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Leeds Family History

Leeds Name Meaning

English: habitational name from either the city in Yorkshire or the village in Kent. The Yorkshire placename is recorded as Loidis in the 8th century and Ledes in 1086 and may derive from British Lātensēs or Lādensēs meaning ‘the people of the river Lāt- (probably an old name for the river Aire to be associated with Welsh llawd ‘heat ardour passion’)’. The origin of the Kent placename which is recorded as Hledes c. 1100 is uncertain.

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


Similar surnames: Leed, Lees, Hees, Leys, Leer, Beed, Seed, Deeds, Leet, Leep

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Leeds family from?

You can see how Leeds families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Leeds family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Leeds families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 130 Leeds families living in Norfolk. This was about 20% of all the recorded Leeds's in United Kingdom. Norfolk had the highest population of Leeds families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Leeds surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Leeds ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Leeds. 10% of Leeds men worked as a Bricklayer and 67% of Leeds women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Leeds were Private Means and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Leeds | 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

  • Bricklayer
    10%
  • Railway Clerk
    10%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    8%
  • Private Means
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Private Means
    6%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housewife
    4%
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What Leeds family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 40,000 census records available for the last name Leeds. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Leeds census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Leeds

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Leeds. 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 Leeds immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Leeds. For the veterans among your Leeds ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Leeds military records

You've only scratched the surface of Leeds family history

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What is the average Leeds lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Leeds life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1952, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Leeds in 1949 was 43, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Leeds

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