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

Leekim, 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 Leekim surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leekim in America

Leekim is the 130610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leekim surname appeared 130 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 Leekim.

The history of the last name Leekim

The surname LEEKIM is of Korean origin and dates back several centuries. It is believed to have originated from the region around Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, during the Goryeo dynasty which ruled from 918 to 1392 AD.

LEEKIM is a compound surname, formed by combining the two Korean family names Lee and Kim. Lee is derived from the Korean word "ri" meaning "plum tree", while Kim comes from the word "gim" meaning "gold" or "metal". The combination of these two names suggests a connection to nature and valuable materials.

Historical records from the Goryeo period mention individuals with the surname LEEKIM, though it was likely less common than the individual names Lee and Kim at the time. One of the earliest known references is found in a genealogical record from the 13th century, which lists a LEEKIM family living in the Gyeonggi province near Seoul.

During the Joseon dynasty, which succeeded the Goryeo and ruled from 1392 to 1897, the LEEKIM name became more widespread. Notable individuals bearing this surname include LEEKIM Yun-sik (1530-1604), a renowned scholar and calligrapher who served as a royal tutor during the reign of King Seonjo.

In the 18th century, LEEKIM Seok-jeong (1728-1799) was a prominent scholar and philosopher who made significant contributions to the development of Korean Neo-Confucianism. His writings and teachings had a lasting impact on Korean intellectual thought.

Another notable figure was LEEKIM Yeong-hwan (1856-1935), a diplomat and politician who played a key role in the independence movement against Japanese colonial rule in the early 20th century. He served as the first Prime Minister of the Korean Empire from 1898 to 1899.

In more recent history, LEEKIM Sung-jae (1907-1972) was a renowned novelist and poet whose works explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of the Korean people during the Japanese occupation and the Korean War.

While the surname LEEKIM is not as common as Lee or Kim individually, it has a rich historical legacy and has been borne by many notable figures throughout Korean history, from scholars and philosophers to politicians and artists.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leekim

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

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 Leekim 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.

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

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

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