NameCensus.

UK surname

Leek

An English occupational surname referring to a leek grower, seller, or someone living near a leek field.

In the 1881 census there were 1,450 people recorded with the Leek surname, ranking it #2,873 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,799, ranked #3,513, down from #2,873 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Bedwelty. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torfaen, Solihull and Suffolk Coastal.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leek is 1,907 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.1%.

1881 census count

1,450

Ranked #2,873

Modern count

1,799

2016, ranked #3,513

Peak year

2010

1,907 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leek had 1,450 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,873 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,799 in 2016, ranked #3,513.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,704 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Leek surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leek surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leek 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 826 #3,269
1861 historical 889 #3,118
1881 historical 1,450 #2,873
1891 historical 1,481 #2,971
1901 historical 1,630 #3,171
1911 historical 1,704 #2,880
1997 modern 1,777 #3,368
1998 modern 1,898 #3,296
1999 modern 1,878 #3,358
2000 modern 1,860 #3,360
2001 modern 1,840 #3,328
2002 modern 1,870 #3,350
2003 modern 1,857 #3,301
2004 modern 1,884 #3,261
2005 modern 1,829 #3,315
2006 modern 1,839 #3,313
2007 modern 1,845 #3,322
2008 modern 1,855 #3,339
2009 modern 1,874 #3,387
2010 modern 1,907 #3,407
2011 modern 1,884 #3,404
2012 modern 1,861 #3,391
2013 modern 1,864 #3,431
2014 modern 1,855 #3,468
2015 modern 1,823 #3,489
2016 modern 1,799 #3,513

Geography

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Where Leeks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Bedwelty, Droitwich St Andrew and St Mary, Droitwich St Nicholas, Dodderhill (Dodderhill in Liberties), Malbor and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torfaen, Solihull, Suffolk Coastal and Dudley. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
4 Droitwich St Andrew and St Mary, Droitwich St Nicholas, Dodderhill (Dodderhill in Liberties), Malbor Worcestershire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torfaen 002 Torfaen
2 Solihull 012 Solihull
3 Suffolk Coastal 007 Suffolk Coastal
4 Dudley 002 Dudley
5 Torfaen 003 Torfaen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leek

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leek

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Leek surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Leek household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Leek 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

Leek 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

Leek falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Leek is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Leek

The surname "LEEK" originated in England and is a locational name derived from the town of Leek in Staffordshire. Historically, this town was known for its leek production, which is believed to be the source of the name. Leek was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Lec" and "Lece," reflecting the Old English words for the vegetable leek and the stream or waterway.

In the 13th century, records show the surname spelled as "de Leke" and "atte Leke," indicating that the name initially denoted someone from the town of Leek. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form of "LEEK." One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John de Leke, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1283.

The surname "LEEK" can be traced back to several notable figures throughout history. Sir Francis Leek (1592-1661) was an English Member of Parliament and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War. Another prominent bearer was Ralph Leek (1630-1687), an English clergyman who served as the chaplain to King Charles II.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "LEEK" was in 1638 when John Leek arrived in Virginia aboard the ship "Plaine Joan." Another early American bearer was Tobias Leek, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1705 and later served as a Captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Other notable individuals with the surname "LEEK" include Henry Leek (1637-1702), an English mathematician and author; Richard Leek (1705-1759), an English architect known for his work on numerous churches and country houses; and Sir Henry William Studholme Brownrigg Leek (1813-1900), a British politician and Member of Parliament.

