NameCensus.

UK surname

Leyman

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "leyman" meaning a layman or layperson.

In the 1881 census there were 124 people recorded with the Leyman surname, ranking it #17,429 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, down from #17,429 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Seaton, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and Cullompton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Devon, Northampton and Mid Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leyman is 192 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.9%.

1881 census count

124

Ranked #17,429

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

1911

192 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leyman had 124 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,429 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 192 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Leyman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leyman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leyman 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 52 #23,915
1861 historical 159 #14,553
1881 historical 124 #17,429
1891 historical 167 #17,006
1901 historical 116 #20,933
1911 historical 192 #15,342
1997 modern 133 #22,705
1998 modern 144 #22,221
1999 modern 141 #22,702
2000 modern 151 #21,684
2001 modern 149 #21,568
2002 modern 149 #22,001
2003 modern 149 #21,766
2004 modern 146 #22,202
2005 modern 146 #22,146
2006 modern 146 #22,320
2007 modern 152 #22,022
2008 modern 148 #22,627
2009 modern 150 #22,937
2010 modern 143 #24,247
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 130 #25,559
2013 modern 137 #25,149
2014 modern 140 #24,977
2015 modern 140 #24,836
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

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Where Leymans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Seaton, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Cullompton, Hull Holy Trinity and Teignmouth, East. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Devon, Northampton, Mid Devon and Teignbridge. 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 Seaton Devon
2 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 Cullompton Devon
4 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Teignmouth, East Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Devon 002 West Devon
2 Northampton 019 Northampton
3 Mid Devon 011 Mid Devon
4 Teignbridge 006 Teignbridge
5 Mid Devon 008 Mid Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leyman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leyman

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

Spacious Rural Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Leyman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Leyman is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leyman falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Leyman

The surname Leyman originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'leman', which referred to a sweetheart or lover. This name was likely first used as a descriptive surname for a person who was known for their romantic charm or amorous behavior.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Leyman surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a John le Leman from Oxfordshire. This record provides evidence that the name was in use by the late 13th century, albeit with a slightly different spelling.

In the 14th century, the surname appears to have spread to other parts of England, as evidenced by records such as the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which lists a Thomas Leyman from Yorkshire. This suggests that the name had gained wider recognition and usage by this time.

During the 16th century, variations in the spelling of the surname started to emerge, with forms like Leman, Lemon, and Leyman appearing in various records. One notable individual from this period was William Leyman, a merchant and explorer who embarked on voyages to the New World in the late 1500s.

As time progressed, the Leyman surname became more widespread across England. In the 17th century, notable bearers of the name included John Leyman, a prominent figure in the English Civil War, and Robert Leyman, a renowned botanist who contributed to the study of plant life in the British colonies.

Moving into the 18th century, the surname continued to be represented in various fields. One example is Samuel Leyman, an accomplished writer and philosopher who published several influential works during this period. Additionally, the Leyman name was also associated with landed gentry and nobility, with families like the Leymans of Devonshire holding significant estates.

By the 19th century, the Leyman surname had firmly established itself in various parts of the English-speaking world. Notable individuals from this era include Sir Charles Leyman, a respected military officer who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars, and Elizabeth Leyman, a pioneering educator who founded several schools for underprivileged children in London.

Throughout its history, the Leyman surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, ranging from explorers and scholars to military leaders and philanthropists. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread far and wide, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural tapestry of numerous regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leyman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leyman 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. Devon leads with 92 Leymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.54x.

County Total Index
Devon 92 36.54x
Glamorgan 10 4.75x
Yorkshire 9 0.75x
Lincolnshire 4 2.07x
Lancashire 2 0.14x
Middlesex 2 0.17x
Berkshire 1 1.10x
Carmarthenshire 1 1.96x
Kent 1 0.24x
Sussex 1 0.49x
Worcestershire 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Teignmouth in Devon leads with 12 Leymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 621.76x.

Place Total Index
West Teignmouth 12 621.76x
Colebrooke 11 3793.10x
Llansamlet Higher 10 636.94x
Seaton 10 1030.93x
Halberton 7 1186.44x
Crediton 6 251.05x
Exeter St David 6 279.07x
Chudleigh 5 625.00x
Exeter Heavitree 5 265.96x
Holy Trinity 5 17.34x
Honiton 5 359.71x
Kentisbeare 5 1428.57x
Cullompton 4 363.64x
East Budleigh 4 336.13x
East Teignmouth 4 388.35x
Louth 4 90.29x
Leeds 3 4.43x
Beckenham 1 18.55x
Everton 1 2.19x
Exeter Holy Trinity 1 101.01x
Exeter St Paul 1 200.00x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 17.33x
Hastings St Mary 1 19.72x
Ide 1 370.37x
Islington London 1 0.85x
Kingsteignton 1 142.86x
Limehouse London 1 7.53x
Llanelly 1 8.71x
Oldbury 1 12.87x
Rockbeare 1 500.00x
Sandhurst 1 56.82x
Scarborough 1 9.18x
Uffculme 1 133.33x
West Derby 1 2.38x
Willand 1 714.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Emma 6
Clara 3
Elizabeth 3
Ann 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Elisabeth 2
Eliza 2
Eva 2
Fanny 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Rose 2
Thirza 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Annetta 1
Bessey 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Glitte 1
Harriett 1
Matilda 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
James 6
John 5
Albert 3
George 3
Thomas 3
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Allan 1
August 1
Ben 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Lola 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
S. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Leyman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leyman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 124 people were recorded with the Leyman surname. That placed it at #17,429 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leyman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Leyman a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Leyman surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "leyman" meaning a layman or layperson.

What does the Leyman map show?

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