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

Leclerc, 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 Leclerc surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leclerc in America

Leclerc is the 10626th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leclerc surname appeared 3,014 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 Leclerc.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leclerc 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 Leclerc

The surname LECLERC originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is an occupational name, derived from the Old French words 'le clerc', meaning 'the clerk' or 'the scholar'. The name was given to those who worked as clerks, secretaries, or scribes, often in religious or legal contexts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LECLERC can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as 'Le Clerc', indicating its French origins and the presence of individuals with this occupation in England at the time.

During the 12th century, the name LECLERC began to appear more frequently in historical records across France. Notable figures bearing this name include Jean Le Clerc (1657-1736), a Swiss theologian and biblical scholar known for his works on the Old and New Testaments. Another prominent individual was Victor Le Clerc (1789-1865), a French military officer who served under Napoleon Bonaparte and later became a Marshal of France.

In the 13th century, the name LECLERC was associated with several place names in France, such as Clermont and Clerval. The name may have evolved from these place names or vice versa, reflecting the close ties between surnames and locations during this period.

One of the most famous bearers of the LECLERC surname was Philippe de Hauteville, Count of Leclerc (1785-1802), a French general who served under Napoleon Bonaparte. He married Napoleon's sister, Pauline Bonaparte, and was appointed governor of Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti). Tragically, he died of yellow fever during the Haitian Revolution.

Another notable figure was Sébastien Le Clerc (1637-1714), a French engraver and artist known for his illustrations in religious and mythological works. His engravings were widely circulated and admired throughout Europe during the Baroque period.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the LECLERC surname continued to be prominent in France, with individuals bearing this name making contributions to various fields, including literature, military, and politics. Jacques Leclerc (1704-1788) was a French playwright and author, while Georges Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-1788), was a renowned naturalist and mathematician.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leclerc

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

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

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

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