NameCensus.

UK surname

Leeder

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English "leder," referring to someone who led or guided people or animals.

In the 1881 census there were 641 people recorded with the Leeder surname, ranking it #5,556 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,066, ranked #5,482, up from #5,556 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Felbrigg, Swanton Novers and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, North Norfolk and Norwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leeder is 1,204 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.3%.

1881 census count

641

Ranked #5,556

Modern count

1,066

2016, ranked #5,482

Peak year

1998

1,204 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leeder had 641 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,556 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,066 in 2016, ranked #5,482.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 931 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Leeder surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leeder surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leeder 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 499 #5,010
1861 historical 286 #8,793
1881 historical 641 #5,556
1891 historical 716 #5,503
1901 historical 802 #5,634
1911 historical 931 #4,819
1997 modern 1,136 #4,937
1998 modern 1,204 #4,864
1999 modern 1,186 #4,985
2000 modern 1,156 #5,061
2001 modern 1,140 #5,029
2002 modern 1,148 #5,096
2003 modern 1,112 #5,127
2004 modern 1,108 #5,158
2005 modern 1,070 #5,255
2006 modern 1,058 #5,302
2007 modern 1,092 #5,216
2008 modern 1,100 #5,214
2009 modern 1,113 #5,271
2010 modern 1,148 #5,251
2011 modern 1,125 #5,268
2012 modern 1,062 #5,444
2013 modern 1,095 #5,393
2014 modern 1,088 #5,457
2015 modern 1,074 #5,456
2016 modern 1,066 #5,482

Geography

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Where Leeders are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Felbrigg, Swanton Novers, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos, Thelveton and Diss. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, North Norfolk and Norwich. 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 Felbrigg Norfolk
2 Swanton Novers Norfolk
3 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
4 Thelveton Norfolk
5 Diss Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk
2 South Norfolk 014 South Norfolk
3 South Norfolk 011 South Norfolk
4 North Norfolk 008 North Norfolk
5 Norwich 005 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leeder

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leeder

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Leeder is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Leeder 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

Leeder falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Leeder

The surname LEEDER is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "lædere," which means "leader" or "guide." This occupational name was initially given to those who held positions of leadership or authority within their communities.

The earliest recorded instances of the LEEDER surname date back to the 13th century, with references found in various medieval documents and records. One notable example is the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, which mention a certain Robert le Ledere.

During the Middle Ages, the LEEDER surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire in northern England. It is believed that the name may have originated in these regions due to their proximity to the historic routes and trade paths that required skilled leaders and guides.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the LEEDER surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the surname's development, such as Leddrede in Herefordshire and Ledringham in Yorkshire.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the LEEDER surname was John Leeder, who was born in Yorkshire around 1490. He served as a prominent landowner and businessman in the region during the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Leeder (1561-1625), a wealthy merchant and politician from Lancashire. He served as the Mayor of Preston in 1607 and represented the borough in the House of Commons from 1614 to 1625.

In the 17th century, the LEEDER surname gained recognition through the works of Edward Leeder (1630-1688), an English writer and translator who published several books on history and philosophy.

During the 18th century, the LEEDER family played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in Lancashire. John Leeder (1721-1798) established a successful wool manufacturing business in the town of Blackburn, which contributed to the region's economic growth.

In the field of science, one notable figure was William Leeder (1839-1918), a pioneering English chemist who made significant contributions to the study of organic compounds and dyes. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society and held various academic positions throughout his career.

While the LEEDER surname has its roots in northern England, it has since spread to other parts of the country and beyond, with families bearing this name found across the globe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leeder families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leeder 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. Norfolk leads with 373 Leeders recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.50x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 373 38.50x
Suffolk 66 8.60x
Middlesex 42 0.67x
Essex 32 2.57x
Yorkshire 26 0.42x
Lancashire 19 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 11 2.76x
Durham 11 0.59x
Kent 11 0.51x
Leicestershire 8 1.15x
Surrey 8 0.26x
Channel Islands 6 3.21x
Stirlingshire 6 2.58x
Sussex 6 0.56x
Hampshire 5 0.39x
Devon 4 0.30x
Glamorgan 4 0.36x
Lanarkshire 2 0.10x
Northumberland 2 0.21x
Berkshire 1 0.21x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.38x
Hertfordshire 1 0.23x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swanton Novers in Norfolk leads with 53 Leeders recorded in 1881 and an index of 8688.52x.

