Lefear
An Americanized spelling variation of the French surname "Lefebvre", meaning "smith" or "blacksmith".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 103 Americans carry the last name Lefear. That puts it at #158,432 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,327,712 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lefear surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
103
1 in 3,327,712
Census rank
#158,432
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
102
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 102 bearers of the surname Lefear in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 158432nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lefear, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.1%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lefear
The surname LEFEAR has its origins in France, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old French word "lefer," meaning "the smith" or "the ironworker." This suggests that the name was initially given as an occupational surname to those who worked as blacksmiths or ironmongers.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres, a medieval manuscript from the 12th century, which mentions a certain "Guillelmus Lefere" in 1187. Another early reference is found in the rolls of the Taille of Paris in 1292, where a "Jehan Lefere" is listed.
During the Middle Ages, the name was commonly spelled as "Lefere," "Lefer," or "Leferre," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. Some early bearers of the name include Robert Lefere, a merchant from Rouen documented in 1315, and Jehan Lefere, a landowner in Normandy mentioned in the Ancien Rolle des Fiefs in 1366.
As the name spread across Europe, it underwent further modifications and adaptations. In England, the name was anglicized to LEFEAR, and records show individuals with this spelling as early as the 16th century. One notable example is William LEFEAR, a merchant from London who is mentioned in the Parish Registers of St. Dunstan's in the West in 1584.
In the 17th century, the name appears in various historical records, including the Oxford University Registers, which lists a Thomas LEFEAR in 1635, and the Hearth Tax Rolls of Essex in 1671, where a John LEFEAR is recorded as a landowner.
Among the notable figures in history bearing this surname are:
1. Jacques LEFEAR (1590-1654), a French mathematician and astronomer known for his contributions to the study of optics.
2. Elizabeth LEFEAR (1673-1741), an English philanthropist and benefactor who founded several schools and almshouses in London.
3. Charles LEFEAR (1801-1879), a French artist and painter renowned for his landscape and genre paintings.
4. Henry LEFEAR (1832-1901), an American businessman and industrialist who established the LEFEAR Steel Company in Pittsburgh.
5. Marie LEFEAR (1876-1948), a French author and novelist known for her works on social issues and women's rights.
Throughout its history, the surname LEFEAR has been associated with various professions, from blacksmiths and merchants to academics and artists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of those who have borne this distinguished name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lefear
Among Census respondents with the surname Lefear, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.1%.
The bar chart below shows how Lefear bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Lefear surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American95.1%
- Unknown or suppressed4.9%
FAQ
Lefear surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lefear?
The surname Lefear holds position #158,432 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 103 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lefear surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lefear, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.1%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.