NameCensus.

UK surname

Leatherby

A locational surname referring to someone from Leatherhead, Surrey or other places so named.

In the 1881 census there were 79 people recorded with the Leatherby surname, ranking it #22,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 106, ranked #29,927, down from #22,357 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, London parishes and Chelsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Callander and Trossachs, Wandsworth and Slough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leatherby is 163 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.2%.

1881 census count

79

Ranked #22,357

Modern count

106

2016, ranked #29,927

Peak year

1911

163 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leatherby had 79 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,357 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016, ranked #29,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 163 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Leatherby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leatherby surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leatherby 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 56 #23,235
1861 historical 61 #26,170
1881 historical 79 #22,357
1891 historical 123 #20,939
1901 historical 123 #20,248
1911 historical 163 #16,939
1997 modern 108 #25,788
1998 modern 112 #25,856
1999 modern 114 #25,766
2000 modern 108 #26,549
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 110 #26,412
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 107 #26,899
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 105 #28,815
2010 modern 107 #29,153
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 108 #28,849
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 106 #29,927

Geography

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Where Leatherbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, London parishes, Chelsea, Chipping Wycombe and Kensington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Callander and Trossachs, Wandsworth, Slough, Sedgemoor and Hillingdon. 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 Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 Chelsea London (West Districts)
4 Chipping Wycombe Buckinghamshire
5 Kensington London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Callander and Trossachs Stirling
2 Wandsworth 020 Wandsworth
3 Slough 013 Slough
4 Sedgemoor 005 Sedgemoor
5 Hillingdon 015 Hillingdon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leatherby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leatherby

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Leatherby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Leatherby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Leatherby 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

Leatherby is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leatherby falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Leatherby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Leatherby

The surname Leatherby originates from England and can be traced back to medieval times. The name is believed to have roots in the Old English words "lether," meaning leather, and "by," meaning settlement or farm. This suggests that Leatherby might have originally referred to a place associated with leather production, a common industry during the medieval period.

Leatherby appears in historical records as early as the 13th century. One of the earliest documented instances is found in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219, where a person named Richard de Leatherby is mentioned. The use of "de" before the surname indicates a locational origin, pointing to Leatherby as a place name, although the exact location has since been lost or changed.

Another early reference is a parchment roll from 1273 recording a John Leatherby in Lincolnshire. Place names in medieval England often changed spelling over time, and variations of Leatherby might have included Letherby or Letherbie, although these forms were less common.

One notable individual with the surname is Sir Edward Leatherby, born in 1465 and died in 1528, who served as a courtier to King Henry VII. His service at the royal court made him a prominent figure of his time. Another significant figure is Thomas Leatherby, an influential merchant in London during the late 16th century, who was born in 1540 and died in 1602. His trade in leather goods contributed significantly to the economy of the city.

A later historical figure is George Leatherby, an 18th-century clergyman born in 1723 and died in 1791, known for his contributions to local ecclesiastical reforms in his parish in Sussex. His work was documented in various church records and local historical guides.

The surname also appears in the annals of academia with Dr. Elizabeth Leatherby, born in 1820 and died in 1888, a pioneering botanist whose research on native British flora was well-regarded in scientific circles. Her contributions to botany earned her posthumous recognition in various botanical publications.

In more recent history, Captain William Leatherby, born in 1881 and died in 1946, served with distinction in the British Army during World War I. His service and bravery were often mentioned in military dispatches, and he was awarded several medals for his valor on the battlefield.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leatherby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leatherby 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. Middlesex leads with 37 Leatherbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.80x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 37 4.80x
Devon 14 8.73x
Somerset 10 8.06x
Gloucestershire 6 3.97x
Buckinghamshire 5 10.74x
Surrey 5 1.33x
Hertfordshire 1 1.88x
Lancashire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hillingdon in Middlesex leads with 10 Leatherbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 406.50x.

Place Total Index
Hillingdon 10 406.50x
Stoke Damerel 8 71.30x
Clerkenwell London 7 38.50x
Barnstaple 6 238.10x
Bawdrip 6 6000.00x
Kensington London 5 11.67x
Wycombe 5 144.09x
Battersea 4 14.11x
Fulham London 4 35.81x
Bristol St James St Paul 3 59.52x
Bristol St Paul In 3 74.44x
Chelsea London 3 12.93x
Taunton St Mary 3 131.58x
Westminster St Margaret 3 80.65x
Mile End Old Town London 2 12.20x
St Anne Soho London 2 45.45x
Bedminster 1 8.58x
Lambeth 1 1.49x
St Marylebone London 1 2.43x
Toxteth Park 1 3.23x
Watford 1 24.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 5
Mary 4
Fanny 3
Annie 2
Emily 2
Rebecca 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Eva 1
Hannah 1
Hester 1
Jane 1
Jemima 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Leatherby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leatherby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 79 people were recorded with the Leatherby surname. That placed it at #22,357 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leatherby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016. That gives Leatherby a modern rank of #29,927.

What does the Leatherby surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Leatherhead, Surrey or other places so named.

What does the Leatherby map show?

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