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

Leavitt, 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 Leavitt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leavitt in America

Leavitt is the 2743rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leavitt surname appeared 13,133 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Leavitt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leavitt 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 Leavitt

The surname Leavitt has its origins in England, believed to have derived from the Old English word "leav" or "lefe," which means "beloved" or "dear." The name likely emerged in the early medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a landowner named Lefuuiet in Berkshire, England. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the surname over time, as it gradually transformed into its more modern form, Leavitt.

During the Middle Ages, the Leavitt family was primarily concentrated in the counties of Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. The name was also associated with various place names, such as Leavitt Hill in Oxfordshire and Leavitt's Farm in Gloucestershire.

One notable bearer of the Leavitt surname was Sir Thomas Leavitt (c. 1490-1554), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Oxfordshire. He played a significant role in the local governance of his county and was appointed High Sheriff of Oxfordshire in 1536.

Another prominent figure was John Leavitt (1608-1691), an early Puritan settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He and his family were among the founders of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts, and he served as a deacon in the local church.

In the 18th century, Reverend Jonathan Leavitt (1676-1762) was a renowned Congregationalist minister in Connecticut. He was also a respected scholar and published several theological works during his lifetime.

During the American Revolutionary War, Nathaniel Leavitt (1744-1825) served as a captain in the Continental Army and participated in several key battles, including the Battle of Bunker Hill.

In the literary world, Robert Leavitt (1865-1942) was a notable American poet and writer. He authored several volumes of poetry and was a respected figure in the New England literary scene of the early 20th century.

These examples illustrate the long and diverse history of the Leavitt surname, spanning various fields and regions throughout the centuries. While the name's origins can be traced back to England, its bearers have left their mark across the globe, contributing to the rich tapestry of human experience.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leavitt

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

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

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

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