NameCensus.

UK surname

Leece

A surname derived from an English place name referring to a meadow or pasture.

In the 1881 census there were 365 people recorded with the Leece surname, ranking it #8,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 480, ranked #10,292, down from #8,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Millom, Muncaster, Toxteth Park and Colton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Bolton and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leece is 602 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.5%.

1881 census count

365

Ranked #8,506

Modern count

480

2016, ranked #10,292

Peak year

1911

602 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leece had 365 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 480 in 2016, ranked #10,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 602 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Leece surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leece surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Leece 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 205 #10,223
1861 historical 204 #11,814
1881 historical 365 #8,506
1891 historical 411 #8,675
1901 historical 421 #9,141
1911 historical 602 #6,820
1997 modern 463 #9,850
1998 modern 482 #9,878
1999 modern 484 #9,917
2000 modern 490 #9,772
2001 modern 482 #9,717
2002 modern 494 #9,718
2003 modern 483 #9,735
2004 modern 469 #9,983
2005 modern 473 #9,841
2006 modern 464 #10,007
2007 modern 481 #9,844
2008 modern 477 #9,997
2009 modern 480 #10,162
2010 modern 482 #10,319
2011 modern 479 #10,280
2012 modern 474 #10,254
2013 modern 483 #10,287
2014 modern 479 #10,417
2015 modern 480 #10,311
2016 modern 480 #10,292

Geography

Back to top

Where Leeces are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Millom, Muncaster, Toxteth Park, Colton, Dalton-in-Furness and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Bolton, Bradford, Allerdale and Wyre. 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 Millom, Muncaster Cumberland
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Colton Lancashire
4 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 008 Copeland
2 Bolton 004 Bolton
3 Bradford 011 Bradford
4 Allerdale 011 Allerdale
5 Wyre 011 Wyre

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Leece

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Leece

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Leece surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Leece 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Leece is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Leece 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

Leece falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Leece

The surname Leece is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "leac," which means "a garden or meadow." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a meadow or worked as a gardener.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Leece can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Lece" and "Lees," indicating its widespread use during that period.

The name Leece has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of John de Leece, who was a landowner in Staffordshire, England, in the 13th century. Another prominent figure was Sir John Leece, who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1347.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Leece family settled in Cheshire, England, where they became influential landowners and gentry. One member of this family, Thomas Leece, was a member of Parliament for Cheshire in the late 16th century.

The name Leece has also been found in various place names throughout England, such as Leece in Cheshire and Leece Priory in Gloucestershire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Other notable individuals with the surname Leece include:

1. Thomas Leece (1807-1873), an English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Liverpool. 2. John Leece (1783-1865), an English artist known for his landscape paintings and watercolors. 3. Samuel Leece (1668-1743), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works. 4. William Leece (1792-1868), a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Rear Admiral. 5. Mary Leece (1615-1680), an English woman accused of witchcraft during the infamous Salem Witch Trials in colonial Massachusetts.

Overall, the surname Leece has a rich history rooted in England, with connections to various regions, professions, and notable individuals throughout the centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English language and its association with meadows and gardens, reflecting the agricultural heritage of the name's early bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Leece families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leece 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 205 Leeces recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.56x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 205 3.56x
Isle of Man 135 149.95x
Cumberland 81 19.41x
Staffordshire 17 1.04x
Shropshire 12 2.87x
Somerset 11 1.41x
Cheshire 9 0.84x
Denbighshire 9 4.91x
Midlothian 4 0.62x
Yorkshire 4 0.08x
Durham 3 0.21x
Warwickshire 2 0.16x
Devon 1 0.10x
Gloucestershire 1 0.11x
Middlesex 1 0.02x
Surrey 1 0.04x
Westmorland 1 0.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Patrick in Isle of Man leads with 39 Leeces recorded in 1881 and an index of 888.38x.

