2000
#150,436
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 100
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Lebre
A surname of Portuguese origin derived from "lebre," meaning "hare" or "rabbit."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 135 Americans carry the last name Lebre. That puts it at #143,511 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,538,921 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lebre surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
135
1 in 2,538,921
Census rank
#143,511
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
118
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 118 bearers of the surname Lebre in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 143511th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lebre, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.9%) and Black (0.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lebre
The surname LEBRE originates from Portugal, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Portuguese word "lebre," which means "hare" or "rabbit." This name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or a reference to someone who hunted or traded in hares.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the LEBRE surname can be found in the "Livro das Linhagens" (Book of Lineages), a medieval Portuguese genealogical record compiled in the 13th century. This document mentions individuals with the LEBRE surname, suggesting the name's presence in Portugal during that era.
In the 14th century, there are records of a nobleman named Vasco Lebre, who served as a knight and military commander under King Afonso IV of Portugal. He participated in various military campaigns and was granted land and titles for his service.
During the 15th century, the LEBRE surname appeared in several historical documents, including property records and legal proceedings. One notable individual from this period was João Lebre, a merchant and landowner from the city of Porto, who was involved in trade with other European countries.
The LEBRE surname also has connections to the town of Lebre in the Alentejo region of Portugal. It is believed that some individuals may have adopted the surname as a reference to their place of origin or residence in this town.
In the 16th century, there are records of a Portuguese explorer named Diogo Lebre, who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his famous voyage around the world. Diogo Lebre played a crucial role in the expedition and was one of the few survivors who returned to Spain after the arduous journey.
Another notable figure with the LEBRE surname was Father António Lebre, a Jesuit priest and missionary who lived in the 17th century. He traveled to Asia and worked extensively in evangelization efforts in India and other parts of the region.
Throughout history, the LEBRE surname has been found in various regions of Portugal, as well as in Portuguese colonies and territories, reflecting the country's global influence and migration patterns.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lebre
Among Census respondents with the surname Lebre, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.9%) and Black (0.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Lebre bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Lebre surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.4% · 109
- Hispanic or Latino5.9% · 7
- Black or African American0.8% · 1
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Lebre
Lebre appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#144,141
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
+15 bearers (+15.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 6,295 places
2020
#143,511
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 118
+3 bearers (+2.6%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 630 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #150,436 | 100 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #144,141 | 115 | 0.04 | +15 bearers (+15.0%) | Up 6,295 places |
| 2020 | #143,511 | 118 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.6%) | Up 630 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Lebre surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #144,141 | #143,511 | 0.4% |
| Count | 115 | 118 | 2.6% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -1.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Lebre bearers went from 115 to 118 (+2.6% change). The surname moved up 630 positions in the national ranking, going from #144,141 to #143,511.
FAQ
Lebre surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Lebre?
Name Census estimates that about 135 living Americans carry the surname Lebre. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,538,921 residents.
How common is Lebre?
Lebre ranks #143,511 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 118 people with the surname Lebre. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (135), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Lebre.
Has Lebre become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Lebre went from 115 recorded bearers to 118. That is an increase of 3 (+2.6%). In the national ranking it rose from #144,141 to #143,511.
What does the Census say about the background of Lebre?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lebre, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.9%) and Black (0.8%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Lebre in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.4% (109 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Lebre appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.4%), Hispanic (5.9%), Black (0.8%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Lebre (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Lebre mean?
A surname of Portuguese origin derived from "lebre," meaning "hare" or "rabbit." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Lebre (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Lebre?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.