NameCensus.

UK surname

Lehane

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Leathlobhair meaning "descendant of the half-leper".

In the 1881 census there were 40 people recorded with the Lehane surname, ranking it #28,011 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 600, ranked #8,721, up from #28,011 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Manchester and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lehane is 625 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1400.0%.

1881 census count

40

Ranked #28,011

Modern count

600

2016, ranked #8,721

Peak year

1998

625 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lehane had 40 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,011 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 600 in 2016, ranked #8,721.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 107 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Lehane surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lehane surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Lehane 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 11 #32,452
1881 historical 40 #28,011
1891 historical 69 #28,188
1901 historical 107 #21,955
1911 historical 107 #21,842
1997 modern 578 #8,362
1998 modern 625 #8,153
1999 modern 620 #8,266
2000 modern 601 #8,412
2001 modern 599 #8,310
2002 modern 591 #8,543
2003 modern 566 #8,652
2004 modern 588 #8,471
2005 modern 575 #8,523
2006 modern 591 #8,380
2007 modern 591 #8,450
2008 modern 592 #8,504
2009 modern 593 #8,672
2010 modern 601 #8,774
2011 modern 607 #8,613
2012 modern 604 #8,562
2013 modern 623 #8,492
2014 modern 613 #8,654
2015 modern 605 #8,678
2016 modern 600 #8,721

Geography

Back to top

Where Lehanes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes, Toxteth Park and Darley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Manchester, Liverpool and Camden. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Darley Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 008 Forest of Dean
2 Manchester 050 Manchester
3 Liverpool 003 Liverpool
4 Camden 010 Camden
5 Forest of Dean 010 Forest of Dean

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Lehane

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Lehane

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lehane, 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 Lehane surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Lehane 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, Lehane 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

Lehane 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

Lehane 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 Lehane is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Lehane

The surname Lehane is of Irish origin, traced back to County Cork in the southern region of Ireland. It is an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó Leidhinn, derived from the word "leidhinn" meaning "a solitary place" or "a grey plain."

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history dating back to the 11th century. The name appears in various spellings such as Ó Leidhinn, Ó Leighinn, and Ó Leightheáin.

In the 16th century, the Lehane clan held territory around the area of Kilmichael in West Cork. During this period, the name was often anglicized to Lehane or Lehane, reflecting the English influence in Ireland.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname was Conor Lehane, a 17th-century Irish poet and harper. Born around 1630, Conor Lehane composed several poems and songs that have been preserved in manuscripts from the time.

Another prominent individual was John Lehane, an Irish revolutionary and politician who lived from 1876 to 1925. He was a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood and played a significant role in the Irish War of Independence.

In the literary realm, Cornelius Lehane (1809-1849) was an Irish-American writer and poet. He is known for his work "The Poets and Poetry of Ireland," published in 1849, which contributed to the preservation of Irish literary heritage.

Denis Lehane, born in 1965, is a contemporary American author best known for his crime novels set in Boston, including "Mystic River" and "Shutter Island," both of which were adapted into successful films.

The surname Lehane has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Lehanaghmore and Lehanaghbeg, which are townlands in County Cork, reflecting the historical presence of the Lehane clan in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Lehane families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lehane 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 17 Lehanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.67x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 17 3.67x
Gloucestershire 8 10.46x
Essex 4 5.20x
Middlesex 3 0.77x
Cheshire 2 2.32x
Glamorgan 2 2.95x
Kent 2 1.50x
Monmouthshire 1 3.55x
Surrey 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. Ormskirk in Lancashire leads with 8 Lehanes recorded in 1881 and an index of 898.88x.

Place Total Index
Ormskirk 8 898.88x
Upton St Leonards 8 4210.53x
Liverpool 5 17.79x
West Ham 4 23.53x
St Marylebone London 3 14.41x
Toxteth Park 3 19.14x
Deptford St Paul 2 19.49x
Swansea Town 2 35.91x
Birkenhead 1 14.58x
Chester Castle 1 2000.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 13.61x
Mynyddyslwyn 1 90.09x
Tooting Graveney 1 188.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Daniel 4
Michael 3
Cornelius 2
Patrick 2
Timothy 2
Andrew 1
Charles 1
Danl. 1
Dennis 1
Frank 1
James 1
John 1
Owen 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Lehane surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lehane surname in 1881?

In 1881, 40 people were recorded with the Lehane surname. That placed it at #28,011 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lehane surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 600 in 2016. That gives Lehane a modern rank of #8,721.

What does the Lehane surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic Ó Leathlobhair meaning "descendant of the half-leper".

What does the Lehane map show?

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