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

Leeman, 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 Leeman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leeman in America

Leeman is the 11801st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leeman surname appeared 2,653 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 Leeman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leeman 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 Leeman

The surname Leeman has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest. The name Leeman likely referred to someone who lived near or in such a clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this historical document, the name is spelled "Leaman," suggesting that the current spelling evolved over time.

In the 13th century, records show a William Leman residing in the county of Norfolk, England. This is one of the earliest known examples of the surname in its more modern spelling. Variations such as "Leamonde" and "Lemon" were also documented during this period, reflecting the fluid nature of surnames in medieval times.

The Leeman surname is also closely associated with the village of Leamington in Warwickshire, England. This place name, originally spelled "Leman-tun," further reinforces the connection between the surname and the Old English word "leah."

Notable individuals with the surname Leeman include:

1. Sir Gervase Leeman (1588-1661), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the English Civil War.
2. John Leeman (1729-1798), a British naval officer and explorer who conducted surveys of the coast of Australia.
3. Robert Leeman (1795-1875), a British architect best known for designing numerous churches and public buildings in London.
4. Alice Leeman (1858-1933), an American educator and suffragist who advocated for women's rights and access to higher education.
5. William Leeman (1923-2012), a British artist renowned for his abstract expressionist paintings and sculptures.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence of the Leeman surname across various fields and regions, reflecting its enduring legacy as a distinctly English name that has stood the test of time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leeman

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

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

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

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