Place Total Index
Swanton Novers 53 8688.52x
Diss 30 361.45x
Great Yarmouth 22 27.41x
Thelveton 17 4857.14x
Felbrigg 15 4838.71x
Brome 13 2321.43x
Shimpling 13 3421.05x
Matlask 10 2857.14x
North Creake 9 681.82x
Norwich St James 9 118.42x
Thaxted 9 217.92x
Beccles 8 64.78x
Newchurch 8 13.08x
Sheringham 8 320.00x
Swanton Morley 8 536.91x
Tottenham 8 7.97x
Chiswick 7 20.33x
Gresham 7 853.66x
Middlesbrough 7 8.61x
Scole Cum Frenze 7 496.45x
Westoe 7 6.59x
Wymondham 7 70.64x
Bergh Apton 6 588.24x
Brooke 6 394.74x
Chelmsford 6 28.12x
Fakenham 6 125.79x
Fressingfield 6 242.92x
Heigham 6 11.54x
Hillington 6 983.61x
Mendham 6 368.10x
Mile End Old Town London 6 4.47x
Muiravonside 6 101.69x
Nazeing 6 375.00x
Pilkington 6 21.13x
St Sampson 6 71.34x
Wells Next Sea 6 106.19x
West Ham 6 2.18x
Beeford 5 324.68x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.83x
Brighton 5 2.33x
Cromer 5 145.35x
Easton 5 543.48x
Great Walsingham 5 510.20x
Leicester Black Friars 5 109.89x
March 5 37.43x
Norwich St Stephen 5 56.24x
Palgrave 5 310.56x
Saham Toney 5 191.57x
South Lopham 5 427.35x
Stratton St Mary 5 373.13x
Thornham 5 354.61x
West Beckham 5 769.23x
Yaxley 5 625.00x
Attleborough 4 81.80x
Carisbrooke 4 22.31x
Cley Next Sea 4 256.41x
Friston 4 470.59x
Gorleston 4 20.51x
Great Bardfield 4 196.08x
Ipswich St Clement 4 20.50x
Islington London 4 0.65x
Little Lever 4 41.84x
Mattishall 4 206.19x
Old Buckenham 4 161.29x
Roydon In Guiltcross 4 303.03x
St Andrewthe Less 4 8.77x
Stranton 4 6.34x
Swansea Town 4 4.45x
Besthorpe 3 285.71x
Bunwell 3 161.29x
Great Plumstead 3 416.67x
Hilborough 3 410.96x
Kenninghall 3 112.78x
Lambeth 3 0.55x
Marske In Guisbrough 3 27.05x
Minster In Sheppey 3 8.42x
Norwich St Mary In Marsh 3 275.23x
Stoke 3 56.50x
Thorpe Next Norwich 3 29.21x
Westminster St John 3 3.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 38
James 27
George 23
Robert 22
John 21
Thomas 14
Edward 8
Samuel 8
Walter 8
Henry 7
Albert 6
Charles 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
David 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Archibald 4
Edmund 4
Lewis 4
Simon 4
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Leonard 3
Martin 3
Richard 3
Robt. 3
Daniel 2
Edgar 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Nathan 2
Palmer 2
Stephen 2
Uriah 2
Willm. 2
Benjamin 1
Earnest 1
Forest 1
Frederic 1
Hubert 1
Miles 1
Nicholas 1
Parker 1
Philip 1
Reuben 1
Roberto 1
Robt.J. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Leeder surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leeder surname in 1881?

In 1881, 641 people were recorded with the Leeder surname. That placed it at #5,556 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leeder surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,066 in 2016. That gives Leeder a modern rank of #5,482.

What does the Leeder surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English "leder," referring to someone who led or guided people or animals.

What does the Leeder map show?

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