NameCensus.

UK surname

Leitch

Derived from a Gaelic nickname meaning "physician" or "healer," likely referring to an ancestor's occupation.

In the 1881 census there were 2,875 people recorded with the Leitch surname, ranking it #1,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,474, ranked #1,950, down from #1,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to South Knapdale, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Auchinleck, Renfrew West and Fauldhouse.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leitch is 3,474 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.8%.

1881 census count

2,875

Ranked #1,561

Modern count

3,474

2016, ranked #1,950

Peak year

2016

3,474 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leitch had 2,875 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,474 in 2016, ranked #1,950.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,354 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Leitch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leitch surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Leitch 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 2,091 #1,392
1861 historical 2,225 #1,325
1881 historical 2,875 #1,561
1891 historical 3,079 #1,529
1901 historical 3,354 #1,660
1911 historical 500 #7,831
1997 modern 3,300 #1,952
1998 modern 3,436 #1,946
1999 modern 3,429 #1,979
2000 modern 3,445 #1,962
2001 modern 3,352 #1,971
2002 modern 3,454 #1,958
2003 modern 3,365 #1,966
2004 modern 3,329 #1,988
2005 modern 3,334 #1,958
2006 modern 3,297 #1,987
2007 modern 3,307 #2,004
2008 modern 3,327 #2,008
2009 modern 3,383 #2,029
2010 modern 3,417 #2,041
2011 modern 3,446 #1,997
2012 modern 3,333 #2,021
2013 modern 3,399 #2,019
2014 modern 3,460 #1,992
2015 modern 3,458 #1,975
2016 modern 3,474 #1,950

Geography

Back to top

Where Leitchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around South Knapdale, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Auchinleck, Renfrew West, Fauldhouse, Paisley Glenburn West and Paisley Gallowhill and Hillington. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 South Knapdale Argyll
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Auchinleck East Ayrshire
2 Renfrew West Renfrewshire
3 Fauldhouse West Lothian
4 Paisley Glenburn West Renfrewshire
5 Paisley Gallowhill and Hillington Renfrewshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Leitch

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Leitch

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Leitch surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Leitch household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Leitch is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Leitch is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leitch 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 Leitch is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Leitch

The surname Leitch is of Scottish origin, originating from the ancient Gaelic language spoken in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic word "leitir," meaning a slope or hillside, indicating that the name was likely given to families living on or near a slope or hillside.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in various spellings, such as Leytch, Leitche, and Leitch, in various historical records and documents from the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Leitch was John Leitch, who was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1329. Another notable figure was Sir Robert Leitch, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century.

The name Leitch has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history, including James Leitch (1808-1870), a Scottish architect who designed several prominent buildings in Glasgow, and William Leitch (1804-1890), a Scottish-born Australian explorer and surveyor who played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of Western Australia.

Another notable figure was John Leitch (1817-1888), a Scottish minister and author who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1886. In more recent times, David Leitch (born 1975) is a renowned stunt performer, actor, and film director, known for his work on films such as "Deadpool 2" and "Atomic Blonde."

The surname Leitch has also been linked to various place names in Scotland, such as Leitchtown, a village in Moray, and Leitchriggs, a farm near Dumfries. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and the Gaelic word "leitir," suggesting that the name was likely derived from families living in or near these locations.

While the surname Leitch may not be as widely known as some other Scottish surnames, it has a rich history and connections to various areas of Scotland, with its origins tracing back to the ancient Gaelic language and the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Leitch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leitch 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. Lanarkshire leads with 616 Leitchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.83x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 616 6.83x
Renfrewshire 366 16.95x
Argyllshire 266 34.29x
Fife 260 15.76x
Midlothian 218 5.84x
Angus 104 4.03x
Caithness 91 23.85x
Ayrshire 77 3.69x
Stirlingshire 77 7.49x
Dunbartonshire 62 8.28x
Selkirkshire 62 24.59x
Berwickshire 58 17.19x
Buteshire 56 33.16x
Lancashire 54 0.16x
Middlesex 47 0.17x
Northumberland 42 1.01x
Perthshire 37 2.96x
Ross-shire 31 4.05x
Roxburghshire 30 5.94x
Durham 28 0.34x
Kent 27 0.28x
Cheshire 24 0.39x
Inverness-shire 22 2.64x
West Lothian 22 5.24x
Aberdeenshire 21 0.81x
Morayshire 14 3.23x
Banffshire 13 2.25x
Surrey 13 0.10x
Yorkshire 12 0.04x
Cumberland 9 0.38x
Dumfriesshire 8 1.30x
East Lothian 8 2.17x
Orkney 8 2.61x
Shetland 8 2.81x
Gloucestershire 7 0.13x
Hampshire 7 0.12x
Peeblesshire 7 5.34x
Essex 6 0.11x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 1.49x
Kinross-shire 4 5.68x
Royal Navy 4 1.20x
Clackmannanshire 3 1.30x
Derbyshire 3 0.07x
Glamorgan 3 0.06x
Wiltshire 3 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.11x
Dorset 2 0.11x
Kincardineshire 2 0.59x
Devon 1 0.02x
Isle of Man 1 0.19x
Nairnshire 1 1.18x
Northamptonshire 1 0.04x
Sussex 1 0.02x
Warwickshire 1 0.01x
Wigtownshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 190 Leitchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.33x.

