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

Leech, 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 Leech surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leech in America

Leech is the 6640th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leech surname appeared 5,099 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 Leech.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leech 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 Leech

The surname Leech is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "læce", meaning a physician or a healer. It was initially an occupational name given to those who practiced the art of healing, often through the use of leeches for bloodletting.

The name is believed to have originated in England, possibly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk, where the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Ailric Leche, who was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Le Leche, Leche, and Leach, reflecting the evolution of the English language and spelling variations. One notable example is John le Leche, a prominent merchant from Lincolnshire, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey of landowners in England.

During the Middle Ages, the Leech family held lands and estates in various parts of England, including Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Staffordshire. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name associated with a place name is William de Lech, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Leech. One of the earliest was Sir John Leche, a prominent lawyer and judge who served as Chief Baron of the Exchequer in the 15th century. Another was Humphrey Leech, a renowned English composer who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

In the 19th century, John Leech (1817-1864) was a renowned English caricaturist and illustrator, best known for his work in the satirical magazine Punch. Another notable bearer of the name was William Elford Leach (1790-1836), a British zoologist and marine biologist who made significant contributions to the study of crustaceans and mollusks.

Mary Leech (1857-1923) was an American educator and suffragist who played a crucial role in the women's suffrage movement in Washington state. She was also a prominent advocate for the establishment of kindergartens in the state.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Leech throughout history, reflecting its long-standing presence in various parts of England and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leech

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

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

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

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