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

League, 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 League surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of League in America

League is the 13795th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The League surname appeared 2,192 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 League.

We can also compare 2010 data for League 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 League

The surname League has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "leah," which means a meadow or clearing in a forest. This term was often used as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived in a meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de la Leye." This suggests that the name was initially a locational surname, indicating a person's place of residence or origin.

In the 13th century, the name took on the spellings "Lega" and "Legge," further evolving into the modern form of "League." This transition can be attributed to the influence of the Norman French language and the changing linguistic landscape of England during this period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname League. One example is John League (c. 1480-1546), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Westbury in Wiltshire during the reign of Henry VIII.

Another prominent figure is William League (1562-1637), an English clergyman and author who published several works on theology and biblical commentary. He was born in Cheshire and served as the rector of Stratford-upon-Avon for a significant portion of his career.

In the 17th century, the name League was also associated with the town of Leagrave, located in Bedfordshire, England. It is believed that some individuals with the surname may have originated from this area or had connections to it.

The 18th century saw the birth of John League (1720-1799), a English naval officer who distinguished himself during the American Revolutionary War. He served as a captain in the Royal Navy and played a role in several significant naval engagements.

Moving into the 19th century, we encounter William League (1834-1912), a British artist and painter known for his landscapes and maritime scenes. He was born in London and exhibited his works regularly at the Royal Academy.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the surname League. The name's origins can be traced back to the Old English word "leah," signifying a connection to meadows and clearings in the English countryside.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name League

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

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

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

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