Leakey
An English surname likely derived from a place name or referring to someone who lived near a leaky stream.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 411 Americans carry the last name Leakey. That puts it at #57,914 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 833,952 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Leakey surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
411
1 in 833,952
Census rank
#57,914
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
351
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 351 bearers of the surname Leakey in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 57914th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Leakey, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Black (3.1%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Leakey
The surname Leakey has its origins in England, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is believed to have emerged during the late 12th century or early 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "leac," meaning a vegetable garden or field, and the suffix "-ey," which denotes a location or place. Thus, the name Leakey likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in a vegetable garden or field.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Leakey can be found in the records of the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379, where a John de Lekey is mentioned. The prefix "de" in this case indicates the place of origin or residence. The name also appears in various medieval records and documents, such as the Lancashire Inquisitions of the 16th century, where a William Leakey is mentioned.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Leakey was particularly prevalent in the areas around Rochdale and Oldham in Lancashire. Several notable individuals with this surname emerged during this time, including John Leakey (1541-1611), a wealthy landowner and justice of the peace in Rochdale, and Richard Leakey (1593-1667), a clergyman and rector of Middleton in Lancashire.
As the name spread across England, different spelling variations arose, such as Leaky, Leckey, and Leckie. One prominent individual with this surname was William Leakey (1792-1865), a renowned British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge.
Another significant figure bearing the Leakey name was the renowned family of paleoanthropologists and archaeologists, most notably Louis Leakey (1903-1972), a Kenyan-born British archaeologist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the understanding of human evolution through his work in the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. His wife, Mary Leakey (1913-1996), and their son, Richard Leakey (1944-2022), also gained international recognition for their pioneering work in paleoanthropology and their discoveries of important fossil remains.
Throughout history, the Leakey surname has been associated with various professions and fields, from landowners and clergymen to architects and renowned scientists. While the name's origins can be traced back to the northern counties of England, it has since spread across the globe, carried by individuals and families who have made significant contributions to their respective fields.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Leakey
Among Census respondents with the surname Leakey, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Black (3.1%) and Hispanic (2.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Leakey bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Leakey surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.5%
- Black or African American3.1%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Leakey surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #57,914 | #57,914 | 0.0% |
| Count | 351 | 351 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Leakey bearers went from 351 to 351 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #57,914 to #57,914.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Leakey
FAQ
Leakey surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Leakey?
The surname Leakey holds position #57,914 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 411 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Leakey surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Leakey, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.5%. The next largest groups are Black (3.1%) and Hispanic (2.9%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.