NameCensus.

UK surname

Leitao

A surname Portuguese in origin meaning a piglet or suckling pig.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Watford, Croydon and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leitao is 210 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

210

2016, ranked #18,965

Peak year

2016

210 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016, ranked #18,965.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Leitao surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leitao surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leitao 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
1997 modern 72 #30,415
1998 modern 89 #29,026
1999 modern 94 #28,593
2000 modern 90 #29,068
2001 modern 92 #28,528
2002 modern 102 #27,596
2003 modern 107 #26,617
2004 modern 113 #25,999
2005 modern 129 #23,963
2006 modern 124 #24,750
2007 modern 138 #23,478
2008 modern 149 #22,530
2009 modern 155 #22,438
2010 modern 166 #21,941
2011 modern 166 #21,745
2012 modern 178 #20,758
2013 modern 176 #21,237
2014 modern 184 #20,809
2015 modern 192 #20,138
2016 modern 210 #18,965

Geography

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Where Leitaos 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 Watford, Croydon, Brent, Ealing and Kingston upon Thames. 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 Watford 010 Watford
2 Croydon 014 Croydon
3 Brent 021 Brent
4 Ealing 037 Ealing
5 Kingston upon Thames 020 Kingston upon Thames

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leitao

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leitao

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Leitao surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Leitao 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Leitao is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Leitao 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

Leitao falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Leitao 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Leitao

The surname Leitao has its origins in Portugal, where it first appeared in the late medieval period. Derived from the Portuguese word "leitão," meaning "piglet" or "young pig," the name likely referred to an occupation or nickname relating to the raising or selling of pigs.

In the 14th century, the Leitao surname can be found in records from the northern Portuguese regions of Minho and Douro Litoral, suggesting its early prevalence in these areas. Some variations in spelling, such as Leytão and Leytam, were also common during this time.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Leitao name is in the "Livro Velho de Linhagens" (Old Book of Lineages), a Portuguese genealogical manuscript from the late 13th century. This text references a nobleman named Gonçalo Leitão, who lived during the reign of King Afonso III (1248-1279).

In the 15th century, the Leitao surname gained prominence with the birth of Pedro Leitão (1430-1490), a renowned Portuguese poet and humanist scholar. His works, including the poetry collection "Cancioneiro Geral," were influential during the early Renaissance period.

Another notable figure was Fernão Leitão (1520-1585), a Portuguese explorer and navigator who accompanied the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on his expeditions to Peru in the 1530s. Leitão played a crucial role in the conquest of the Inca Empire and later served as a governor in various South American regions.

The 17th century saw the birth of Miguel Leitão de Andrada (1629-1694), a prominent Portuguese Jesuit priest and theologian. His works, such as "Itinerario Paradoxal" and "Miscelânea Predicável," were widely read and influential in religious and literary circles of the time.

In the realm of arts, Manuel Leitão (1705-1766) was a celebrated Portuguese painter and architect. His works adorned many churches and palaces in Portugal, including the iconic Águas Livres Aqueduct in Lisbon, which he helped design.

The Leitao name continued to spread throughout the Portuguese-speaking world, with notable individuals like José Leitão de Barros (1896-1967), a Brazilian poet and journalist who played a significant role in the Brazilian Modernist movement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Leitao surname: questions and answers

How common is the Leitao surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016. That gives Leitao a modern rank of #18,965.

What does the Leitao surname mean?

A surname Portuguese in origin meaning a piglet or suckling pig.

What does the Leitao map show?

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