UK surname
A surname derived from a nickname for a fierce or cunning person, or one with spotted clothing.
In the 1881 census there were 136 people recorded with the Leopard surname, ranking it #16,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 56, ranked #34,562, down from #16,433 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hurstpierpoint, London parishes and Wandsworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leopard is 138 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 58.8%.
1881 census count
136
Ranked #16,433
Modern count
56
2016, ranked #34,562
Peak year
1851
138 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Leopard surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Leopard surname density by area, 1881 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 | 138 | #13,745 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 136 | #16,433 |
| 1891 | historical | 110 | #22,557 |
| 1901 | historical | 124 | #20,163 |
| 1911 | historical | 119 | #20,535 |
| 1997 | modern | 70 | #30,618 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 68 | #31,311 |
| 2000 | modern | 57 | #32,417 |
| 2001 | modern | 56 | #32,379 |
| 2002 | modern | 54 | #32,927 |
| 2003 | modern | 55 | #32,895 |
| 2004 | modern | 60 | #32,684 |
| 2005 | modern | 59 | #33,008 |
| 2006 | modern | 57 | #33,513 |
| 2007 | modern | 59 | #33,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 58 | #33,918 |
| 2009 | modern | 56 | #34,278 |
| 2010 | modern | 62 | #34,069 |
| 2011 | modern | 60 | #34,202 |
| 2012 | modern | 55 | #34,565 |
| 2013 | modern | 61 | #34,317 |
| 2014 | modern | 59 | #34,459 |
| 2015 | modern | 61 | #34,284 |
| 2016 | modern | 56 | #34,562 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hurstpierpoint, London parishes, Wandsworth and Hoathly, West. 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 | Hurstpierpoint | Sussex |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Wandsworth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Hoathly, West | Sussex |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Leopard 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 Leopard, 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 Leopard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Leopard 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, Leopard 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 Leopard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Leopard, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Leopard originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word 'leó-pard', meaning 'lion-panther'. This name likely referred to someone with a fierce or brave nature, similar to the qualities of these wild animals.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Leopard surname appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which lists a Robert Lepard residing in Oxfordshire. The name crops up again in the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 for Yorkshire, mentioning a John Leopard.
During the 15th century, variations in spelling emerged, such as Leppard and Leoppard. These alternative spellings can be found in various historical documents, including parish records and court rolls from counties like Norfolk, Surrey, and Wiltshire.
The Leopard name is also associated with several places in England. For instance, there is a village called Leopard's Hill in Berkshire, which may have taken its name from an early landholder with the surname. Additionally, the Leicestershire town of Lubbenham was once known as 'Lepordesham' in the Domesday Book of 1086, potentially relating to the Leopard name.
Notable individuals bearing the Leopard surname include:
1. Sir John Leopard (c.1480-1545), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London during the reign of Henry VIII.
2. Thomas Leopard (1571-1639), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Carlisle from 1616 until his death.
3. Mary Leopard (c.1590-1670), a puritan writer and religious controversialist known for her works defending Calvinist theology.
4. William Leopard (1695-1784), an English architect who designed several country houses and churches in the Palladian style.
5. Captain James Leopard (1760-1822), a Royal Navy officer who served with distinction during the Napoleonic Wars and was commended for his bravery at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leopard 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. Sussex leads with 48 Leopards recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.31x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 48 | 21.31x |
| Surrey | 33 | 5.07x |
| Kent | 19 | 4.17x |
| Middlesex | 18 | 1.35x |
| Gloucestershire | 7 | 2.67x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.45x |
| Monmouthshire | 3 | 3.11x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 1.99x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 6.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 15 Leopards recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Camberwell | 15 | 17.57x |
| Southwick | 12 | 1008.40x |
| West Hoathly | 12 | 1690.14x |
| Hurstpierpoint | 9 | 720.00x |
| East Grinstead | 7 | 219.44x |
| Prestbury | 7 | 1076.92x |
| Middlesbrough | 6 | 34.80x |
| Southwark St Saviour | 6 | 87.34x |
| Tonbridge | 6 | 36.50x |
| Woolwich | 6 | 35.63x |
| Lewisham | 5 | 20.57x |
| St George Hanover Square | 5 | 21.24x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 7.01x |
| Wandsworth | 5 | 38.88x |
| Croydon | 3 | 8.30x |
| Preston | 3 | 76.34x |
| Upper Llanvrechva | 3 | 200.00x |
| Islington London | 2 | 1.54x |
| Lingfield | 2 | 157.48x |
| Norton Folgate London | 2 | 454.55x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 4.07x |
| Aldrington | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Brighton | 1 | 2.20x |
| Bromley | 1 | 14.39x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 3.40x |
| Burstow | 1 | 181.82x |
| Clewer | 1 | 24.33x |
| Godstone | 1 | 85.47x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 1.33x |
| Hastings St Clement | 1 | 47.17x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 7.35x |
| Rye | 1 | 46.73x |
| Shipley | 1 | 196.08x |
| Strood | 1 | 38.46x |
| Wantage | 1 | 62.50x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Leopard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Sarah | 6 |
| Ellen | 5 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Louisa | 4 |
| Mary | 4 |
| Caroline | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Harriet | 3 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Elizabeth | 2 |
| Georgina | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Matilda | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| E.A. | 1 |
| Elizia | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| G.E. | 1 |
| Harrett | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Henrietta | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Margarett | 1 |
| Milly | 1 |
| Nora | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rosetta | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Leopard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 136 people were recorded with the Leopard surname. That placed it at #16,433 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 56 in 2016. That gives Leopard a modern rank of #34,562.
A surname derived from a nickname for a fierce or cunning person, or one with spotted clothing.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Leopard 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.