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

Leakes, 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 Leakes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leakes in America

Leakes is the 115034th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leakes surname appeared 152 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Leakes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leakes 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 Leakes

The surname "Leakes" is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "leac," meaning "leek" or "garden plot." This suggests that the name may have been derived from an occupational or locational source, possibly referring to someone who cultivated or lived near a leek garden.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Leche." This Anglo-Norman spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records with spellings such as "Leke," "Leeke," and "Leke de la Leye." These variations reflect the influence of regional dialects and the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname "Leakes" include Sir John Leakes (c. 1563-1628), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Scarborough in the early 17th century. Another prominent individual was Sir Richard Leakes (1622-1696), an English naval officer who served as a captain during the Anglo-Dutch Wars.

In the 18th century, the name appeared in various parish records and local histories, often associated with specific locations or place names. For instance, the Leakes family was documented as residing in the village of Leeke in Staffordshire, England, which likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of their surname.

One notable figure from this period was John Leakes (1739-1819), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Balliol College, Oxford, from 1789 until his death.

Moving into the 19th century, the name "Leakes" continued to be found in various historical records and documents. One prominent individual was William Leakes (1777-1860), a British Army officer and topographer who conducted extensive surveys and studies of ancient Greek sites in the Ottoman Empire.

Throughout its history, the surname "Leakes" has been associated with various occupations, including agriculture, politics, military service, and academia. While the specific origins and meanings may have evolved over time, the name remains a testament to the rich tapestry of English surnames and their connection to the country's cultural and linguistic heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leakes

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

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 Leakes 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 Leakes 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 Leakes was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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