NameCensus.

UK surname

Vanleeuwen

A Dutch surname meaning "from Leeuwarden" or "from the lion".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Horsham, Kirklees and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vanleeuwen is 129 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

123

2016, ranked #27,115

Peak year

2014

129 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016, ranked #27,115.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Vanleeuwen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vanleeuwen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vanleeuwen 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
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 79 #29,672
1998 modern 90 #28,920
1999 modern 91 #28,937
2000 modern 94 #28,573
2001 modern 92 #28,528
2002 modern 93 #28,920
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 93 #29,065
2005 modern 80 #30,842
2006 modern 83 #30,808
2007 modern 84 #31,067
2008 modern 96 #29,654
2009 modern 108 #28,311
2010 modern 104 #29,618
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 114 #27,868
2013 modern 127 #26,452
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 128 #26,356
2016 modern 123 #27,115

Geography

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Where Vanleeuwens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Horsham, Kirklees, Teignbridge and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Horsham 012 Horsham
2 Kirklees 038 Kirklees
3 Teignbridge 003 Teignbridge
4 Kensington and Chelsea 016 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Kirklees 033 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vanleeuwen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vanleeuwen

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Vanleeuwen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Vanleeuwen 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Vanleeuwen is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vanleeuwen is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vanleeuwen falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Vanleeuwen 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Vanleeuwen

The surname VANLEEUWEN is of Dutch origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Dutch words "van" meaning "from" and "leeuw" meaning "lion," combined with the suffix "-en" denoting a place or location. The name likely originated from a place name referring to a town or village with a lion symbol or coat of arms.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Dutch city of Leiden, where a Pieter VANLEEUWEN is mentioned in a document dated 1567. The name also appears in records from the city of Delft in the late 16th century, indicating its presence in the Western Netherlands during that period.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the name was Cornelis VANLEEUWEN (1623-1693), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his landscapes and cityscapes. He was born in Leiden and was a member of the Leiden Guild of St. Luke, a prestigious association of painters.

Another historical figure with this surname was Willem VANLEEUWEN (1639-1723), a Dutch theologian and philosopher. He served as a professor of philosophy and theology at the University of Leiden and wrote several influential works on Cartesian philosophy and religious doctrine.

During the 18th century, Gerrit VANLEEUWEN (1711-1784) was a prominent Dutch portrait painter who worked in Amsterdam and The Hague. His works can be found in various museums and collections across the Netherlands.

In the 19th century, Joannes Baptista VANLEEUWEN (1816-1885) was a Dutch Catholic priest and missionary who served in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). He played a significant role in the establishment of the Catholic Church in Java and was renowned for his efforts in translating religious texts into local languages.

Another notable bearer of the name was Nicolaas VANLEEUWEN (1837-1911), a Dutch mathematician and astronomer. He made important contributions to the study of comets and asteroids and served as the director of the Leiden Observatory from 1877 to 1911.

While the name VANLEEUWEN is predominantly Dutch in origin, it has also been found in other regions due to migration and cultural exchange. However, its roots can be traced back to the Netherlands, where it has a long and rich history dating back several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Vanleeuwen surname: questions and answers

How common is the Vanleeuwen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016. That gives Vanleeuwen a modern rank of #27,115.

What does the Vanleeuwen surname mean?

A Dutch surname meaning "from Leeuwarden" or "from the lion".

What does the Vanleeuwen map show?

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