UK surname
From a place in Yorkshire, England, derived from Old English words meaning "leash" and "town".
In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Leston surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29, ranked #36,059, down from #28,715 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sawley, St James Clerkenwell and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leston is 132 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.1%.
1881 census count
35
Ranked #28,715
Modern count
29
2016, ranked #36,059
Peak year
1861
132 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Leston surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Leston surname density by area, 1861 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 | 47 | #24,810 |
| 1861 | historical | 132 | #16,957 |
| 1881 | historical | 35 | #28,715 |
| 1891 | historical | 73 | #27,677 |
| 1901 | historical | 35 | #30,194 |
| 1911 | historical | 47 | #28,110 |
| 1997 | modern | 32 | #34,472 |
| 1998 | modern | 32 | #34,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 37 | #34,248 |
| 2000 | modern | 29 | #34,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 29 | #34,839 |
| 2002 | modern | 29 | #35,030 |
| 2003 | modern | 27 | #35,279 |
| 2004 | modern | 30 | #35,186 |
| 2005 | modern | 29 | #35,431 |
| 2006 | modern | 25 | #35,903 |
| 2007 | modern | 21 | #36,290 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 24 | #36,261 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 26 | #36,193 |
| 2012 | modern | 20 | #36,570 |
| 2013 | modern | 25 | #36,276 |
| 2014 | modern | 27 | #36,180 |
| 2015 | modern | 28 | #36,106 |
| 2016 | modern | 29 | #36,059 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sawley, St James Clerkenwell, St Werburgh, Edinburgh and Manchester. 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 | Sawley | Derbyshire |
| 2 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 3 | St Werburgh | Derbyshire |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Leston 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 Leston, 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 Leston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Leston 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, Leston 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 Leston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Leston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Leston originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English words "leac" (a leek or garden plot) and "tun" (an enclosure or settlement). This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a vegetable garden or worked in cultivating leeks and other produce.
The earliest known record of the Leston surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273, where it is spelled as "Lekeston." This indicates that the name was present in the region of Huntingdonshire during the 13th century.
In the 14th century, the Leston name can be found in various historical records across different counties in England. For instance, the Poll Tax returns of Yorkshire in 1379 mention a John de Lekeston, while the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1327 include a reference to a Thomas Lekeston.
One notable individual with the Leston surname was Sir Ralph Leston, a 15th-century English landowner and Member of Parliament. He represented Lincolnshire in the Parliament of 1449 and held several manors in the counties of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.
Another historical figure bearing this surname was William Leston, a 16th-century English religious reformer and clergyman. He served as the Bishop of Norwich from 1566 to 1579 and played a significant role in the establishment of the Church of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 17th century, the Leston name appears in various parish records and legal documents. For example, a Richard Leston was mentioned in the Hearth Tax records of Yorkshire in 1672, indicating his residence in the county at that time.
The Leston surname has also been associated with certain place names, such as Leston Priory, a former Augustinian monastery located in Lincolnshire. This priory was founded in the 12th century and may have derived its name from the same linguistic roots as the surname.
Throughout history, the spelling of the Leston surname has varied, with alternative forms including Lekeston, Lekston, and Lexston. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and differences in record-keeping practices.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leston 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 8 Lestons recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.40x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Nottinghamshire | 8 | 17.40x |
| Derbyshire | 7 | 13.10x |
| Warwickshire | 7 | 8.13x |
| Midlothian | 6 | 13.13x |
| Durham | 3 | 2.96x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.49x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.29x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.82x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.60x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 7 Lestons recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.41x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 7 | 24.41x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 6 | 32.63x |
| Burton Joyce | 5 | 6250.00x |
| Bolsover | 4 | 1481.48x |
| Carlton | 3 | 576.92x |
| Stapenhill | 3 | 375.00x |
| Stockton On Tees | 3 | 61.35x |
| Brislington | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Mickleham | 1 | 1111.11x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 5.49x |
| Stapleton | 1 | 78.74x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Leston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Leston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Leston surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 29 in 2016. That gives Leston a modern rank of #36,059.
From a place in Yorkshire, England, derived from Old English words meaning "leash" and "town".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Leston 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.