History of your Surname
Get access to Leys family records.Start a free trial

Leys Family History

Leys Name Meaning

French: habitational name from Leys in Saône-et-Loire. Dutch: patronymic from a reduced form of the personal name Laurei(n)s (see Lawrence). Scottish: habitational name from a place in Aberdeenshire called Leys, named with Old English l?se ‘pasture’, ‘meadow’ (see Lees).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press


Similar surnames: Lees, Ley, Leis, Hees, Leos, Leas, Sens, Leyes, Fey, Bess

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Leys family from?

You can see how Leys families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Leys family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Leys families were found in and Scotland in 1841and Scotland in 1851and Scotland in 1861and Scotland in 1871and Scotland in 1881and Scotland in 1891and Scotland in 1901. In 1911 there were 7 Leys families living in New Brunswick. This was about 47% of all the recorded Leys's in Canada. New Brunswick and 1 other province had the highest population of Leys families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Leys surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Leys ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Fermier and Mechanic were the top reported jobs for men and women in the CA named Leys. 43% of Leys men worked as a Fermier.

View Census data for Leys | 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 1921

  • Fermier
    43%
  • Cultivateur
    29%
  • Labourer
    29%

Top Female Occupations in 1921

  • Mechanic
    100%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Leys family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Leys. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Leys census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Leys

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Leys. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Leys immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Leys military records

You've only scratched the surface of Leys family history.

Discover More

What is the average Leys lifespan?

Between 1955 and 2004, in the United States, Leys life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1964, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Leys in 1955 was 57, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Leys

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Leys family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial