Leach surname meaning

Leach is an English occupational name from Middle English leche or lache, “physician,” from Old English lǣce. The word is the same root as “leech,” because medieval treatment often meant blood-letting. Poll Tax and other records show men named le Leche whose stated trade is medicus, though the byname could also stick to a village healer. Leech, Leitch, and Leetch are sister spellings, the last two common in Scotland. Occupation is the clear type, and the physician meaning is high confidence.