NameCensus.

UK surname

Leyland

A topographic surname denoting someone from Leyland in Lancashire.

In the 1881 census there were 1,835 people recorded with the Leyland surname, ranking it #2,370 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,862, ranked #2,348, up from #2,370 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wigan, Preston and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leyland is 3,040 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.0%.

1881 census count

1,835

Ranked #2,370

Modern count

2,862

2016, ranked #2,348

Peak year

2010

3,040 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leyland had 1,835 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,370 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,862 in 2016, ranked #2,348.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,569 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Leyland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leyland surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Leyland 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 915 #3,016
1861 historical 1,280 #2,227
1881 historical 1,835 #2,370
1891 historical 2,067 #2,236
1901 historical 2,335 #2,325
1911 historical 2,569 #1,992
1997 modern 2,841 #2,276
1998 modern 2,904 #2,318
1999 modern 2,994 #2,265
2000 modern 3,001 #2,246
2001 modern 2,910 #2,264
2002 modern 3,004 #2,241
2003 modern 2,915 #2,251
2004 modern 2,927 #2,245
2005 modern 2,896 #2,239
2006 modern 2,842 #2,287
2007 modern 2,856 #2,296
2008 modern 2,884 #2,289
2009 modern 2,972 #2,275
2010 modern 3,040 #2,273
2011 modern 2,967 #2,301
2012 modern 2,909 #2,301
2013 modern 2,930 #2,322
2014 modern 2,933 #2,329
2015 modern 2,895 #2,328
2016 modern 2,862 #2,348

Geography

Back to top

Where Leylands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wigan, Preston, Blackburn, Bolton-le-Moors and Prescot. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens. 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 Wigan Lancashire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Prescot Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 019 St. Helens
2 St. Helens 004 St. Helens
3 St. Helens 014 St. Helens
4 St. Helens 007 St. Helens
5 St. Helens 016 St. Helens

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Leyland

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Leyland

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Leyland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Leyland household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Leyland is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Leyland is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leyland falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Leyland is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Leyland

The surname Leyland originated in Lancashire, England, and is believed to have derived from the town of the same name, which dates back to the 13th century. The town's name is thought to come from the Old English words "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing, and "land," referring to an area of cultivated ground or estate.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Leyland appears in the Lancashire Inquests of 1311-1333, where a Robert de Leylond is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the early 14th century.

During the medieval period, the Leyland family held significant land and influence in Lancashire. In the 15th century, a branch of the family owned the manor of Morleys in Astley, near Leigh. Notable members from this era include Sir Richard Leyland, who served as a knight and fought in the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century.

The Leyland name is also associated with the town of Leyland, which grew in prominence during the Industrial Revolution due to its textile mills and wagon works. In the 19th century, Leyland became known for its production of steam wagons and later, motor vehicles. The Leyland Motors company, founded in 1896, played a significant role in the town's history and brought further recognition to the surname.

Some notable individuals with the surname Leyland include:

1. John Leyland (c. 1502-1552), an English antiquary and writer, best known for his work "De Rebus Britannicis Collectanea" (Collected Works on British Affairs).

2. William Leyland (1624-1677), an English mathematician and clergyman, known for his work on calculating the area of a circle and other mathematical problems.

3. Reginald Leyland (1857-1932), an English painter and illustrator, known for his depictions of rural life and landscapes.

4. Christopher Leyland (1770-1847), an English merchant and philanthropist, who founded the Leyland Charities in Lancashire.

5. Sir Albert Ernest Leyland (1876-1945), an English businessman and philanthropist, who served as the chairman of the Leyland Motors company and was knighted for his charitable works.

In summary, the surname Leyland has a rich history rooted in the Lancashire region of England, with early recorded instances dating back to the 14th century. The name is closely tied to the town of Leyland and its industrial heritage, particularly in the production of wagons and motor vehicles. Over the centuries, individuals bearing the Leyland surname have made significant contributions in various fields, including literature, mathematics, art, business, and philanthropy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Leyland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leyland 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. Lancashire leads with 1,501 Leylands recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.09x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,501 7.09x
Cheshire 80 2.03x
Yorkshire 79 0.45x
Shropshire 27 1.75x
Staffordshire 24 0.40x
Herefordshire 17 2.32x
Middlesex 15 0.08x
Warwickshire 15 0.33x
Derbyshire 14 0.50x
Northumberland 11 0.41x
Durham 8 0.15x
Worcestershire 7 0.30x
Cumberland 5 0.33x
Sussex 4 0.13x
Westmorland 4 1.02x
Hampshire 3 0.08x
Leicestershire 3 0.15x
Isle of Man 2 0.60x
Lanarkshire 2 0.03x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.08x
Anglesey 1 0.32x
Ayrshire 1 0.07x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.14x
Flintshire 1 0.21x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.12x
Surrey 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigan in Lancashire leads with 186 Leylands recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.83x.

Place Total Index
Wigan 186 62.83x
Windle 142 119.14x
Great Bolton 72 25.66x
Blackburn 67 11.89x
Parr 67 88.41x
Preston 67 11.82x
Little Bolton 62 22.76x
Ince In Makerfield 44 44.64x
Lathom 34 132.92x
Atherton 32 41.50x
Manchester 30 3.15x
Birkenhead 28 8.91x
West Derby 25 4.03x
Chorley 24 20.19x
Ashton In Makerfield 22 36.47x
Haydock 22 60.27x
Everton 21 3.11x
Eccleston In Prescot 20 18.81x
Altrincham 19 27.60x
Farnworth 19 14.97x
Prescot 19 49.60x
Tonge With Haulgh 19 46.08x
Halliwell 18 23.35x
Rishton 17 68.41x
Walton Le Dale 17 29.87x
Salford 16 2.57x
Stoke Upon Trent 16 2.50x
Pemberton 15 17.76x
Sutton 15 21.11x
Tranmere 15 10.36x
Wrockwardine 15 44.23x
Worsley 14 10.72x
Barton Upon Irwell 13 8.15x
Garston 13 20.79x
Halifax 13 5.01x
Pendleton In Salford 13 5.15x
Walton On Hill 13 11.33x
Burnley 12 6.73x
Church 12 40.12x
Golborne 12 43.46x
Habergham Eaves 12 6.20x
Aston 11 0.89x
Chorlton On Medlock 11 3.27x
Derby St Werburgh 11 6.82x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 11 6.93x
Hindley 10 11.07x
Lilleshall 10 42.43x
Newton In Makerfield 10 15.42x
Great Lever 9 40.05x
Higher Booths 9 23.57x
Liverpool 9 0.70x
Radcliffe 9 8.81x
Warrington 9 3.58x
Astley 8 48.96x
Bootle Cum Linacre 8 4.76x
Kettlewell With 8 349.35x
Kirkdale 8 2.25x
Newton 8 4.90x
North Meols 8 3.86x
Barrow In Furness 7 2.43x
Broughton In Salford 7 3.61x
Cheetham 7 4.43x
Crook Billy Row 7 10.29x
Leyland 7 19.00x
Monks Coppenhall 7 4.71x
Nortonwith 7 193.91x
Pilkington 7 8.70x
Skelmersdale 7 19.83x
Toxteth Park 7 0.98x
Whitbourne 7 153.85x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 6 9.92x
Heaton Norris 6 4.98x
Rumworth 6 19.82x
Accrington 5 2.60x
Birkdale 5 9.33x
Ecclesfield 5 3.86x
Leeds 5 0.50x
Oldham 5 0.73x
Turton 5 14.42x
Whitehaven 5 6.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 164
Elizabeth 84
Ellen 66
Jane 59
Sarah 55
Alice 53
Ann 46
Margaret 41
Annie 26
Martha 22
Catherine 17
Eliza 15
Esther 14
Hannah 14
Emma 13
Maria 12
Agnes 10
Nancy 10
Anne 9
Elizth. 9
Harriet 9
Ada 8
Clara 7
Emily 7
Betsy 6
Charlotte 5
Frances 5
Lily 5
Amelia 4
Amy 4
Caroline 4
Edith 4
Eleanor 4
Florence 4
Harriett 4
Lucy 4
Rose 4
Betty 3
Elisabeth 3
Grace 3
Isabella 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Maggie 3
Margt. 3
Rachel 3
Adelaide 2
Betsey 2
Fanny 2
Marian 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 144
William 118
James 93
Thomas 82
Robert 36
Joseph 31
Henry 24
Peter 24
Edward 18
Samuel 18
Ralph 16
George 15
Thos. 15
Arthur 14
Richard 14
Alfred 13
Frederick 13
Charles 12
Wm. 9
Benjamin 8
Walter 7
Ernest 6
Herbert 6
Simeon 6
Albert 5
Edwin 5
Francis 5
Fred 5
Daniel 4
David 4
Michael 4
Adam 3
Edmund 3
Harry 3
Jno. 3
Levi 3
Paul 3
Percy 3
Abraham 2
Frank 2
Hugh 2
Jacob 2
Jas. 2
Jervis 2
Jesse 2
Moses 2
Noah 2
Patrick 2
Ricd. 2
Robt. 2

FAQ

Leyland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leyland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,835 people were recorded with the Leyland surname. That placed it at #2,370 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leyland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,862 in 2016. That gives Leyland a modern rank of #2,348.

What does the Leyland surname mean?

A topographic surname denoting someone from Leyland in Lancashire.

What does the Leyland map show?

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