Find out how popular the last name Leak is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Leak.

Leak, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Leak surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leak in America

Leak is the 6684th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leak surname appeared 5,053 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Leak.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leak to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Leak

The surname Leak originates from England and is believed to have derived from the Old English word "leac," meaning a garden vegetable or plant. It is thought to have been an occupational name for someone who grew or sold leeks or other vegetables.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries for people with the name Leac or Le Leke, which are considered early variations of the modern surname Leak.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Leak is found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a John le Leke is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1272, which mentions a Thomas le Leke.

Over time, the name evolved from its Old English roots, with variations like Le Leke, Leyk, and Leyke appearing in different regions of England. The spelling Leak became more common in the 16th and 17th centuries.

A notable figure with the surname Leak was Sir Walter Leak (1555-1629), an English merchant and diplomat who served as the ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during the reign of King James I.

Another prominent individual was Richard Leak (1628-1695), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Principal of Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and was known for his writings on religious topics.

In the 18th century, Archibald Leak (1720-1785) was a Scottish merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Edinburgh, funding the construction of public buildings and supporting charitable causes.

The name Leak has also been associated with places in England, such as Leak Hall in Derbyshire, which dates back to the 16th century and was once the seat of a family with the surname Leak.

John Leak (1761-1834), a British naval officer and explorer, is remembered for his voyages to the Pacific and his efforts in mapping and charting remote islands and coastlines.

Throughout history, the surname Leak has been found in various regions of England, with concentrations in counties like Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, and Derbyshire, reflecting its origins and early recorded instances.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leak

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Leak.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Leak was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Leak has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Leak was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Leak, please contact us.

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