NameCensus.

UK surname

Leeks

A name derived from the veggie of the same name, likely given as an occupational surname to a gardener, farmer or seller of leeks.

In the 1881 census there were 396 people recorded with the Leeks surname, ranking it #8,024 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 724, ranked #7,505, up from #8,024 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Brent Eleigh, London parishes and Hintlesham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Babergh and Ipswich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leeks is 793 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.8%.

1881 census count

396

Ranked #8,024

Modern count

724

2016, ranked #7,505

Peak year

2002

793 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leeks had 396 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,024 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 724 in 2016, ranked #7,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 623 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Leeks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leeks surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leeks 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 218 #9,754
1861 historical 236 #10,393
1881 historical 396 #8,024
1891 historical 482 #7,652
1901 historical 567 #7,374
1911 historical 623 #6,640
1997 modern 757 #6,829
1998 modern 786 #6,855
1999 modern 783 #6,918
2000 modern 783 #6,891
2001 modern 778 #6,788
2002 modern 793 #6,825
2003 modern 766 #6,894
2004 modern 773 #6,861
2005 modern 748 #6,975
2006 modern 736 #7,092
2007 modern 736 #7,168
2008 modern 727 #7,274
2009 modern 726 #7,418
2010 modern 724 #7,587
2011 modern 711 #7,606
2012 modern 731 #7,372
2013 modern 729 #7,497
2014 modern 729 #7,543
2015 modern 730 #7,482
2016 modern 724 #7,505

Geography

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Where Leeks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Brent Eleigh, London parishes, Hintlesham, Great Waldingfield, Acton and Diss. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Babergh and Ipswich. 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 Brent Eleigh Suffolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Hintlesham Suffolk
4 Great Waldingfield, Acton Suffolk
5 Diss Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Babergh 004 Babergh
2 Babergh 006 Babergh
3 Ipswich 001 Ipswich
4 Babergh 009 Babergh
5 Ipswich 003 Ipswich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leeks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leeks

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Leeks is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Leeks is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leeks falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Leeks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Leeks

The surname LEEKS has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "leac," which means "leek" or "herb." This suggests that the name may have been initially adopted as a nickname for someone who grew or sold leeks, or perhaps lived near a place where leeks were cultivated.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LEEKS can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Lecche," which is likely an early spelling variation.

During the 13th century, the surname LEEKS appeared in various records and documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as "Leke." This spelling variation is thought to be derived from the Old French word "lesque," which also means "leek."

In the 14th century, the name LEEKS was associated with several notable individuals. One of them was John Leeke, a member of the English Parliament who represented Cambridgeshire in 1341. Another was William Leeke, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in Nottinghamshire during the late 14th century.

The 16th century saw the rise of a distinguished family by the name of LEEKS in Derbyshire. Sir Francis Leeke (1513-1584) was a prominent figure during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies, including Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the name LEEKS was Sir John Leke (1602-1670), a Royalist soldier and politician who fought for King Charles I during the English Civil War. He was knighted for his loyalty to the Crown and later served as a Member of Parliament after the Restoration.

Another prominent figure with the surname LEEKS was Samuel Leeke (1652-1701), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Norfolk and wrote several religious works, including "A Defence of the Reasonableness of Christian Religion."

Throughout the centuries, the surname LEEKS has been associated with various place names and locations in England, such as Leek in Staffordshire, Leek Wootton in Warwickshire, and Leeke's Park in Nottinghamshire. These places may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leeks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leeks 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. Suffolk leads with 189 Leeks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.17x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 189 40.17x
Surrey 53 2.82x
Middlesex 35 0.91x
Essex 34 4.46x
Kent 24 1.82x
Norfolk 23 3.87x
Yorkshire 10 0.26x
Lancashire 8 0.17x
Sussex 7 1.07x
Glamorgan 4 0.59x
Warwickshire 3 0.31x
Cheshire 2 0.23x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.41x
Channel Islands 1 0.87x
Durham 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Waldingfield in Suffolk leads with 27 Leeks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3461.54x.

