NameCensus.

UK surname

Leech

An English occupational surname referring to a physician or healer in medieval times.

In the 1881 census there were 4,889 people recorded with the Leech surname, ranking it #908 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,930, ranked #1,136, down from #908 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Newcastle-under Lyne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Waveney and Tameside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leech is 6,478 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.3%.

1881 census count

4,889

Ranked #908

Modern count

5,930

2016, ranked #1,136

Peak year

1999

6,478 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leech had 4,889 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #908 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,930 in 2016, ranked #1,136.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,320 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Leech surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leech surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leech 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 3,610 #789
1861 historical 3,078 #942
1881 historical 4,889 #908
1891 historical 4,826 #962
1901 historical 5,788 #962
1911 historical 6,320 #810
1997 modern 6,150 #1,069
1998 modern 6,473 #1,056
1999 modern 6,478 #1,060
2000 modern 6,447 #1,062
2001 modern 6,298 #1,059
2002 modern 6,413 #1,067
2003 modern 6,169 #1,083
2004 modern 6,167 #1,083
2005 modern 6,006 #1,091
2006 modern 6,007 #1,087
2007 modern 6,023 #1,093
2008 modern 6,041 #1,097
2009 modern 6,215 #1,096
2010 modern 6,302 #1,104
2011 modern 6,192 #1,105
2012 modern 5,943 #1,124
2013 modern 6,008 #1,129
2014 modern 6,041 #1,134
2015 modern 5,977 #1,133
2016 modern 5,930 #1,136

Geography

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Where Leechs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Newcastle-under Lyne and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Waveney, Tameside and Suffolk Coastal. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Newcastle-under Lyne Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 041 Cheshire East
2 Waveney 004 Waveney
3 Tameside 023 Tameside
4 Suffolk Coastal 008 Suffolk Coastal
5 Tameside 009 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leech

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leech

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Leech, 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 Leech surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Leech 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Leech 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

Leech is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Leech

The surname Leech is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "læce", meaning a physician or a healer. It was initially an occupational name given to those who practiced the art of healing, often through the use of leeches for bloodletting.

The name is believed to have originated in England, possibly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk, where the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Ailric Leche, who was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Le Leche, Leche, and Leach, reflecting the evolution of the English language and spelling variations. One notable example is John le Leche, a prominent merchant from Lincolnshire, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey of landowners in England.

During the Middle Ages, the Leech family held lands and estates in various parts of England, including Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Staffordshire. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name associated with a place name is William de Lech, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Leech. One of the earliest was Sir John Leche, a prominent lawyer and judge who served as Chief Baron of the Exchequer in the 15th century. Another was Humphrey Leech, a renowned English composer who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

In the 19th century, John Leech (1817-1864) was a renowned English caricaturist and illustrator, best known for his work in the satirical magazine Punch. Another notable bearer of the name was William Elford Leach (1790-1836), a British zoologist and marine biologist who made significant contributions to the study of crustaceans and mollusks.

Mary Leech (1857-1923) was an American educator and suffragist who played a crucial role in the women's suffrage movement in Washington state. She was also a prominent advocate for the establishment of kindergartens in the state.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Leech throughout history, reflecting its long-standing presence in various parts of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leech families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leech 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 1,237 Leechs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.19x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,237 2.19x
Cheshire 591 5.62x
Staffordshire 453 2.82x
Yorkshire 359 0.76x
Middlesex 356 0.75x
Suffolk 337 5.81x
Derbyshire 165 2.21x
Gloucestershire 156 1.67x
Norfolk 146 1.99x
Essex 130 1.38x
Surrey 117 0.50x
Worcestershire 89 1.43x
Cumberland 81 1.98x
Shropshire 74 1.80x
Warwickshire 71 0.59x
Durham 60 0.42x
Northumberland 40 0.56x
Oxfordshire 40 1.36x
Hampshire 37 0.38x
Kent 32 0.20x
Cambridgeshire 31 1.03x
Leicestershire 29 0.55x
Northamptonshire 27 0.60x
Sussex 25 0.31x
Somerset 24 0.31x
Denbighshire 20 1.11x
Bedfordshire 19 0.77x
Lanarkshire 13 0.08x
Buckinghamshire 11 0.38x
Devon 11 0.11x
Caernarfonshire 10 0.52x
Anglesey 9 1.07x
Berkshire 9 0.25x
Hertfordshire 8 0.24x
Westmorland 6 0.57x
Wiltshire 6 0.14x
Cornwall 5 0.09x
Glamorgan 4 0.05x
Huntingdonshire 4 0.42x
Isle of Man 4 0.45x
Merionethshire 4 0.46x
Royal Navy 4 0.71x
Ayrshire 3 0.08x
Monmouthshire 3 0.09x
Wigtownshire 3 0.47x
Dorset 2 0.06x
Inverness-shire 2 0.14x
Lincolnshire 2 0.03x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.03x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.13x
Channel Islands 1 0.07x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.08x
Fife 1 0.04x
Herefordshire 1 0.05x
Midlothian 1 0.02x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.09x
Perthshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire leads with 248 Leechs recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.09x.

