Leathley last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Leathley

A surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from the town of Leathley.

Leathley, 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 Leathley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leathley in America

Leathley is the 146201st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leathley surname appeared 113 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 Leathley.

The history of the last name Leathley

The surname Leathley originated in Yorkshire, England, during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "leá" meaning a meadow or field, and "ley" meaning a clearing or pasture. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name lived near a meadow or pasture land.

The Leathley surname can be traced back to the village of Leathley in West Yorkshire, where it is believed to have originated. Records from the 13th century mention individuals with the surname Leathley, indicating that the name was already well-established by that time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Leathley name appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a William de Letheley is mentioned. This document provides valuable insight into the prevalence of the name in the region during the late 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Leathley surname appeared in various records, including parish registers and court rolls. Notable individuals from this period include John Leathley, who was born in 1543 in Yorkshire and served as a member of the local gentry.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Leathley surname. However, it does mention the village of Leathley, which lends credence to the theory that the name originated from this location.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Leathley surname continued to be found primarily in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. One notable individual from this period was Robert Leathley (1628-1694), a clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Bardsey.

Other notable individuals with the Leathley surname include:

  1. Sir Harington Leathley (1701-1786), a British landowner and Member of Parliament for Yorkshire.
  2. Reverend Thomas Leathley (1719-1789), an English clergyman and author who wrote on theological subjects.
  3. William Leathley (1772-1845), a British lawyer and legal writer who published works on property law.
  4. Audrey Leathley (1901-1983), a British actress and singer who appeared in several films and stage productions in the early 20th century.
  5. John Leathley (1915-2000), a British army officer who served in World War II and later became a prominent businessman.

While the Leathley surname has its roots in Yorkshire, it has since spread to other parts of England and beyond, with various spellings and variations emerging over time. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval era and the village of Leathley in West Yorkshire, where the name first emerged as a locational descriptor.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leathley

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

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 Leathley was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only88.50%100
Non-Hispanic Black Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races0.00%0
Hispanic Origin10.62%12

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.

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

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

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