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

Leek, 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 Leek surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leek in America

Leek is the 9991st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leek surname appeared 3,228 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Leek.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leek 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 Leek

The surname "LEEK" originated in England and is a locational name derived from the town of Leek in Staffordshire. Historically, this town was known for its leek production, which is believed to be the source of the name. Leek was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Lec" and "Lece," reflecting the Old English words for the vegetable leek and the stream or waterway.

In the 13th century, records show the surname spelled as "de Leke" and "atte Leke," indicating that the name initially denoted someone from the town of Leek. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form of "LEEK." One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John de Leke, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1283.

The surname "LEEK" can be traced back to several notable figures throughout history. Sir Francis Leek (1592-1661) was an English Member of Parliament and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War. Another prominent bearer was Ralph Leek (1630-1687), an English clergyman who served as the chaplain to King Charles II.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "LEEK" was in 1638 when John Leek arrived in Virginia aboard the ship "Plaine Joan." Another early American bearer was Tobias Leek, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1705 and later served as a Captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Other notable individuals with the surname "LEEK" include Henry Leek (1637-1702), an English mathematician and author; Richard Leek (1705-1759), an English architect known for his work on numerous churches and country houses; and Sir Henry William Studholme Brownrigg Leek (1813-1900), a British politician and Member of Parliament.

Throughout its history, the surname "LEEK" has maintained a strong connection to its locational origins in Staffordshire, England. While not a particularly widespread name, it has been borne by individuals of note in various fields over the centuries, reflecting its enduring legacy as a distinctly English surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leek

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

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

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

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