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

Layhew, 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 Layhew surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Layhew in America

Layhew is the 78040th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Layhew surname appeared 245 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Layhew.

We can also compare 2010 data for Layhew 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 Layhew

The surname LAYHEW originated in England during the late medieval period, likely emerging sometime in the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing, and "hæw" meaning a hedge or enclosure. This suggests the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in a meadow surrounded by hedges.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Norfolk Feet of Fines from 1298, which mentions a Thomas Layhew. In the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, a John Layhew is listed as a taxpayer. These early records indicate the name was already established in various parts of England by the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

The surname LAYHEW has also been connected to certain place names, such as the village of Layhew in Worcestershire, which may have been named after an early bearer of the surname or vice versa. Variations in spelling, such as Layhough and Layhaw, can be found in historical documents from the 15th and 16th centuries.

Notable individuals who bore the LAYHEW surname include Sir John Layhew (1470-1538), a prominent landowner and magistrate in Lincolnshire during the reign of Henry VIII. Another notable figure was William Layhew (1592-1668), a successful merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, a family of LAYHEW farmers and landowners lived in the village of Layhew in Worcestershire. One member of this family, Thomas Layhew (1712-1788), gained recognition for his innovative agricultural practices and improvements to the local community.

During the 19th century, the LAYHEW surname appeared in various parts of England, as well as in some historical records from the American colonies and early United States. One example is Dr. James Layhew (1805-1872), a respected physician and community leader in Pennsylvania.

While the LAYHEW surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its historical roots can be traced back to the medieval period in England, with connections to both rural landscapes and urban centers over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Layhew

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

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

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

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