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

Leet, 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 Leet surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leet in America

Leet is the 15386th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leet surname appeared 1,906 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 Leet.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leet 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 Leet

The surname LEET has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "hlyt," which means "lot" or "portion," suggesting that the name may have been initially associated with someone who held a particular allotment of land or property.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Lyte" and "Lite." This historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames across various regions of England during that era.

Throughout the centuries, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Leet, Leete, Lyte, and Lite. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects, scribal errors, or personal preferences of the individuals bearing the name.

The village of Leet, located in the county of Yorkshire, is believed to have played a significant role in the establishment of the surname. Records from the 13th century mention individuals identified as "de Leet," indicating their association with this geographic location.

One notable figure bearing the LEET surname was Sir John Leet (1564-1637), an English merchant and Member of Parliament who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1615. His contributions to the city's governance and trade during the early 17th century solidified the LEET name in historical records.

Another prominent individual was William Leet (1688-1748), an American colonial leader and one of the founders of the city of Norwalk, Connecticut. He served as a lieutenant governor of the Connecticut Colony and played a crucial role in shaping the early development of the region.

In the literary realm, Harriet Underwood Leet (1857-1934), an American poet and writer, gained recognition for her works, including the collection "The Gift and Other Poems" published in 1899.

The LEET surname also found its way into the military ranks, with General James Leet (1842-1925), a Union Army officer during the American Civil War, earning distinction for his service and leadership on the battlefield.

Lastly, Gunther Leet (1885-1969), a German architect and urban planner, left a lasting impact on the built environment through his innovative designs and contributions to city planning in the early 20th century.

These examples highlight the widespread presence of the LEET surname throughout history, reflecting its enduring legacy across various fields and geographical regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leet

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

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

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

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