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

Lecky, 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 Lecky surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lecky in America

Lecky is the 49365th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lecky surname appeared 426 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 Lecky.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lecky 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 Lecky

The surname Lecky has its origins in Ireland, where it first emerged in the early medieval period, likely in the 12th or 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old Irish Gaelic word "lecc," meaning a flat stone or flagstone, suggesting that the original bearers of the name may have lived near or worked with stone.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the 17th century. The Annals mention a "Muircheartach Ó Lecáin," or Murtagh O'Lecky, who was a notable chieftain in County Donegal in the late 15th century.

The Lecky surname is predominantly associated with County Donegal, particularly the Inishowen Peninsula and the surrounding areas. It is thought that the name may have originated in this region, as evidenced by the presence of several townlands and place names containing variations of the name, such as Lecky, Lackey, and Lacken.

Throughout the centuries, the Lecky family played a significant role in the history and politics of Donegal. One notable figure was Sir Thomas Lecky, born in 1707, who served as a member of the Irish Parliament and was a prominent landowner in the region.

Another prominent individual bearing the Lecky surname was William Edward Hartpole Lecky, a renowned historian and philosopher born in 1838. He is best known for his influential works, such as "A History of European Morals" and "A History of England in the Eighteenth Century."

In the 19th century, the Lecky family also produced several notable clergymen and academics, including Reverend James Lecky, born in 1807, who was a prominent figure in the Church of Ireland and served as the Dean of Emly.

While the Lecky surname has its roots firmly planted in Ireland, particularly in County Donegal, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration. The name can now be found in various countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia, where descendants of the original Irish Lecky families have established themselves.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lecky

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

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

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

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