NameCensus.

UK surname

Leo

A surname of Italian origin, derived from the Latin word for "lion," referring to a brave or fierce person.

In the 1881 census there were 140 people recorded with the Leo surname, ranking it #16,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 711, ranked #7,621, up from #16,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Clee and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wolverhampton and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leo is 711 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 407.9%.

1881 census count

140

Ranked #16,151

Modern count

711

2016, ranked #7,621

Peak year

2016

711 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leo had 140 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 711 in 2016, ranked #7,621.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 140 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Leo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leo surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leo 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 100 #17,164
1881 historical 140 #16,151
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1997 modern 438 #10,282
1998 modern 456 #10,295
1999 modern 461 #10,272
2000 modern 474 #10,029
2001 modern 467 #9,965
2002 modern 497 #9,684
2003 modern 496 #9,540
2004 modern 517 #9,288
2005 modern 544 #8,859
2006 modern 527 #9,106
2007 modern 554 #8,854
2008 modern 550 #8,965
2009 modern 572 #8,901
2010 modern 615 #8,626
2011 modern 601 #8,682
2012 modern 614 #8,453
2013 modern 659 #8,125
2014 modern 686 #7,905
2015 modern 701 #7,703
2016 modern 711 #7,621

Geography

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Where Leos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Clee, London parishes, Chesterfield and Windlesham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wolverhampton and Brent. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Clee Lincolnshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Chesterfield Derbyshire
5 Windlesham Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wolverhampton 004 Wolverhampton
2 Wolverhampton 015 Wolverhampton
3 Wolverhampton 008 Wolverhampton
4 Brent 028 Brent
5 Brent 031 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leo

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Leo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Leo household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Leo 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

Leo 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

Leo 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 Leo 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 Leo, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Leo

The surname Leo is of Italian origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "leo," meaning "lion." The name was likely initially given as a nickname to someone who possessed lion-like qualities, such as strength, courage, or a fierce appearance.

In Italy, the name Leo was particularly common in regions like Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in medieval documents and records from these areas, dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Leo surname was Ser Pietro Leo, a notary from Perugia, who was mentioned in a document dated 1270. Another notable figure was Jacopo Leo, a Florentine merchant and banker who lived in the 14th century.

The Leo surname also appears in historical records outside of Italy. In England, for instance, the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript documenting landowners in 1086. This suggests that there may have been Italian or Norman settlers bearing the name who arrived in England following the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Over the centuries, the Leo surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the most famous was Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), the renowned Italian polymath and artist whose full name was Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci. Another prominent figure was Leonetto Leo (1675-1744), an Italian composer and violinist from Naples.

Other individuals of historical significance with the Leo surname include:

1. Enrico Leo (1835-1878), an Italian mathematician and engineer. 2. Ulrich Leo (1472-1518), a German humanist scholar and educator. 3. Gaspare Leo (1550-1618), an Italian historian and author from Caserta. 4. Giulio Leo (1524-1591), an Italian Catholic bishop and diplomat. 5. Leopoldo Leo (1865-1935), an Italian composer and pianist from Naples.

The Leo surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Italy, such as Leonessa, a town in the province of Rieti, and Leognano, a village in the province of Parma.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leo 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. Surrey leads with 29 Leos recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.42x.

County Total Index
Surrey 29 4.42x
Middlesex 24 1.78x
Lancashire 23 1.44x
Yorkshire 9 0.67x
Derbyshire 8 3.80x
Lincolnshire 7 3.25x
Durham 5 1.25x
Hampshire 5 1.81x
Kent 5 1.09x
Essex 3 1.13x
Gloucestershire 3 1.14x
Buckinghamshire 2 2.46x
Cheshire 2 0.67x
Devon 2 0.71x
Flintshire 2 5.53x
Northumberland 2 1.00x
Royal Navy 2 12.47x
Warwickshire 2 0.59x
Cumberland 1 0.86x
Norfolk 1 0.48x
Worcestershire 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Windlesham in Surrey leads with 13 Leos recorded in 1881 and an index of 1056.91x.

Place Total Index
Windlesham 13 1056.91x
Chesterfield 8 101.27x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 7 144.63x
Camberwell 6 6.98x
Pilsworth 6 1714.29x
St Pancras London 6 5.54x
Didsbury 5 235.85x
Great Grimsby 5 36.60x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 28.82x
Islington London 5 3.83x
Wandsworth 5 38.58x
Portsea 4 7.40x
St Bride London 4 512.82x
Walton On Hill 4 46.24x
Gillingham 3 31.68x
Hammersmith London 3 9.05x
Hulme 3 9.00x
Newington 3 6.03x
Aylesbury 2 55.40x
Birmingham 2 1.77x
Boston 2 30.63x
Gloucester Longford St 2 555.56x
Rhuddlan 2 62.70x
Royal Navy 2 14.59x
Rusholme 2 46.95x
Shadwell London 2 53.05x
Thornton In Bradford 2 45.05x
West Thurrock 2 227.27x
Bristol St Augustine 1 23.47x
Croydon 1 2.75x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.82x
Ermington 1 98.04x
Everton 1 1.96x
Ewart 1 3333.33x
Great Parndon 1 434.78x
Hackney London 1 1.33x
Halesowen 1 64.94x
Kensington London 1 1.34x
Liscard 1 18.69x
Liverpool 1 1.03x
Maidstone 1 7.31x
Millom 1 28.17x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 9.63x
Norwich St James 1 61.73x
Penge 1 11.63x
St George Hanover Square 1 4.22x
St Marylebone London 1 1.39x
St Thomas Winchester 1 51.28x
Stockport 1 6.54x
Tormoham 1 8.43x
Toxteth Park 1 1.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 5
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Amelia 2
Bridget 2
Clara 2
Lucy 2
Sarah 2
Abigail 1
Ada 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Fredrica 1
Georgina 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Hart 1
Helene 1
Isabella 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Lewisa 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Melinda 1
Racheal 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
James 5
William 5
Joseph 4
Thomas 4
Charles 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Ansel 1
Benj. 1
Ellarth 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
George 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Hermann 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
Jaines 1
Martin 1
Max. 1
Necholas 1
Nicholas 1
Ole 1
Pakiah 1
Paul 1
Phillip 1
Samuel 1
Timothy 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Leo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 140 people were recorded with the Leo surname. That placed it at #16,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 711 in 2016. That gives Leo a modern rank of #7,621.

What does the Leo surname mean?

A surname of Italian origin, derived from the Latin word for "lion," referring to a brave or fierce person.

What does the Leo map show?

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