Throughout its history, the surname "LEEK" has maintained a strong connection to its locational origins in Staffordshire, England. While not a particularly widespread name, it has been borne by individuals of note in various fields over the centuries, reflecting its enduring legacy as a distinctly English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leek families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leek 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. Staffordshire leads with 280 Leeks recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.87x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 280 5.87x
Yorkshire 253 1.81x
Warwickshire 131 3.67x
Lancashire 129 0.77x
Worcestershire 80 4.33x
Middlesex 61 0.43x
Suffolk 55 3.19x
Shropshire 48 3.93x
Monmouthshire 45 4.40x
Cumberland 29 2.38x
Kent 27 0.56x
Derbyshire 25 1.13x
Glamorgan 23 0.93x
Surrey 23 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 22 1.15x
Durham 20 0.48x
Cheshire 19 0.61x
Herefordshire 19 3.28x
Lanarkshire 16 0.35x
Lincolnshire 16 0.71x
Flintshire 15 3.95x
Hampshire 13 0.45x
Montgomeryshire 10 3.09x
Midlothian 9 0.48x
Cornwall 8 0.50x
Berkshire 7 0.66x
Radnorshire 7 6.14x
Denbighshire 5 0.94x
Devon 5 0.17x
Gloucestershire 5 0.18x
Leicestershire 5 0.32x
Merionethshire 5 1.93x
Northumberland 5 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.47x
Hertfordshire 4 0.41x
Westmorland 4 1.29x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.07x
Norfolk 3 0.14x
Northamptonshire 3 0.23x
Essex 2 0.07x
Cardiganshire 1 0.29x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.26x
Oxfordshire 1 0.11x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.22x
Roxburghshire 1 0.39x
Wigtownshire 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 51 Leeks recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.08x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 51 10.08x
Aston 46 4.69x
Birmingham 46 3.87x
Wolverhampton 46 12.54x
Sheffield 23 5.16x
Millom 20 53.63x
Wigan 18 7.68x
Audley 17 36.01x
Bilston 16 17.30x
Willenhall 16 17.90x
Castleford 14 27.45x
Darlaston 14 21.23x
Lilleshall 14 74.99x
Scarborough 13 10.21x
Worlington 13 915.49x
Llanover 12 34.38x
Ombersley 12 116.73x
Bronington 11 335.37x
Codsall 11 162.24x
Gomersal 11 16.82x
Hackney London 11 1.39x
Southwell 11 79.31x
Todmorden Walsden 11 24.48x
Trevethin 11 11.40x
Burslem 10 7.32x
Dodderhill In Liberties 10 393.70x
Sutton 10 364.96x
Eglwysilan 9 21.08x
Little Bolton 9 4.17x
Liverpool 9 0.88x
Machynlleth 9 76.99x
Penkridge 9 73.17x
South Leith 9 4.22x
Walsall Foreign 9 3.65x
Wortley In Bramley 9 8.11x
Cardiff St John 8 9.95x
Deptford St Nicholas 8 20.90x
Droitwich St Andrew 8 172.04x
Edgbaston 8 7.24x
Farlow 8 476.19x
Morton On Swale 8 606.06x
Paddington London 8 1.54x
Solihull 8 31.23x
Upper Penn 8 66.95x
Wootton Wawen 8 71.24x
Barnsley 7 4.85x
Barony 7 0.61x
Bedwellty 7 3.88x
Belbroughton 7 73.07x
Bishopwearmouth 7 1.94x
Bury 7 3.65x
Claines 7 13.82x
Deptford St Paul 7 1.88x
Dewsbury 7 4.87x
Droitwich St Nicholas 7 102.34x
Droitwich St Peter 7 168.67x
Glasgow 7 0.86x
Harborne 7 4.58x
Kingswinford 7 4.04x
Radcliffe 7 8.66x
Stockton On Tees 7 3.45x
Strensall 7 324.07x
Whitwood 7 35.18x
Alfreton 6 8.92x
Bermondsey 6 1.43x
Bishop Wilton Cum 6 223.05x
Brightside Bierlow 6 2.18x
Droylsden 6 10.96x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 2.11x
Featherstone 6 38.14x
Ince In Makerfield 6 7.69x
Ipswich St Clement 6 13.71x
Kings Norton 6 3.62x
Leeds 6 0.76x
Longdon 6 90.77x
Rotherhithe 6 3.44x
West Bromwich 6 2.20x
Wickham Market 6 84.27x
Winshill 6 42.52x
Wrockwardine 6 22.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 99
Sarah 64
Elizabeth 54
Ann 32
Eliza 28
Annie 23
Hannah 22
Jane 22
Emma 17
Ellen 16
Martha 16
Alice 15
Margaret 14
Emily 13
Ada 11
Charlotte 11
Harriet 11
Agnes 9
Caroline 9
Catherine 8
Clara 8
Amelia 7
Florence 7
Harriett 7
Louisa 7
Lucy 7
Amy 6
Fanny 6
Maria 6
Rebecca 6
Edith 5
Frances 5
Anne 4
Esther 4
Ethel 4
Isabella 4
Rose 4
Anna 3
Gertrude 3
Kate 3
Rachel 3
Rosetta 3
Agness 2
Barbara 2
Deborah 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Margret 2
Rosamond 2
Susannah 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 103
John 98
Thomas 69
James 45
George 42
Henry 35
Joseph 28
Edward 17
Charles 16
Arthur 15
Robert 15
Frederick 14
Samuel 13
Alfred 12
Harry 9
Richard 9
Walter 8
Albert 7
Benjamin 7
David 7
Edwin 6
Chas. 5
Geo. 5
Isaac 5
Stephen 5
Frank 4
Gomer 4
Herbert 4
Mark 4
Spencer 4
Wm. 4
Christopher 3
Daniel 3
Jesse 3
Tom 3
Willm. 3
Abraham 2
Earnest 2
Edmund 2
Enoch 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Lewis 2
Luke 2
Mathew 2
Oliver 2
Percy 2
Ralph 2
Richd. 2
Wm.C. 1

FAQ

Leek surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leek surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,450 people were recorded with the Leek surname. That placed it at #2,873 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leek surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,799 in 2016. That gives Leek a modern rank of #3,513.

What does the Leek surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a leek grower, seller, or someone living near a leek field.

What does the Leek map show?

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