NameCensus.

UK surname

Leitner

A German toponymic surname indicating someone from any of several places named Leiten, derived from a word meaning "slope."

In the 1881 census there were 3 people recorded with the Leitner surname, ranking it #33,498 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 149, ranked #23,844, up from #33,498 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, Bury and Taunton Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leitner is 153 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4866.7%.

1881 census count

3

Ranked #33,498

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

2010

153 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leitner had 3 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,498 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Leitner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leitner surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Leitner 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
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1881 historical 3 #33,498
1891 historical 6 #33,800
1901 historical 13 #32,633
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 74 #30,218
1998 modern 74 #30,562
1999 modern 80 #30,152
2000 modern 74 #30,785
2001 modern 75 #30,481
2002 modern 78 #30,601
2003 modern 80 #30,425
2004 modern 93 #29,065
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 118 #25,556
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 127 #25,020
2009 modern 141 #23,907
2010 modern 153 #23,175
2011 modern 147 #23,627
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 146 #24,107
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 144 #24,369
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

Back to top

Where Leitners 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 Salford, Bury and Taunton Deane. 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 Salford 010 Salford
2 Bury 026 Bury
3 Salford 016 Salford
4 Salford 011 Salford
5 Taunton Deane 013 Taunton Deane

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Leitner

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Leitner

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Leitner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Leitner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Leitner 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

Leitner 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

Leitner falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Leitner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Leitner

The surname LEITNER originated in the German-speaking regions of central Europe, primarily in modern-day Germany and Austria. It likely emerged during the late medieval period or the Renaissance era, around the 14th to 16th centuries. The name is derived from the German word "Leiter," which means "ladder" or "stairway," suggesting a connection to an ancestor's occupation or a distinctive feature of their property or residence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the LEITNER surname can be found in the parish records of the town of Reutte in Tyrol, Austria, dating back to the late 15th century. The name also appears in various historical documents from the 16th and 17th centuries in regions such as Bavaria, Saxony, and Silesia.

Interestingly, the LEITNER surname has been linked to several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure is Johann Baptist Leitner (1755-1838), an Austrian painter and engraver renowned for his landscape and religious works. Another notable LEITNER was Karl Gottfried Leitner (1800-1890), a German author and philosopher who wrote extensively on aesthetics and art criticism.

In the 19th century, the LEITNER surname gained prominence through the efforts of Gottlieb William Leitner (1840-1899), a renowned British orientalist and educator. Born in Hungary, he made significant contributions to the study of Arabic, Persian, and Urdu languages and served as the Principal of the Government College in Lahore, British India.

Another prominent figure with the LEITNER surname was Alphons Leitner (1888-1949), an Austrian actor and film director who worked extensively in the German film industry during the early 20th century. He is known for his collaborations with renowned directors such as Fritz Lang and G.W. Pabst.

The LEITNER surname has also been associated with place names and geographic locations. For instance, the village of Leitner in Lower Austria bears a striking resemblance to the surname, suggesting a potential connection to a place of origin for some LEITNER families.

While the LEITNER name has its roots in central Europe, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the earliest and most significant historical references to the surname can be traced back to the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it originated and gained prominence over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Leitner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leitner 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. Warwickshire leads with 2 Leitners recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.14x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 2 27.14x
Middlesex 1 3.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Solihull in Warwickshire leads with 2 Leitners recorded in 1881 and an index of 4000.00x.

Place Total Index
Solihull 2 4000.00x
Harrow On The Hill 1 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Marion 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Sigmond 1
Simon 1

FAQ

Leitner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leitner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3 people were recorded with the Leitner surname. That placed it at #33,498 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leitner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Leitner a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Leitner surname mean?

A German toponymic surname indicating someone from any of several places named Leiten, derived from a word meaning "slope."

What does the Leitner map show?

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