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

Leaver, 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 Leaver surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leaver in America

Leaver is the 19498th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leaver surname appeared 1,385 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 Leaver.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leaver 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 Leaver

The surname Leaver is of English origin, derived from an occupational name for someone who worked as a loader or unloader of goods, particularly on ships or boats. The name is believed to have originated in the 14th century, from the Middle English word "levour" or "lever," meaning "one who lifts or carries."

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various medieval records. One such example is John le Levour, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. Another early reference is William Levour, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1381.

While the surname Leaver is predominantly found in England, it also has a presence in other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Wales. In Scotland, the name can be traced back to the 16th century, with records showing a John Levair in Peebles in 1546.

Historically, the Leaver surname has been associated with certain regions of England, particularly the counties of Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. The name was also present in the city of Bristol, a major port city, which likely contributed to its occupational origins.

Notable individuals who have borne the surname Leaver throughout history include:

1. John Leaver (c. 1550 - 1616), an English musician and composer who served as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I.

2. William Leaver (1625 - 1677), an English theologian and clergyman who served as the Master of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

3. Richard Leaver (1756 - 1835), an English engraver and painter known for his topographical views and landscapes.

4. Thomas Leaver (1820 - 1892), a British engineer and inventor who patented several improvements to agricultural machinery, including a reaping machine.

5. Charles Leaver (1828 - 1900), an English actor and playwright who wrote numerous popular farces and comedies in the late 19th century.

The name Leaver has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Leaver's Wood in Kent and Leaver's Lane in Gloucestershire, further indicating its historical presence in these regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leaver

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

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

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

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