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

Lease, 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 Lease surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lease in America

Lease is the 8473rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lease surname appeared 3,896 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 Lease.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lease 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 Lease

The surname Lease originates from England and dates back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "læs," which means meadow or pasture. This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived near or worked on a meadow or pastureland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lease can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I. The name appears as "de la Lese," indicating that it may have initially been a descriptive surname referring to someone living near a meadow or pasture.

In the 14th century, the name was also recorded in various forms, such as "atte Lese" and "de la Leyes," further solidifying its connection to the Old English word for meadow. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the evolution of the English language over time.

The Lease surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John de la Lese, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, England, in 1317.

Another early recorded figure was William Lease, who was born around 1450 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local gentry.

In the 16th century, a prominent bearer of the Lease surname was Richard Lease, born in 1525 in Somerset, England. He was a renowned scholar and translator who contributed to the English translation of the Bible known as the Bishops' Bible.

During the 17th century, the surname Lease was associated with several members of the English gentry and clergy. One notable figure was Thomas Lease, born in 1620 in Wiltshire, England. He was a distinguished clergyman and served as the Rector of Bishopstone in Wiltshire.

In the 18th century, a prominent bearer of the Lease surname was John Lease, born in 1712 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a wealthy landowner and served as a Justice of the Peace for the county.

These examples illustrate the long history and varied backgrounds of individuals who have carried the surname Lease throughout the centuries, originating from its roots in England as a descriptive name associated with meadows and pastures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lease

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

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

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

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