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

Leffew, 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 Leffew surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leffew in America

Leffew is the 21672nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leffew surname appeared 1,202 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 Leffew.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leffew 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 Leffew

The surname LEFFEW has its origins in France, emerging during the Middle Ages around the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "leffe," which referred to a lip or the edge of something. This could suggest that the name initially identified someone with a distinct physical feature or perhaps even a profession related to a specific skill or trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the LEFFEW surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their estates commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. While the spelling may have varied slightly, entries such as "Lefeu" and "Leffewe" are present, indicating the name's existence in medieval England.

The LEFFEW surname has also been linked to various place names in France, such as Lefeu and Leffeu, which may have influenced its development and spread across different regions. As people migrated and settled in new areas, the name likely underwent minor spelling variations due to local dialects and scribal errors.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the LEFFEW surname. One such figure was Jean Leffew, a French merchant and explorer who embarked on voyages to the West Indies in the late 16th century. Another was Pierre Leffew, a renowned painter who lived in Paris during the 17th century and gained recognition for his intricate portraiture.

In England, the LEFFEW name can be traced back to Sir William Leffew, a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in the county of Somerset during the 15th century. His descendants continued to hold significant estates and influence in the region for several generations.

Another individual of note was Thomas Leffew, a Scottish scholar and philosopher who lived in the 18th century. He authored several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy, contributing to the intellectual discourse of his time.

The LEFFEW surname has also been associated with various military figures throughout history. One example is Major General John Leffew, a highly decorated officer in the British Army who served with distinction during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century.

While the LEFFEW surname may not be among the most common today, its rich history and diverse origins across multiple countries and cultures serve as a testament to the fascinating stories and journeys encapsulated within family names.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leffew

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

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

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

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