Find out how popular the last name Lakey is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Lakey.

Lakey, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Lakey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lakey in America

Lakey is the 8235th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lakey surname appeared 4,025 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Lakey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lakey to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Lakey

The surname Lakey originated in England, with roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "læcc" and "ey," meaning a small stream or brook and an island or dry ground within a marsh or fen, respectively. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a small stream or brook on an island or dry ground within a marshy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lakey can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where it was spelled as "de Lackey." This indicates that the name was initially a locational surname, referring to a specific place or area where the family originated.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records with slight variations in spelling, such as "Lakye," "Lakie," and "Laky." These variations were common during that time due to the inconsistent spelling conventions of the era.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Lakey was John Lakey, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol during the 16th century. He was born around 1520 and played a significant role in the city's trade and governance.

Another individual of note was Sir Walter Lakey, a military officer who served in the English Civil War during the 17th century. He was born in 1610 and fought for the Parliamentarian forces, earning recognition for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

In the 18th century, the name Lakey appeared in various parish records throughout England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Lakey, a renowned clockmaker born in 1720 in Yorkshire. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after and are now considered important pieces of horological history.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Lakey gained further prominence with the birth of William Lakey in 1837. He was a prominent industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the textile industry in the north of England.

Another notable figure was Emily Lakey, born in 1865, who was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She played a crucial role in establishing educational opportunities for women and promoting gender equality in Britain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lakey

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Lakey.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Lakey was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Lakey has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Lakey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Lakey, please contact us.

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