ralph 2
Samuel 2
T. 2
Benjamin 1
Chas.P. 1
Chas.W. 1
Elias 1
Enoch 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Jno. 1
Llewellyn 1
Moses 1
Nathan 1
Tom 1
W.H. 1
Willm. 1
Wm.Dooley 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Leatherbarrow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leatherbarrow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 625 people were recorded with the Leatherbarrow surname. That placed it at #5,661 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leatherbarrow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 933 in 2016. That gives Leatherbarrow a modern rank of #6,126.

What does the Leatherbarrow surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a wheelbarrow made of leather.

What does the Leatherbarrow map show?

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