Place Total Index
Patrick 39 888.38x
German Peel 35 675.68x
Millom 19 148.55x
Chipping 18 1097.56x
Dalton In Furness 16 72.04x
Toxteth Park 16 8.21x
Onchan 15 57.85x
Kirkby Ireleth 14 487.80x
Rushall 14 145.38x
Walton On Hill 14 44.93x
Bedminster 11 15.00x
Haighton 11 3055.56x
Malew 11 139.95x
Lilleshall 10 156.25x
Beckermet St Bridget 9 818.18x
Drigg Carleton 9 957.45x
Everton 9 4.91x
Rushen 9 147.78x
Wray With Botton 9 865.38x
Arbory 8 408.16x
Arlecdon 8 72.07x
Birkenhead 8 9.38x
Egremont 8 80.40x
Little Bolton 8 10.82x
Preston 8 5.20x
Upper Holker 8 588.24x
Whitehaven 8 35.96x
German 7 142.57x
Hothersall 7 3181.82x
Barrow In Furness 6 7.67x
Barton Upon Irwell 6 13.85x
Colton 6 200.00x
Hensingham 6 175.95x
Kirkdale 6 6.20x
Poulton Barre 5 76.34x
West Derby 5 2.97x
Wrexham Abbot 5 108.70x
Braddan 4 81.30x
Dearham 4 72.60x
East Broughton 4 243.90x
Lasswade 4 26.94x
Liverpool 4 1.14x
Marown 4 243.90x
Pennington In Ulverston 4 139.86x
Whicham 4 634.92x
Wrexham Regis 4 29.41x
Castle Church 3 30.49x
Dewsbury 3 6.09x
Ellel 3 101.01x
Gateshead 3 2.78x
Ulverston 3 17.90x
Birkby 2 1176.47x
Goosnargh 2 107.53x
Hutton 2 307.69x
Kinnersley 2 555.56x
Lowick 2 312.50x
Malew Castletown 2 1250.00x
North Meols 2 3.55x
Urmston 2 53.62x
Urswick 2 93.46x
Applethwaite 1 31.45x
Bootle 1 74.07x
Chelsea London 1 0.68x
Cheltenham 1 1.36x
Chester St Oswald 1 5.16x
Croydon 1 0.76x
Eaglesfield 1 238.10x
Edgbaston 1 2.64x
Giggleswick 1 61.73x
Gosforth 1 49.26x
Lapworth 1 86.96x
Maughold 1 14.39x
Much Woolton 1 12.80x
Preston Quarter 1 8.55x
Stoke Damerel 1 1.42x
Wardleworth 1 3.04x
Warton With Lindeth 1 41.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 19
Margaret 17
Sarah 17
Jane 15
Ann 8
Annie 8
Eleanor 7
Hannah 7
Catherine 6
Ellen 5
Alice 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Martha 4
Anne 3
Edith 3
Esther 3
Frances 3
Isabella 3
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Clara 2
Dinah 2
Eliza 2
Elizebeth 2
Florence 2
Jessie 2
Lydia 2
Susan 2
Alexandra 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Cathran 1
Deborah 1
Dorothy 1
Eda 1
Eleaner 1
Elizth. 1
Ellenor 1
Ida 1
Janet 1
Janey 1
Jemima 1
John 1
Kate 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
M.Emily 1
Winna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 45
William 41
Thomas 28
James 19
Edward 13
George 13
Joseph 9
Henry 8
Robert 7
Samuel 5
Thos. 5
Charles 3
Edwin 3
Isaac 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Anthony 2
Evan 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Jonah 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Chas.H. 1
Dan 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Fraughton 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jacob 1
Jno. 1
Jonas 1
Lumley 1
Matthias 1
Michael 1
Moses 1
Patrick 1
Paul 1
Robt. 1
Roger 1
Stephen 1
Thos.C. 1
Thos.Hy. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Leece surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leece surname in 1881?

In 1881, 365 people were recorded with the Leece surname. That placed it at #8,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leece surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 480 in 2016. That gives Leece a modern rank of #10,292.

What does the Leece surname mean?

A surname derived from an English place name referring to a meadow or pasture.

What does the Leece map show?

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