NameCensus.

UK surname

Leyshon

A surname derivative of the Old French 'leson' meaning liar or deceiver.

In the 1881 census there were 697 people recorded with the Leyshon surname, ranking it #5,202 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 982, ranked #5,886, down from #5,202 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil and Margam. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend and Middlesbrough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Leyshon is 1,002 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.9%.

1881 census count

697

Ranked #5,202

Modern count

982

2016, ranked #5,886

Peak year

1999

1,002 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Leyshon had 697 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,202 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 982 in 2016, ranked #5,886.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 936 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Leyshon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Leyshon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Leyshon 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 422 #5,779
1861 historical 420 #6,114
1881 historical 697 #5,202
1891 historical 769 #5,202
1901 historical 936 #4,988
1911 historical 891 #5,000
1997 modern 969 #5,633
1998 modern 988 #5,724
1999 modern 1,002 #5,705
2000 modern 988 #5,745
2001 modern 970 #5,724
2002 modern 987 #5,763
2003 modern 978 #5,693
2004 modern 969 #5,748
2005 modern 929 #5,885
2006 modern 949 #5,799
2007 modern 951 #5,847
2008 modern 947 #5,893
2009 modern 951 #5,994
2010 modern 981 #5,970
2011 modern 984 #5,894
2012 modern 973 #5,868
2013 modern 985 #5,896
2014 modern 988 #5,917
2015 modern 994 #5,839
2016 modern 982 #5,886

Geography

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Where Leyshons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil, Margam, Llanelly and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend and Middlesbrough. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
3 Margam Glamorganshire
4 Llanelly Carmarthenshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 017 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Bridgend 009 Bridgend
3 Bridgend 015 Bridgend
4 Middlesbrough 007 Middlesbrough
5 Bridgend 013 Bridgend

Forenames

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First names often paired with Leyshon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Leyshon

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Leyshon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Leyshon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Leyshon 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

Leyshon is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Leyshon 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 Leyshon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Leyshon

The surname LEYSHON is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period in the county of Shropshire, England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing, and the personal name "Shun," a diminutive of John.

LEYSHON is a locational surname, indicating that the original bearers of this name hailed from a specific place, likely a meadow or clearing associated with someone named Shun or John. Variations in spelling, such as LAYSHON and LEYSHAM, were common during the Middle Ages due to inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional dialects.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the LEYSHON surname can be found in the Shropshire County Records from the 14th century, where a Robert de Leysshun is mentioned as a landowner. This suggests that the name had already been established in the region by that time.

In the 16th century, the LEYSHON name appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, with the baptism of a William Leyshon in 1587. This provides further evidence of the surname's long-standing presence in the area.

Notable individuals bearing the LEYSHON surname throughout history include:

1. Henry Leyshon (1623-1690), an English clergyman and author of theological works. 2. John Leyshon (1726-1809), a Welsh poet and writer from Glamorgan, known for his contributions to Welsh literature. 3. William Leyshon (1836-1909), a British industrialist and coal mine owner from Gloucestershire. 4. Evan Leyshon (1878-1952), a Welsh rugby union player who represented Wales in the late 19th century. 5. Glynn Leyshon (born 1956), a contemporary British novelist and screenwriter, best known for his critically acclaimed work "The Colour of Milk."

While the LEYSHON surname has its roots in Shropshire, England, it has since spread to other parts of the United Kingdom, as well as other English-speaking countries through migration and immigration over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Leyshon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Leyshon 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. Glamorgan leads with 521 Leyshons recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.94x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 521 43.94x
Monmouthshire 64 13.00x
Carmarthenshire 48 16.73x
Yorkshire 18 0.27x
Middlesex 12 0.18x
Staffordshire 12 0.52x
Gloucestershire 9 0.67x
Brecknockshire 6 4.41x
Durham 4 0.20x
Somerset 2 0.18x
Flintshire 1 0.55x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llansamlet Lower in Glamorgan leads with 115 Leyshons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1071.76x.

