NameCensus.

UK surname

Leven

A locational surname referring to one from the town of Leven in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Leven surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 135, ranked #25,505, down from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Scoonie. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Montrose South, Barnet and Friockheim.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leven is 213 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.1%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

135

2016, ranked #25,505

Peak year

1901

213 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leven had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016, ranked #25,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 213 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Leven surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leven surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leven 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 81 #19,457
1861 historical 85 #22,922
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 148 #18,506
1901 historical 213 #14,563
1911 historical 63 #26,537
1997 modern 164 #19,944
1998 modern 171 #19,956
1999 modern 168 #20,312
2000 modern 158 #21,055
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 137 #22,939
2004 modern 141 #22,689
2005 modern 147 #22,057
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 139 #23,377
2008 modern 143 #23,160
2009 modern 147 #23,248
2010 modern 141 #24,460
2011 modern 138 #24,615
2012 modern 134 #25,059
2013 modern 136 #25,252
2014 modern 134 #25,711
2015 modern 131 #25,979
2016 modern 135 #25,505

Geography

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Where Levens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Scoonie, Glasgow and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Montrose South, Barnet, Friockheim, Alexandra Parade and Badenoch and Strathspey North. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Scoonie Fife
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Montrose South Angus
2 Barnet 006 Barnet
3 Friockheim Angus
4 Alexandra Parade Glasgow City
5 Badenoch and Strathspey North Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leven

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leven

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Leven, 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 Leven surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Leven 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, Leven 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

Leven is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leven falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Leven 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 Leven, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Leven

The surname Leven has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "lefer," which means "to remain or stay." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a particular location for an extended period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Leven can be found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of homage rolls from the 13th and 14th centuries. In these rolls, the name appears as "de Leuen," indicating its Scottish roots.

The name Leven is also closely associated with the town of Leven in Fife, Scotland. This town, located on the coast of the Firth of Forth, was once an important fishing and trading port. It is likely that some individuals bearing the surname Leven originally hailed from this area or had strong connections to it.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Alexander Leven (c. 1500-1560) served as a Scottish prelate and was the Bishop of Aberdeen from 1558 until his death. His leadership during the tumultuous period of the Scottish Reformation left a lasting impact on the region.

Another individual of historical significance was Sir William Leven (1600-1661), a Scottish soldier and military commander who played a prominent role in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He served as a general in the Scottish Covenanter army and was known for his military exploits during the English Civil War.

During the 18th century, Thomas Leven (1720-1788) gained recognition as a British naval officer and explorer. He is particularly remembered for his service in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and his exploration of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

In the realm of literature, John Leven (1834-1908) was a Scottish poet and author who wrote extensively about his homeland. His works, such as "Ballads of the Covenant" and "Poems and Prose Sketches," captured the essence of Scottish culture and history.

The surname Leven has also been associated with various place names across Scotland, such as Leven Valley, Leven Beach, and Leven Links, further solidifying its Scottish heritage and territorial connections.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leven families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leven 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. Lanarkshire leads with 25 Levens recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.05x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 25 6.05x
Angus 23 19.43x
Fife 19 25.12x
Renfrewshire 11 11.11x
Cambridgeshire 7 8.65x
Perthshire 7 12.21x
Stirlingshire 7 14.85x
Surrey 6 0.96x
Westmorland 6 21.37x
Lancashire 5 0.33x
Middlesex 5 0.39x
Kent 4 0.92x
Midlothian 3 1.75x
Dunbartonshire 1 2.91x
Northumberland 1 0.53x
Yorkshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 19 Levens recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.89x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 19 25.89x
Montrose 18 251.05x
Kilmalcolm 8 672.27x
Alva 7 311.11x
Linton 7 909.09x
Longforgan 7 864.20x
Strathmiglo 7 777.78x
Crook 6 5000.00x
Dundee 5 11.31x
Govan 5 4.89x
Scoonie 5 304.88x
Camberwell 4 4.90x
Westerham 4 396.04x
Auchtermuchty 3 294.12x
East Greenock 3 32.09x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 4.36x
Falkland 3 252.10x
Liverpool 2 2.17x
Shoreditch London 2 3.61x
St Luke London 2 9.76x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 3.02x
Barony 1 0.96x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 4.15x
Croydon 1 2.89x
Elswick 1 6.59x
Kensington London 1 1.41x
Kirkcaldy 1 26.67x
Manchester 1 1.47x
Nether Hallam 1 5.84x
New Kilpatrick 1 30.58x
Putney 1 17.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alfred 2
Charles 2
James 2
Abraham 1
Benjamin 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
George 1
John 1
Lekman 1
Mark 1
Peter 1
William 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Leven surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leven surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Leven surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leven surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 135 in 2016. That gives Leven a modern rank of #25,505.

What does the Leven surname mean?

A locational surname referring to one from the town of Leven in Scotland.

What does the Leven map show?

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