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

Lee, 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 Lee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lee in America

Lee is the 21st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lee surname appeared 693,023 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 235 people would have the surname Lee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lee 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 Lee

The surname LEE has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the 8th century. It is derived from the Old English word "leah," which refers to a clearing or meadow in a forest or woodland area. This name was initially used as a topographic surname, given to individuals who lived near such a clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname LEE can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appeared as "de la Legh" and was associated with various locations in different counties, including Lancashire, Cheshire, and Shropshire.

During the Middle Ages, the surname LEE evolved into various spellings, such as "Legh," "Ley," and "Leigh," reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time. These variations were often influenced by the location or place names associated with the family.

One notable example of an early bearer of the surname LEE is Sir Richard de Legh, a 14th-century English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was granted lands in Cheshire. Another prominent figure was Sir Walter Leigh (1550-1622), a Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Worcestershire.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname LEE gained prominence in Scotland, particularly in the Borders region. One notable Scottish bearer was Sir John Leley (1609-1667), a renowned artist and painter who served as the Principal Painter to King Charles I.

The LEE surname also has a strong presence in Ireland, where it is often anglicized from the Irish Gaelic name "Ó Laoidhigh." One notable Irish figure with this surname was Sir Thomas Lees (1824-1901), a renowned industrialist and philanthropist who played a significant role in the development of the linen industry in Ulster.

Other notable individuals with the surname LEE include Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), a renowned Confederate general during the American Civil War, and Harper Lee (1926-2016), the Pulitzer Prize-winning American author best known for her novel "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Overall, the surname LEE has a rich history spanning centuries and multiple countries, reflecting the diverse origins and migrations of families bearing this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lee

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

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

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

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