UK surname
A German surname, likely derived from the German word "Leiche" meaning corpse or body.
In the 1881 census there were 99 people recorded with the Leich surname, ranking it #19,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #19,877 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bebbington, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leich is 169 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.8%.
1881 census count
99
Ranked #19,877
Modern count
23
2016, ranked #36,457
Peak year
1861
169 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Leich surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Leich surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 116 | #15,545 |
| 1861 | historical | 169 | #13,823 |
| 1881 | historical | 99 | #19,877 |
| 1891 | historical | 166 | #17,077 |
| 1901 | historical | 86 | #24,508 |
| 1911 | historical | 45 | #28,332 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 12 | #36,612 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 14 | #36,801 |
| 2007 | modern | 15 | #36,793 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 19 | #36,687 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 22 | #36,477 |
| 2014 | modern | 22 | #36,496 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 23 | #36,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bebbington, St Pancras, Manchester, Glasgow and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bebbington | Cheshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Leich surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Leich, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Leich surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Leich household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Leich is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Leich is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Leich, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Leich is of German origin, deriving from the Old German word "leich," meaning "corpse" or "dead body." This name likely originated during the Middle Ages, between the 5th and 15th centuries, when surnames began to be adopted in German-speaking regions.
One possible explanation for the origin of the name is that it may have been an occupational surname given to individuals involved in the handling or burial of the deceased, such as gravediggers, undertakers, or morticians. Alternatively, it could have been a descriptive surname referring to someone who had a pale or deathly appearance.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Leich can be traced back to the 13th century. In 1280, a certain Henricus dictus Leich (Henry called Leich) is mentioned in a document from the city of Cologne. This suggests that the name was already in use as a surname or a descriptive byname during this period.
Another notable early bearer of the surname was Johann Leich, a German theologian and reformer who lived from 1480 to 1548. He was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and played a role in the spread of Lutheran teachings in Germany.
In the 16th century, the variant spelling "Leiche" is found in records from the town of Plauen, located in what is now the state of Saxony. This may have been an alternative spelling or a different regional pronunciation of the same surname.
During the 17th century, the Leich surname appeared in various parts of Germany, including the regions of Bavaria and Württemberg. One notable individual from this period was Georg Leich (1605-1679), a German composer and organist who was active in the city of Lübeck.
In the 18th century, the surname Leich was also present in other German-speaking areas, such as Austria and Switzerland. For example, Johann Michael Leich (1729-1806) was a Swiss painter and etcher who worked in the Baroque and Rococo styles.
As the centuries passed, the surname Leich spread to other parts of Europe and eventually to other continents through migration and immigration. While the name may have evolved into different spellings or variants over time, its origins can be traced back to the German regions and the Old German word "leich."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leich surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 18 Leichs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.57x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 18 | 1.57x |
| Cheshire | 16 | 7.51x |
| Surrey | 9 | 1.91x |
| Derbyshire | 8 | 5.29x |
| Durham | 7 | 2.44x |
| Leicestershire | 7 | 6.54x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.73x |
| Hampshire | 6 | 3.03x |
| Suffolk | 6 | 5.10x |
| Lanarkshire | 4 | 1.28x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.42x |
| Dunbartonshire | 2 | 7.71x |
| Fife | 2 | 3.50x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 1.38x |
| East Lothian | 1 | 7.82x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 2.81x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Derby St Alkmund in Derbyshire leads with 8 Leichs recorded in 1881 and an index of 176.60x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derby St Alkmund | 8 | 176.60x |
| Leftwich | 8 | 842.11x |
| Oldham | 8 | 21.63x |
| Sutton | 8 | 235.29x |
| Ashby De La Zouch | 7 | 282.26x |
| Cheetham | 7 | 81.87x |
| Bury St Edmunds St James | 6 | 191.08x |
| Dukinfield | 6 | 60.91x |
| Portsea | 6 | 15.47x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 4 | 16.22x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 3 | 24.12x |
| Clerkenwell London | 2 | 8.78x |
| Cupar | 2 | 80.32x |
| Govan | 2 | 2.59x |
| Row | 2 | 59.52x |
| Sculcoates | 2 | 13.18x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.57x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 5.15x |
| Airth | 1 | 222.22x |
| Biggar | 1 | 140.85x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 1 | 5.33x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 3.44x |
| Haddington | 1 | 52.91x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 6.65x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 4.35x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.07x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.19x |
| Largs | 1 | 58.82x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.44x |
| Macclesfield | 1 | 10.56x |
| Old Monkland | 1 | 8.07x |
| Timperley | 1 | 135.14x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Leich surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Leich surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 99 people were recorded with the Leich surname. That placed it at #19,877 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Leich a modern rank of #36,457.
A German surname, likely derived from the German word "Leiche" meaning corpse or body.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Leich bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.