Leeuw is Dutch for lion. It occurs as a surname, most commonly in the form of De Leeuw (9,814 people in the Netherlands in 2007 and 2,211 in Belgium in 1998). "De Leeuw", “Leeuw” (873 & 34 people) and Van der Leeuw (765 & 9 people) are thought to mostly be toponymic surnames, with the first bearers named "(from) the Lion" after a house, windmill or farm with that name. The more common surname Van Leeuwen has a distinct origin in the small town of Leeuwen and perhaps in the city of Leuven. People with these surnames include:
nl:Aart van der Leeuw (1876-1931), Dutch author and poetBastiaan Govertsz van der Leeuw (1624-1680), Dutch landscape painterCaroline van der Leeuw (b. 1981), Dutch jazz singerCharles van der Leeuw (b. 1952), Dutch journalistClinton Leeuw (born 1982), South African squash playerDan de Leeuw, visual effects artistDianne de Leeuw (b. 1955), Dutch figure skaterEdith de Leeuw (b. 1960), Dutch psychologistGerard van der Leeuw (1890-1950), Dutch historian and philosopher of religionGovert van der Leeuw (1645-1688), Dutch landscape painter, son of BastiaanJan de Leeuw (b. 1945), Dutch statisticianJohanna de Leeuw (b. 1932), Dutch-born American writerJohannes Jacobus (J. J.) van der Leeuw (1893-1934), Dutch authorKarel de Leeuw (1930-1978), American mathematicianLisa De Leeuw (b. 1958), American porn actressMarcellino van der Leeuw (b. 1990), Dutch footballerMelvin de Leeuw (b. 1988), Dutch footballerMichael de Leeuw (b. 1986), Dutch footballerMineke de Leeuw (b. 1938), Dutch authorde:Nata De Leeuw (b. 1991), Canadian ski jumperPaul de Leeuw (b. 1962), Dutch television comedian, singer and actorPieter van der Leeuw (1647-1679), Dutch landscape painter, son of BastiaanPuck de Leeuw (1953-2002), Dutch documentary filmmakerReinbert de Leeuw (b. 1938), Dutch conductor, pianist and composerSabrina De Leeuw (b. 1974), Belgian high jumperSarah de Leeuw (b. 1973), Canadian writerThomas de Leeuw (1560-1612), French engraver of Flemish originTon de Leeuw (1926-1996), Dutch composerTon de Leeuw, (born 1941), organizational theoristLoeki de Leeuw was not a person but a lion puppet featured before and after advertisement blocks on Dutch television between 1972 and 2004.