NameCensus.

UK surname

Leckie

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "flat meadow by a burn or stream".

In the 1881 census there were 938 people recorded with the Leckie surname, ranking it #4,107 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,623, ranked #3,834, up from #4,107 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Monkland, Govan Combination and Alva. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hunter's Quay, Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall and Stane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leckie is 1,630 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.0%.

1881 census count

938

Ranked #4,107

Modern count

1,623

2016, ranked #3,834

Peak year

2010

1,630 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leckie had 938 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,107 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,623 in 2016, ranked #3,834.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,170 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Leckie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leckie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leckie 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 676 #3,839
1861 historical 716 #3,802
1881 historical 938 #4,107
1891 historical 954 #4,341
1901 historical 1,170 #4,174
1911 historical 227 #13,795
1997 modern 1,510 #3,880
1998 modern 1,548 #3,944
1999 modern 1,547 #3,972
2000 modern 1,566 #3,918
2001 modern 1,516 #3,949
2002 modern 1,555 #3,961
2003 modern 1,519 #3,956
2004 modern 1,572 #3,839
2005 modern 1,566 #3,807
2006 modern 1,558 #3,814
2007 modern 1,556 #3,851
2008 modern 1,587 #3,820
2009 modern 1,629 #3,825
2010 modern 1,630 #3,895
2011 modern 1,628 #3,857
2012 modern 1,627 #3,783
2013 modern 1,619 #3,874
2014 modern 1,626 #3,884
2015 modern 1,617 #3,867
2016 modern 1,623 #3,834

Geography

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Where Leckies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Monkland, Govan Combination, Alva, Edinburgh and Kippen. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hunter's Quay, Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall, Stane, Airdrie North and Calderbank and Brownsburn. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Monkland Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Alva Stirling
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Kippen Stirling

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hunter's Quay Argyll and Bute
2 Dunterlie, East Arthurlie and Dovecothall East Renfrewshire
3 Stane North Lanarkshire
4 Airdrie North North Lanarkshire
5 Calderbank and Brownsburn North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leckie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leckie

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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, Leckie 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

Leckie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leckie falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Leckie

The surname Leckie has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "leac," meaning a flat stone or slab, and is believed to have been a descriptive name for someone who lived near a prominent flat rock or stone.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Leckie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of instruments of homage to Edward I of England. The name appears as "Lekky," which was likely the earlier spelling of the surname.

The Leckie family was influential in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the areas around Stirlingshire and Dunbartonshire. The name is associated with several place names in these regions, such as Leckie Bank and Leckie Burn.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Leckie was Robert Leckie, a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as the Lord President of the Court of Session from 1567 to 1572.

Another prominent Leckie was John Leckie, born in 1759, who was a Scottish merchant and philanthropist. He made significant contributions to the city of Glasgow and established the Leckie Trust, which provided educational support to underprivileged children.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Leckie, born in 1818, who was a renowned Scottish industrialist and founder of the Leckie Spinning Company. His textile manufacturing business played a significant role in the growth of the Scottish economy during the Industrial Revolution.

In the literary world, Gould Francis Leckie, born in 1892, was a notable Scottish author and journalist. He wrote several novels and non-fiction works, including "The Harp of Life" and "The Household Adventures of a Literary Man."

Another noteworthy individual was Gordon Leckie, born in 1935, a Scottish actor known for his roles in various television series and films, including "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" and "Whisky Galore."

While the surname Leckie has Scottish roots, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration. The name has been carried by individuals across generations, each contributing to its rich history and legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leckie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leckie 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. Lanarkshire leads with 286 Leckies recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.65x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 286 9.65x
Stirlingshire 116 34.34x
Ayrshire 92 13.42x
Renfrewshire 67 9.44x
Midlothian 50 4.07x
Dunbartonshire 45 18.28x
Lancashire 37 0.34x
Angus 26 3.06x
East Lothian 25 20.61x
Kent 24 0.77x
West Lothian 22 15.95x
Middlesex 17 0.19x
Perthshire 17 4.14x
Buteshire 14 25.23x
Dumfriesshire 13 6.42x
Clackmannanshire 11 14.54x
Hampshire 11 0.59x
Staffordshire 9 0.29x
Surrey 8 0.18x
Durham 7 0.26x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 5.28x
Glamorgan 6 0.38x
Cumberland 4 0.51x
Fife 3 0.55x
Lincolnshire 3 0.20x
Northumberland 3 0.22x
Royal Navy 3 2.75x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.24x
Roxburghshire 2 1.21x
Wigtownshire 2 1.64x
Argyllshire 1 0.39x
Berwickshire 1 0.90x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.26x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Devon 1 0.05x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.08x
Yorkshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 82 Leckies recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.94x.

Place Total Index
Barony 82 10.94x
Govan 63 8.60x
Glasgow 53 10.08x
Alva 37 229.67x
Bothwell 29 36.10x
New Monkland 25 28.55x
Kippen 22 483.52x
Neilston 20 56.13x
Toxteth Park 20 5.43x
Newton On Ayr 18 87.68x
Abbey 17 15.70x
Ardrossan 16 67.43x
Ballantrae 16 353.20x
Dundee 16 5.05x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 16 3.24x
Killearn 14 394.37x
Rothesay 14 52.08x
St Ninians 13 38.82x
Garvald 12 502.09x
Maryhill 12 20.69x
Alloa 11 29.99x
Bathgate 11 36.73x
Bonhill 11 27.84x
Eastwood 11 25.16x
Kilbarchan 11 51.02x
Kilmarnock 11 13.48x
New Kilpatrick 11 46.97x
Plumstead 11 10.56x
Polmont 10 80.19x
Carlaverock 9 272.73x
Torphichen 9 187.50x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 4.63x
Walsall Foreign 8 5.01x
Yester 8 273.97x
Colinton 7 51.17x
Edinburgh St Marys 7 29.35x
Galston 7 37.33x
Kirkcudbright 7 63.81x
Newington 7 2.07x
Paddington London 7 2.08x
Shotts 7 19.75x
South Leith 7 5.07x
Stirling 7 16.44x
Bishopwearmouth 6 2.57x
Campsie 6 32.36x
Cardross 6 20.30x
Eltham 6 32.77x
Rutherglen 6 13.81x
Berwick North 5 58.82x
Coylton 5 51.39x
Edinburgh Canongate 5 16.01x
Forfar 5 10.88x
Girvan 5 29.05x
Holdenhurst 5 10.15x
Kilmaronock 5 171.23x
Kirkintilloch 5 14.95x
Largs 5 30.96x
Old Kilpatrick 5 17.19x
Portsea 5 1.36x
West Derby 5 1.57x
Blantyre 4 12.97x
Callander 4 59.00x
Langholm 4 27.51x
Minster In Sheppey 4 7.73x
St Cuthbert W O 4 10.41x
West Greenock 4 3.14x
Berwick Upon Tweed 3 10.39x
Bromley London 3 1.49x
Cathcart 3 7.81x
Cockpen 3 20.92x
Llanguick 3 10.50x
Perth St Pauls 3 31.51x
Pittenweem 3 44.91x
St Michael Lincoln 3 75.57x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 2.32x
Duddingston 2 8.12x
Hawick 2 5.39x
Kilmadock 2 21.16x
Shettleston 2 7.54x
St Pancras London 2 0.27x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Leckie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leckie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 938 people were recorded with the Leckie surname. That placed it at #4,107 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leckie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,623 in 2016. That gives Leckie a modern rank of #3,834.

What does the Leckie surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "flat meadow by a burn or stream".

What does the Leckie map show?

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