Place Total Index
Barony 190 8.33x
Govan 175 7.85x
Glasgow 128 8.00x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 98 6.52x
Paisley High Church 72 41.87x
Knapdale South 64 240.15x
West Greenock 61 15.74x
Galashiels 47 50.42x
East Greenock 45 22.06x
Dunfermline 44 17.34x
Dundee 41 4.25x
Glassary 36 86.15x
Abbey 32 9.71x
Wick 32 25.96x
Neilston 31 28.59x
Rothesay 31 37.91x
Old Monkland 29 8.11x
Bower 27 175.67x
Kirkcaldy 27 33.00x
South Leith 27 6.43x
Middle Greenock 26 44.11x
Abbotshall 24 38.93x
Ardrossan 23 31.86x
Paisley Middle Church 23 18.29x
Rutherglen 21 15.88x
Inverkip 20 39.29x
Wemyss 20 28.65x
Lee 19 13.76x
St Vigeans 19 13.63x
Liff Benvie 18 4.59x
Falkirk 17 7.07x
Kilbarchan 17 25.91x
Maryhill 17 9.64x
Stirling 17 13.12x
Avoch 15 92.82x
Inveresk 15 14.84x
New Kilpatrick 15 21.06x
Aberdeen Old Machar 14 2.60x
East Kilbride 14 36.27x
Kilmartin 14 182.29x
Kirkintilloch 14 13.76x
Liverpool 14 0.70x
St Ninians 14 13.74x
Cupar 13 18.12x
Dunse 13 40.61x
Falkland 13 50.10x
Kilbride 13 62.50x
Kilmore Kilbride 13 26.40x
Kinghorn 13 37.12x
Knapdale North 13 147.23x
Strachur Stralachlan 13 202.81x
Bothwell 12 4.91x
Lasswade 12 14.06x
Melrose 12 18.91x
Olrig 12 62.96x
Stevenston 12 22.07x
Urray 12 50.51x
Burntisland 11 23.85x
Cardross 11 12.23x
Everton 11 1.04x
Hamilton 11 4.38x
Jedburgh 11 22.24x
North Leith 11 6.37x
Dysart 10 9.00x
Glenorchy Inishail 10 111.61x
Inverness 10 4.78x
Kilcalmonell 10 56.95x
Kilcalmonell Kilberry 10 227.79x
Monimail 10 123.76x
Morebattle 10 103.63x
Paisley Low Church 10 14.63x
Aberdour 9 54.15x
Beath 9 17.26x
Forgan 9 28.47x
Forres 9 19.78x
Hackney London 9 0.58x
Kirkdale 9 1.62x
Roseneath 9 62.63x
Thurso 9 15.12x
Willesden 8 3.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 11
Jane 10
Agnes 7
Ann 6
Margaret 6
Sarah 6
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Christina 3
Edith 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Isabella 3
Janet 3
Jessie 3
Amy 2
Barbara 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Marion 2
Maud 2
May 2
Rosamond 2
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Bridget 1
Bunda 1
C.Ellen 1
Clarissa 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Isabelle 1
Jeannie 1
Jennet 1
Joanna 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lilian 1
Lotty 1
Lydia 1
M.A.E. 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 19
Robert 10
James 9
Thomas 9
George 8
Andrew 7
Richard 6
Alexander 4
Henry 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
David 2
Douglas 2
Edward 2
Malcolm 2
Matthew 2
Neil 2
Samuel 2
Alex. 1
Archibald 1
Archibold 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
Donald 1
E.W. 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
M.H.J. 1
Mary 1
Peter 1
Quinton 1
Saml. 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Leitch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leitch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,875 people were recorded with the Leitch surname. That placed it at #1,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leitch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,474 in 2016. That gives Leitch a modern rank of #1,950.

What does the Leitch surname mean?

Derived from a Gaelic nickname meaning "physician" or "healer," likely referring to an ancestor's occupation.

What does the Leitch map show?

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