Place Total Index
Llansamlet Lower 115 1071.76x
Llanelly 34 52.61x
Ystradyfodwg 29 27.88x
Margam 25 189.11x
Bedwellty 23 26.47x
Llantrisant 22 73.63x
Llantwit Vairdre 22 165.17x
Llanrhidian Higher 20 265.60x
Pencoed 19 1038.25x
Tythegston Higher 19 527.78x
Merthyr Tydfil 17 14.92x
Llandaff 16 40.57x
Clase 15 34.03x
St Brides Minor 14 654.21x
Cardiff St John 13 33.57x
Roath 13 24.14x
Llangeinor 12 171.92x
Llansamlet Higher 11 124.29x
Aberavon 10 91.66x
Coyty Higher 10 833.33x
Middlesbrough 10 11.38x
Neath Upper 10 322.58x
Newport 10 42.59x
Swansea Town 10 10.29x
Kidwelly 9 153.58x
Coyty Lower 8 103.90x
Linthorpe 8 19.87x
Llanfabon 8 129.03x
Trevethin 8 17.21x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 5.57x
Cwmdu 7 48.48x
Kingswinford 7 8.39x
Michaelstone Super Avon 7 54.52x
Risca 7 75.43x
Aberdare 6 7.37x
Lower Machen 6 247.93x
Penarth 6 51.77x
Eglwysilan 5 24.31x
Heston 5 22.11x
Neath 5 20.73x
Pendoylan 5 543.48x
St John Near Swansea 5 34.11x
Upper Llanvrechva 5 65.36x
Llangynwyd Higher 4 70.30x
Lower Ystradgynlais 4 47.62x
Newcastle Higher 4 49.69x
St Brides Major 4 253.16x
Stranton 4 5.87x
Tipton 4 5.68x
Blaenhonddan 3 54.35x
Cardiff St Mary 3 4.59x
Carmarthen St Peter 3 12.23x
Llanwonno 3 7.04x
Ratcliffe London 3 7.98x
Bettws 2 87.72x
Islington London 2 0.30x
Panteg 2 25.81x
Pembrey 2 15.15x
Wotton Under Edge 2 25.41x
Aberystruth 1 2.30x
Bedminster 1 0.97x
Brecknock St John 1 8.71x
Cardiff St Nicholas 1 123.46x
Clevedon 1 8.77x
Cowbridge 1 34.97x
Kenfig 1 156.25x
Llanelly 1 6.14x
Llantrythyd 1 270.27x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 1 10.65x
Merthyr Mawr 1 416.67x
Michaelstone Super Ely 1 1000.00x
Mold 1 6.02x
Newcastle Lower 1 40.32x
Newton Nottage 1 30.77x
Paddington London 1 0.40x
Rhyndwyclydach 1 12.15x
Swansea Higher 1 8.10x
Swansea Lower 1 16.53x
Tottenham 1 0.92x
Upper Machen 1 29.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 59
Elizabeth 35
Ann 28
Sarah 22
Jane 18
Margaret 17
Catherine 15
Martha 13
Hannah 9
Eliza 6
Rachel 6
Janet 5
Maria 5
Alice 4
Anne 4
Margt. 4
Cath. 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Rebecca 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Ellen 2
Gwen 2
Harriett 2
Jemima 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Louisa 2
Nellie 2
Phoebe 2
Rebbecca 2
Rosina 2
Ruth 2
Therisa 2
Angharad 1
Barbara 1
Blanche 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Isabella 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 50
William 50
Thomas 39
David 30
Edward 11
Rees 10
Richard 9
Morgan 8
Benjamin 7
George 7
Jenkin 7
Robert 7
Joseph 6
Lewis 6
Wm. 6
Charles 5
Evan 5
Henry 5
James 5
Leyshon 5
Abraham 4
Alfred 4
Daniel 4
Howell 4
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Stephen 3
Dd. 2
Gomer 2
Herbert 2
Matthew 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Auther 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Gwillean 1
Gwillim 1
Gwilym 1
Gwylim 1
Hezekiah 1
Howel 1
Humphrey 1
Margaret 1
Mathew 1
Moses 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Reuben 1

FAQ

Leyshon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Leyshon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 697 people were recorded with the Leyshon surname. That placed it at #5,202 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Leyshon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 982 in 2016. That gives Leyshon a modern rank of #5,886.

What does the Leyshon surname mean?

A surname derivative of the Old French 'leson' meaning liar or deceiver.

What does the Leyshon map show?

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