Lartey
A surname of Ghanaian origin referring to someone who lived in or came from a town by that name.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 446 Americans carry the last name Lartey. That puts it at #54,990 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.13 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 768,507 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lartey surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
446
1 in 768,507
Census rank
#54,990
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
374
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 374 bearers of the surname Lartey in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 54990th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lartey, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.7%) and White (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lartey
The surname Lartey originates from Ghana, West Africa. It is a variation of the Akan name Lantey, which is derived from the name of an ancient Akan town called Lantey or Lantei. The town's name is thought to be a combination of the Akan words "lan" meaning "on the path" and "tei" meaning "ahead," suggesting that the town was located along a major trade route or path.
Historically, the Lartey surname first appeared in written records during the 18th century, when European traders and explorers began documenting the various Akan clans and their respective names. The earliest known reference to the Lartey name is found in the journals of Dutch merchant and explorer Willem Bosman, who wrote about his travels to the Gold Coast (modern-day Ghana) in the early 1700s.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the Lartey name was Nana Kwasi Lartey, a prominent Akan chief who ruled over the town of Lantey in the late 18th century. He was known for his role in negotiating trade agreements with European merchants and his efforts to maintain peace among the various Akan clans.
Another notable figure was Kofi Lartey, a wealthy Akan merchant and landowner who lived in the early 19th century. He owned vast cocoa and coffee plantations and played a significant role in the development of the Ghanaian economy during the colonial era.
In the 20th century, Kwame Lartey (1901-1983) was a renowned Ghanaian educator and writer. He founded several schools in Ghana and authored several books on Akan culture and traditions.
Nana Ama Lartey (1920-2002) was a respected Akan queen and traditional ruler in the Akwapim region of Ghana. She was known for her advocacy of women's rights and her efforts to preserve Akan cultural heritage.
Another notable figure was Dr. Kofi Lartey (1927-2015), a pioneering Ghanaian medical doctor and public health advocate. He played a crucial role in establishing several hospitals and health clinics throughout Ghana and worked tirelessly to improve access to healthcare in rural communities.
Overall, the Lartey surname has a rich history rooted in the Akan culture of Ghana, with several prominent individuals bearing the name throughout the centuries, making significant contributions to various fields such as governance, trade, education, and healthcare.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lartey
Among Census respondents with the surname Lartey, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.7%) and White (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Lartey bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Lartey surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American93.3%
- Two or more races2.7%
- White2.4%
- Unknown or suppressed1.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Lartey surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #86,657 | #54,990 | 36.5% |
| Count | 200 | 374 | 87.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.07 | 0.13 | 85.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Lartey bearers went from 200 to 374 (+87.0% change). The surname moved up 31,667 positions in the national ranking, going from #86,657 to #54,990.
FAQ
Lartey surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lartey?
The surname Lartey holds position #54,990 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 446 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.13 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lartey surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lartey, the largest self-reported group is Black at 93.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.7%) and White (2.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.