Lees Family History

Lees Surname Meaning

English and Scottish: topographic name from Middle English lees ‘fields arable land’ plural of lee (see Lee) or from Middle English lese ‘pasture meadow’ (Old English lǣs). English: habitational name from Leece or Lees in Lancashire or Leese in Cheshire, all named from Old English lēas ‘woodland clearings’ (plural of lēah) or from Leece in Cumbria which was probably named with a Celtic word lïss ‘hall court the principal house in a district’.

English: variant of Leece Scottish: shortened form of Gillies. Scottish and Irish: shortened and altered form of McLeish. Dutch: variant of Leys.

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

Similar surnames: Lee, Leys, Leed, Hees, Dees, Leas, Lier, Leet, Leese, Leeds

427K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
19K	Military Records
27K	Immigration Records
225K	Census and Voter Lists
274K	Member Trees

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

Where is the Lees family from?

You can see how Lees families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Lees family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Lees families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 4,734 Lees families living in Lancashire. This was about 41% of all the recorded Lees's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Lees families in 1891.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Lees surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Lees

What did your Lees 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 Lees. 7% of Lees men worked as a General labourer and 66% of Lees women worked as an Unpaid domestic duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Lees were Bricklayer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Lees

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.

General labourer

Incapacitated

Builders labourer

Bricklayer

Unpaid domestic duties

66%

Private means

Unpaid domestic

Housewife

What Lees family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 225K census records available for the last name Lees. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Lees census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Lees

Passenger List

There are 27K immigration records available for the last name Lees. 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 Lees immigration records

Military Records

There are 19K military records available for the last name Lees. For the veterans among your Lees ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Lees military records

You've only scratched the surface of Lees family history

Discover More

What is the average Lees lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Lees life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Lees in 1946 was 45, and 77 in 2004.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Lees family tree

Explore Your Tree

Search for another surname

Lees Surname Meaning

English: variant of Leece Scottish: shortened form of Gillies. Scottish and Irish: shortened and altered form of McLeish. Dutch: variant of Leys.

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

Where is the Lees family from?

What did your Lees ancestors do for a living?

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.

General labourer

Incapacitated

Builders labourer

Bricklayer

Unpaid domestic duties

66%

Private means

Unpaid domestic

Housewife

What Lees family records will you find?

What is the average Lees lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Lees life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Lees in 1946 was 45, and 77 in 2004.

Lees Family History

Lees Surname Meaning

974,000 record(s) for Lees

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

Where is the Lees family from?

What did your Lees ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Lees family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Lees family history

What is the average Lees lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Lees family tree

Search for another surname

Lees Surname Meaning

974,000 record(s) for Lees

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

Where is the Lees family from?

What did your Lees ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Lees family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Lees family history

What is the average Lees lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Lees family tree

Search for another surname