NameCensus.

UK surname

Leen

A surname originating from the Dutch word meaning "linen" or "flax."

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Leen surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 157, ranked #23,006, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Middlesbrough and The Vale of Glamorgan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leen is 160 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1644.4%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

157

2016, ranked #23,006

Peak year

2015

160 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leen had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016, ranked #23,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 76 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Leen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leen 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 76 #24,114
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1891 historical 43 #30,933
1901 historical 22 #31,562
1911 historical 26 #30,547
1997 modern 140 #22,031
1998 modern 152 #21,481
1999 modern 152 #21,636
2000 modern 149 #21,874
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 148 #22,087
2003 modern 145 #22,172
2004 modern 151 #21,720
2005 modern 148 #21,961
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 149 #22,318
2008 modern 151 #22,323
2009 modern 147 #23,248
2010 modern 153 #23,175
2011 modern 140 #24,395
2012 modern 149 #23,372
2013 modern 156 #23,004
2014 modern 158 #23,022
2015 modern 160 #22,701
2016 modern 157 #23,006

Geography

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Where Leens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Middlesbrough and The Vale of Glamorgan. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Middlesbrough 006 Middlesbrough
2 Middlesbrough 018 Middlesbrough
3 Middlesbrough 004 Middlesbrough
4 The Vale of Glamorgan 005 Vale of Glamorgan
5 Middlesbrough 007 Middlesbrough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leen

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Leen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Leen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Leen is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Leen is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leen falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Leen 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Leen

The surname LEEN has its origins in the Netherlands, where it first emerged in the late medieval period around the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Dutch word "leen," which means "fief" or "feudal estate." This suggests that the name may have been originally borne by individuals who held land or property under a feudal lord.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname LEEN can be found in the Dutch city of Leiden, where a certain Jacob Leen was listed in tax records from the year 1390. The name also appears in the archives of the city of Delft, with a Willem van der Leen mentioned in a document dated 1428.

In the 15th century, the LEEN surname began to spread to other parts of the Netherlands and neighboring regions. A notable bearer of the name was Jan Leen, a merchant from Antwerp who was involved in the lucrative wool trade and lived between 1440 and 1502.

During the 16th century, the LEEN name gained prominence in Holland, with several individuals of this surname holding positions of importance. One such individual was Pieter Leen, who served as a city councilor in Amsterdam from 1562 to 1584.

As the Dutch colonial empire expanded in the 17th and 18th centuries, the LEEN surname also found its way to other parts of the world. One notable figure was Dirk Leen, a Dutch explorer and navigator who was born in Leiden in 1620 and sailed to the East Indies, where he charted numerous islands and coastal regions.

Another prominent bearer of the LEEN surname was Johannes Leen, a Dutch theologian and philosopher who lived from 1686 to 1748. He was a professor at the University of Leiden and wrote extensively on topics such as natural theology and the relationship between reason and faith.

In the 19th century, the LEEN surname continued to be well-established in the Netherlands, with several individuals achieving notable accomplishments. One such figure was Willem Leen, a Dutch painter and illustrator who was born in The Hague in 1825 and gained recognition for his landscapes and genre scenes.

As the LEEN surname spread across Europe and beyond, it also underwent various spelling variations, such as Lene, Leene, and Leenen. However, the core meaning and origins of the name remained rooted in the Dutch concept of a feudal estate or landholding.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leen 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. Middlesex leads with 3 Leens recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.41x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 3 4.41x
Northumberland 2 19.74x
Nottinghamshire 2 21.81x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Longbenton in Northumberland leads with 2 Leens recorded in 1881 and an index of 465.12x.

Place Total Index
Longbenton 2 465.12x
Nottingham St Mary 2 84.39x
Bethnal Green London 1 33.78x
Kensington London 1 26.46x
St Luke London 1 91.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 1
Cornelius 1
Edmond 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Leen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Leen surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016. That gives Leen a modern rank of #23,006.

What does the Leen surname mean?

A surname originating from the Dutch word meaning "linen" or "flax."

What does the Leen map show?

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