NameCensus.

UK surname

Leys

A locational surname referring to someone living near a meadow or pasture.

In the 1881 census there were 272 people recorded with the Leys surname, ranking it #10,409 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 256, ranked #16,534, down from #10,409 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Crathie and Braemar, London parishes and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torry East, The Glens and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leys is 302 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.9%.

1881 census count

272

Ranked #10,409

Modern count

256

2016, ranked #16,534

Peak year

1891

302 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leys had 272 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,409 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 256 in 2016, ranked #16,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 302 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Leys surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leys surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leys 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 204 #10,250
1861 historical 253 #9,764
1881 historical 272 #10,409
1891 historical 302 #11,058
1901 historical 274 #12,370
1911 historical 71 #25,742
1997 modern 278 #14,210
1998 modern 280 #14,550
1999 modern 281 #14,578
2000 modern 262 #15,272
2001 modern 242 #15,832
2002 modern 267 #15,123
2003 modern 263 #15,109
2004 modern 276 #14,684
2005 modern 266 #15,007
2006 modern 268 #15,000
2007 modern 262 #15,399
2008 modern 267 #15,349
2009 modern 274 #15,395
2010 modern 292 #15,018
2011 modern 267 #15,892
2012 modern 249 #16,572
2013 modern 254 #16,603
2014 modern 252 #16,822
2015 modern 253 #16,669
2016 modern 256 #16,534

Geography

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Where Leys' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Crathie and Braemar, London parishes, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Nigg and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torry East, The Glens, Uttlesford, Auchnagatt and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Crathie and Braemar Aberdeen
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Nigg Kincardine
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torry East Aberdeen City
2 The Glens Dundee City
3 Uttlesford 003 Uttlesford
4 Auchnagatt Aberdeenshire
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 004 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leys

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leys

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Leys surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Leys household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Leys 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

Leys is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leys 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 Leys 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Leys

The surname LEYS has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English word "leah," which means a meadow, woodland clearing, or glade. This suggests that the name was originally borne by someone who lived near or in a meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest records of the name LEYS can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "de Leys" or "at the Leys," indicating that it referred to a specific location or settlement.

In the 13th century, the name appears as "Leys" in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire and the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire. These early records show that the name was present in various parts of England, suggesting that it was widely distributed.

Notable individuals with the surname LEYS include Sir John Leys, an English politician born in 1551 who served as a Member of Parliament for Devizes in 1597. Another prominent figure was Sir Ralph Leys, born in 1615, who was a wealthy landowner and served as the High Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1670.

In the 17th century, the name LEYS appears in various places across England, including Leicestershire, where the village of Leys Hill is located. This village likely took its name from the LEYS family who may have been landowners or prominent residents in the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the LEYS surname is found in the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, where a John Leys was baptized in 1592. Another early record is that of Robert Leys, born in 1628 in Gloucestershire, who served as a clerk and is mentioned in parish records.

Throughout history, the LEYS surname has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Leys Green in Cheshire, Leys Farm in Oxfordshire, and Leys Lane in Derbyshire. These place names further reinforce the locational origins of the surname, reflecting the areas where families bearing this name may have resided or owned property.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leys families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leys 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 117 Leys' recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.79x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 117 47.79x
Kincardineshire 33 102.52x
Angus 28 11.43x
Lanarkshire 14 1.64x
Middlesex 14 0.53x
Cheshire 8 1.37x
Hampshire 7 1.29x
Surrey 7 0.54x
Sutherland 7 34.43x
Banffshire 6 10.94x
Kent 6 0.67x
Gloucestershire 3 0.58x
Midlothian 3 0.85x
Morayshire 3 7.30x
Bedfordshire 2 1.46x
Fife 2 1.28x
Lancashire 2 0.06x
Devon 1 0.18x
Dorset 1 0.58x
Northamptonshire 1 0.40x
Northumberland 1 0.25x
Perthshire 1 0.84x
Renfrewshire 1 0.49x
Stirlingshire 1 1.03x
Sussex 1 0.22x
Worcestershire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 30 Leys' recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.49x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 30 65.49x
Crathie Braemar 19 1301.37x
Aberdeen Old Machar 18 35.21x
Glenmuick Tullich 17 965.91x
Dundee 13 14.22x
Nigg 11 413.53x
Leochel Cushnie 10 909.09x
Govan 9 4.26x
Banchory Ternan 8 287.77x
Fintray 8 860.22x
Runcorn 8 59.48x
Portsea 7 6.59x
Rogart 7 625.00x
Strachan 7 1111.11x
Coupar Angus 6 258.62x
Kensington London 6 4.08x
Maryculter 6 618.56x
Montrose 6 40.43x
Rochester St Margaret 5 52.58x
St Pancras London 4 1.88x
Tarves 4 172.41x
Battersea 3 3.08x
Brechin 3 31.19x
Fordyce 3 75.95x
Knockando 3 179.64x
Barony 2 0.92x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 4.10x
Camberwell 2 1.18x
Glasgow 2 1.32x
Kemnay 2 135.14x
Logie Coldstone 2 243.90x
Luton 2 8.44x
Aberlour 1 57.47x
Banff 1 21.01x
Carmichael 1 140.85x
Caterham 1 17.57x
Durris 1 108.70x
Edinburgh Greenside 1 21.37x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.70x
Ellon 1 29.67x
Errol 1 45.45x
Evesham All Sts 1 62.11x
Farnworth 1 5.32x
Folkestone 1 5.71x
Forgan 1 33.33x
Gittisham 1 243.90x
Hackney London 1 0.67x
Hove 1 5.11x
Inveravon 1 42.74x
Islington London 1 0.39x
Kinellar 1 192.31x
Kirkdale 1 1.90x
Largo 1 49.26x
Lasswade 1 12.35x
Melcombe Regis 1 13.91x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 4.90x
Northampton All Sts 1 11.85x
Peterculter 1 57.80x
Southwark Christchurch 1 8.07x
St Martin In Fields 1 6.32x
St Marylebone London 1 0.71x
Stirling 1 8.14x
Strathdon 1 84.03x
Stroud 1 9.91x
Tough 1 161.29x
Turriff 1 25.32x
Udny 1 67.57x
West Greenock 1 2.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Isabella 2
Mary 2
Maud 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Bethie 1
Carrie 1
Catharine 1
Catherine 1
Clementia 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Henrietta 1
Janet 1
Jemmia 1
Louisa 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
William 4
Alexandra 2
Henry 2
James 2
Thomas 2
Abraham 1
Alexander 1
Alexr.W. 1
Auguste 1
Charles 1
E. 1
George 1
Hugh 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Tom. 1

FAQ

Leys surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leys surname in 1881?

In 1881, 272 people were recorded with the Leys surname. That placed it at #10,409 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leys surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 256 in 2016. That gives Leys a modern rank of #16,534.

What does the Leys surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone living near a meadow or pasture.

What does the Leys map show?

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