Place Total Index
Great Waldingfield 27 3461.54x
Croydon 25 23.93x
Hintlesham 25 3333.33x
Long Melford 22 503.43x
Diss 21 412.57x
Aldham 17 5483.87x
Brent Eleigh 13 4333.33x
Lambeth 11 3.27x
Buxhall 9 1428.57x
Clerkenwell London 8 8.77x
Glemsford 8 242.42x
Lewisham 8 11.38x
Milton In Gravesend 7 35.43x
Oldham 7 4.73x
Wherstead 7 2000.00x
Boxted 6 550.46x
Capel St Mary 6 789.47x
Dovercourt 6 223.88x
Skelton In Guisbrough 6 57.97x
St Botolph Aldgate London 6 75.47x
Wanstead 6 44.94x
West Ham 6 3.56x
Chelmondiston 5 438.60x
Deptford St Paul 5 4.92x
Hadleigh 5 109.65x
Islington London 5 1.34x
St George Hanover Square 5 7.35x
Vange 5 2380.95x
Brotton 4 80.00x
Camberwell 4 1.62x
Elmsett 4 701.75x
Little Waldingfield 4 727.27x
Llanwonno 4 16.55x
Richmond 4 15.16x
Shoreditch London 4 2.39x
Stoke By Nayland 4 263.16x
Beddington 3 41.21x
Birmingham 3 0.92x
Brighton 3 2.28x
Hackney London 3 1.39x
Holbrook 3 291.26x
Mildenhall 3 60.00x
Rattlesden 3 217.39x
Washbrook 3 652.17x
Birkenhead 2 2.94x
Chattisham 2 689.66x
East Bergholt 2 127.39x
Great Bradley 2 416.67x
Hove 2 7.00x
North Shoebury 2 769.23x
Penge 2 8.10x
Sudbury St Gregory 2 53.05x
Sudbury St Peter 2 77.52x
Wimbledon 2 9.47x
Brenchley 1 21.19x
Chelsea London 1 0.86x
Clapham 1 2.07x
Colchester St Mary At 1 37.04x
Ditchling 1 56.50x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 7.84x
Exning 1 42.19x
Gravesend 1 8.96x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.03x
Guildford Holy Trinity 1 27.86x
Hampstead London 1 1.66x
Ipswich St Lawrence 1 156.25x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 6.26x
Lakenham 1 11.85x
Lavenham 1 40.65x
Lenton 1 8.16x
Liverpool 1 0.36x
Lowestoft 1 4.50x
Mayland 1 303.03x
Monks Eleigh 1 131.58x
Pelton 1 18.28x
St Helier 1 2.68x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.32x
St Pancras London 1 0.32x
Stowmarket 1 18.38x
Tattingstone 1 136.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Sarah 12
Alice 9
Eliza 8
Ellen 8
Emily 7
Elizabeth 6
Emma 6
Harriet 6
Louisa 6
Ann 5
Caroline 5
Hannah 5
Jane 5
Rebecca 5
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Annie 3
Beatrice 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Frances 3
Jessie 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Matilda 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Eleanor 2
Florence 2
L. 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Miriam 2
Rachael 2
Selina 2
Susannah 2
W. 2
Amy 1
Bessie 1
Blanch 1
C.A. 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Flossy 1
Kate 1
L.H. 1
Llewellyn 1
Louise 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
Henry 17
John 14
George 13
Frederick 9
Walter 9
Alfred 8
James 8
Arthur 7
Benjamin 5
Thomas 5
Amos 4
Charles 4
Harry 4
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Abraham 2
Edward 2
Frederic 2
Fredrick 2
Mark 2
Samuel 2
W. 2
Albert 1
Alf.J. 1
Augustus 1
Basil 1
David 1
Davis 1
Edgar 1
Edwd. 1
Elijah 1
F. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.G. 1
Fredrc. 1
G.O. 1
Geo. 1
Hardy 1
Horace 1
Job 1
Louis 1
Marks 1
Sidney 1
Solomon 1
Spencer 1
Step. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Leeks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leeks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 396 people were recorded with the Leeks surname. That placed it at #8,024 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leeks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 724 in 2016. That gives Leeks a modern rank of #7,505.

What does the Leeks surname mean?

A name derived from the veggie of the same name, likely given as an occupational surname to a gardener, farmer or seller of leeks.

What does the Leeks map show?

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