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Leng Family History

Leng Surname Meaning

English: nickname either from Middle English leng(e) ‘ling’ for someone who dealt in or was thought to resemble this fish. Compare Pike Tench Dace and other fish names. English: variant of Laing. German: variant of Lang.

Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 冷 meaning 'cold' in Chinese: (i) mispronounced form of the two Chinese surnames 泠 and 伶 (Ling) which are said to be traceable back to Ling Lun (伶倫) a musician during the reign of the legendary Huang Di the ‘Yellow Emperor’ (c. 27th century BC). (ii) said to be from Leng Shui (冷水) the name of a fief granted to descendants of Kang Shu the 9th son of the virtuous King Wen of Zhou (1152–1056 BC).

Chinese: Cantonese form of the surnames 凌 see Ling. Chinese: Cantonese form of the surname 甯 (or 寧) see Ning.

Chinese: Teochew form of the surname 龍 see Long. Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 梁 see Liang.

Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 林 see Lin. Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 練 see Lian. Cambodian: written ឡេង of Chinese origin from 梁 see Liang and compare 8 above.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Leng family from?

You can see how Leng families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Leng family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Leng families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 542 Leng families living in Yorkshire. This was about 50% of all the recorded Leng's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Leng families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Leng surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Leng ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Leng. 15% of Leng men worked as a General Labourer and 72% of Leng women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Leng were Cowman and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Leng | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    15%
  • Incapacitated
    15%
  • Retired
    13%
  • Cowman
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%

What Leng family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 29,000 census records available for the last name Leng. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Leng census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Leng

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Leng. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Leng immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Leng. For the veterans among your Leng ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Leng military records

You've only scratched the surface of Leng family history

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What is the average Leng lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Leng life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 1985. The average life expectancy for Leng in 1953 was 38, and 84 in 2004.

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Leng ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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