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

Layfield, 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 Layfield surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Layfield in America

Layfield is the 11946th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Layfield surname appeared 2,617 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 Layfield.

We can also compare 2010 data for Layfield 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 Layfield

The surname Layfield has its roots in England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is a locational name, derived from the Old English words "lēah," meaning a meadow or clearing, and "feld," meaning a field or open land. The name likely originated in various areas where such meadows or clearings existed.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195, where a person named Robert de Layfeld is listed. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century in the county of Lincolnshire.

In the 13th century, the name was also found in various forms such as Leghfeld, Leighfeld, and Layfelde, reflecting the different spellings and pronunciations of the time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 record a John de Leyfeld in Oxfordshire, while the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 mention a William de Leghfeld in Yorkshire.

By the 14th century, the name had solidified into its modern spelling of Layfield. The Poll Tax Records of 1379 list several individuals with this surname, including John Layfeld in Yorkshire and William Layfeld in Lincolnshire.

One notable figure bearing this name was Sir John Layfield (c. 1570-1617), an English diplomat and politician who served as Ambassador to the Netherlands and held various positions in the court of King James I.

Other historical figures with the Layfield surname include:

1. William Layfield (1612-1701), an English clergyman and academic who served as President of St. John's College, Oxford.
2. Nathaniel Layfield (1619-1670), an English Puritan clergyman and author known for his writings on religious topics.
3. Edward Layfield (1674-1737), an English architect and builder who worked on various projects in London and surrounding areas.
4. Thomas Layfield (1771-1851), an English engraver and cartographer known for his maps and topographical engravings.

Throughout its history, the Layfield surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Layfield in Lincolnshire and Layfield Farm in Oxfordshire, further reinforcing its locational origins.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Layfield

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

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 Layfield 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 Layfield 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 Layfield was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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