Place Total Index
Ashton Under Lyne 248 20.09x
Newcastle Under Lyme 110 38.69x
Manchester 91 3.58x
Hulme 65 5.51x
Hackney London 64 2.40x
Dukinfield 58 11.94x
Toxteth Park 58 3.03x
Salford 55 3.31x
Oldham 53 2.91x
Islington London 48 1.04x
St Pancras London 42 1.10x
Ardwick 36 7.07x
Chorlton On Medlock 36 4.01x
Wolstanton Chesterton 35 42.62x
Wolverhampton 35 2.83x
Tideswell 34 105.10x
Dudley 33 4.37x
Leeds 33 1.24x
Birmingham 32 0.80x
Handsworth 32 8.08x
Macclesfield 30 6.42x
Monks Coppenhall 30 7.57x
Hollingworth 29 66.93x
Lambeth 28 0.67x
Stoke Upon Trent 28 1.64x
Wigan 28 3.55x
Everton 27 1.50x
Wales 27 72.44x
Allostock 26 318.63x
Batley 26 5.80x
Liverpool 25 0.73x
Pendleton In Salford 25 3.71x
Woodbridge 25 33.72x
Glossop Dale 24 6.88x
Marple 24 33.27x
Broughton In Salford 23 4.45x
Cheetham 22 5.22x
Redisham 22 745.76x
Derby St Werburgh 21 4.88x
Withington 21 11.54x
Aston 20 0.61x
Barnsley 20 4.11x
Great Yarmouth 20 3.30x
Barrow In Furness 19 2.47x
Chadderton 19 6.88x
Ufford 19 210.88x
Westminster St John 19 3.28x
Haslington 18 60.89x
Huddersfield 18 2.62x
Portsea 18 0.94x
St Andrewthe Less 18 5.23x
Newton In Ashton Under 17 16.40x
Sale 17 13.19x
Stanton Upon Hine Heath 17 156.68x
Wednesfield 17 7.19x
Bury St Edmunds St James 16 10.33x
Elswick 16 2.83x
Grundisburgh 16 119.31x
St Marylebone London 16 0.63x
Warrington 16 2.39x
West Ham 16 0.77x
Alvanley 15 280.90x
Camberwell 15 0.49x
Church Gresley 15 12.65x
Droylsden 15 8.14x
Great Bolton 15 2.00x
Heaton Norris 15 4.67x
Isleworth 15 7.09x
Longney 15 217.71x
Tranmere 15 3.88x
Derby St Peter 14 5.90x
Gateshead 14 1.32x
Hasketon 14 177.44x
Heigham 14 3.56x
Hyde 14 4.52x
Moss Side 14 4.71x
Preston Quarter 14 12.19x
Shoreditch London 14 0.68x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 1.46x
St George Hanover Square 14 1.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 361
Sarah 201
Elizabeth 190
Alice 94
Ann 93
Jane 93
Ellen 82
Emma 75
Eliza 73
Hannah 69
Annie 62
Harriet 53
Emily 51
Louisa 43
Martha 43
Catherine 38
Margaret 35
Maria 34
Edith 30
Ada 26
Florence 24
Frances 24
Amelia 20
Clara 20
Fanny 20
Harriett 20
Anne 18
Caroline 18
Lucy 17
Agnes 16
Charlotte 16
Rose 15
Esther 14
Isabella 13
Kate 13
Matilda 12
Rachel 12
Amy 11
Anna 10
Beatrice 10
Eleanor 10
Lydia 10
Susan 10
Betsy 8
Julia 8
Susannah 8
Jessie 7
Maud 7
Minnie 7
Ruth 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 305
William 259
James 187
Thomas 184
George 165
Joseph 113
Henry 92
Samuel 89
Charles 87
Robert 76
Edward 61
Arthur 52
Alfred 45
Frederick 39
Richard 39
Albert 38
Walter 31
Harry 20
Herbert 20
Peter 20
David 19
Benjamin 18
Ernest 16
Frank 15
Wm. 15
Isaac 14
Edwin 10
Francis 10
Fred 8
Jonathan 8
Ralph 8
Stephen 8
Thos. 7
Daniel 6
Fredk. 6
Nathaniel 6
Chas. 5
Edmund 5
Enoch 5
Jno. 5
Levi 5
Adam 4
Earnest 4
Fredrick 4
Jacob 4
Job 4
Robt. 4
Willm. 4
Michael 3
Reuben 3

FAQ

Leech surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leech surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,889 people were recorded with the Leech surname. That placed it at #908 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leech surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,930 in 2016. That gives Leech a modern rank of #1,136.

What does the Leech surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a physician or healer in medieval times.

What does the Leech map show?

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