NameCensus.

UK surname

Leppard

A medieval surname for someone who bred hares or lived near their den.

In the 1881 census there were 400 people recorded with the Leppard surname, ranking it #7,974 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 728, ranked #7,474, up from #7,974 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, East Grinstead and Hoathly, West. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sevenoaks, Mid Sussex and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leppard is 841 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.0%.

1881 census count

400

Ranked #7,974

Modern count

728

2016, ranked #7,474

Peak year

1998

841 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leppard had 400 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,974 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 728 in 2016, ranked #7,474.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 813 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Leppard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leppard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leppard 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 170 #11,780
1861 historical 185 #12,799
1881 historical 400 #7,974
1891 historical 527 #7,112
1901 historical 617 #6,917
1911 historical 813 #5,413
1997 modern 828 #6,362
1998 modern 841 #6,491
1999 modern 833 #6,587
2000 modern 803 #6,749
2001 modern 805 #6,624
2002 modern 814 #6,675
2003 modern 786 #6,744
2004 modern 785 #6,771
2005 modern 752 #6,941
2006 modern 755 #6,951
2007 modern 770 #6,911
2008 modern 769 #6,964
2009 modern 784 #6,995
2010 modern 798 #7,047
2011 modern 794 #6,998
2012 modern 755 #7,185
2013 modern 744 #7,395
2014 modern 752 #7,361
2015 modern 744 #7,345
2016 modern 728 #7,474

Geography

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Where Leppards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, East Grinstead, Hoathly, West and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sevenoaks, Mid Sussex and Isle of Wight. 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 London parishes London 1
2 East Grinstead Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Hoathly, West Sussex
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sevenoaks 015 Sevenoaks
2 Sevenoaks 014 Sevenoaks
3 Mid Sussex 011 Mid Sussex
4 Isle of Wight 009 Isle of Wight
5 Isle of Wight 011 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leppard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leppard

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Leppard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Leppard household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Leppard is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Leppard is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leppard falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Leppard 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Leppard

The surname Leppard originated in England during the medieval period. It is a variant of the name Leopard, which is derived from the Old French word "leopard," meaning "lion-pard" or a spotted lion-like animal. This name was likely given to someone who possessed characteristics associated with the leopard, such as strength, agility, or courage.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Leppard can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, dated 1273, where it appears as "Leopard." The name also appears in other medieval records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where it is spelled "Lepard."

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Leppard, who was born in Oxfordshire, England, around 1450. He was a landowner and is mentioned in various property deeds from the late 15th century.

Another notable figure was Sir John Leppard, born in 1525 in Gloucestershire. He was a soldier and served under King Henry VIII during the Siege of Boulogne in 1544. He was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield.

In the 16th century, the name Leppard was also found in the village of Leppard's Green, located in Gloucestershire. This place name likely derived from the surname itself, indicating that a family with the name Leppard had settled in the area.

During the 17th century, the name Leppard spread to other parts of England, including London and the surrounding counties. One notable bearer was Robert Leppard, born in 1610 in Kent, who was a merchant and trader involved in the East India Company.

Another significant figure was Thomas Leppard, born in 1685 in Wiltshire. He was a clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts, including "A Treatise on the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper" published in 1721.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Leppard has been associated with various occupations, including landowners, soldiers, merchants, and clergymen, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and roles of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leppard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leppard 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. Sussex leads with 195 Leppards recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.64x.

County Total Index
Sussex 195 29.64x
Surrey 130 6.84x
Kent 24 1.80x
Middlesex 18 0.46x
Hampshire 11 1.38x
Oxfordshire 7 2.91x
Staffordshire 5 0.38x
Berkshire 3 1.02x
Gloucestershire 3 0.39x
Midlothian 3 0.57x
Essex 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Hoathly in Sussex leads with 29 Leppards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1400.97x.

Place Total Index
West Hoathly 29 1400.97x
Brighton 21 15.82x
Reigate Foreign 21 101.99x
Lambeth 20 5.88x
East Grinstead 17 182.60x
Lingfield 17 459.46x
Sanderstead 15 2941.18x
Eynsford 12 526.32x
Slaugham 11 516.43x
Cowfold 10 719.42x
Kingston On Thames 10 21.90x
Nuthurst 10 917.43x
Worth 10 209.21x
Lower Beeding 9 514.29x
Warlingham 9 584.42x
Hastings All Sts 8 129.03x
Horsted Keynes 8 522.88x
Petworth 8 203.56x
Southwick 8 898.88x
Horsham 7 54.77x
S Stoke 7 619.47x
Ealing 6 17.21x
Lindfield 6 215.83x
Stanmer 6 3529.41x
Wandsworth 6 15.97x
Woldingham 6 3333.33x
Camberwell 5 2.01x
Carshalton 5 68.68x
Cuckfield 5 75.30x
Dorking 5 39.15x
Tipton 5 12.40x
West Grinstead 5 252.53x
Ardingly 4 191.39x
Lewisham 4 5.63x
Preston 4 34.81x
St George Hanover Square 4 5.82x
St Marylebone London 4 1.92x
Bermondsey 3 2.58x
Binfield 3 133.33x
Carisbrooke 3 27.03x
Croydon 3 2.84x
Edinburgh Canongate 3 22.56x
Gloucester St Nicholas 3 84.75x
Glynde 3 789.47x
Hartfield 3 144.23x
Hollington 3 128.21x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.82x
Withyam 3 106.38x
Gravesend 2 17.75x
Kensington London 2 0.92x
New Shoreham 2 50.76x
Woolwich 2 4.07x
Appledore 1 114.94x
Barking 1 4.44x
Brasted 1 57.80x
Coulsdon 1 28.90x
Deptford St Paul 1 0.97x
Hampton London 1 15.60x
Hove 1 3.47x
Lavant Mid 1 185.19x
Minster In Sheppey 1 4.54x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.28x
Streatham 1 3.45x
Uckfield 1 34.84x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 20
Thomas 16
Henry 15
James 14
George 13
Richard 8
Alfred 7
Charles 7
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Edwin 5
Walter 5
Harry 4
Ernest 3
Edward 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Jno. 2
Joseph 2
Owen 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Aleck 1
Altimous 1
Amos 1
Benjamin 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Louis 1
Mary 1
Maurice 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Sidney 1
Silas 1
Stephen 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Leppard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leppard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 400 people were recorded with the Leppard surname. That placed it at #7,974 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leppard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 728 in 2016. That gives Leppard a modern rank of #7,474.

What does the Leppard surname mean?

A medieval surname for someone who bred hares or lived near their den.

What does the Leppard map show?

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