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

Leggat, 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 Leggat surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leggat in America

Leggat is the 78316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leggat surname appeared 244 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 Leggat.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leggat 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 Leggat

The surname Leggat is of Scottish origin, originating from the Lowlands region of Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "leggatu," meaning "hollow" or "small valley." This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived in a secluded valley or a hollow area.

In the early 13th century, the name appeared in various historical records and documents, such as the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. One notable example is Gillebrid Leggat, who was recorded as a tenant in the lands of Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1305.

The name Leggat has also been found in various ancient manuscripts and charters, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the 14th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is Robert Leggat, who was mentioned in the Rental Book of Cupar-Angus Abbey in 1481.

Throughout history, the surname Leggat has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Sir James Leggat (1531-1601), a Scottish lawyer and statesman who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1588 to 1592. Another prominent individual was Robert Leggat (1773-1824), a Scottish painter known for his portraiture and historical scenes.

In the 17th century, the name Leggat appeared in various accounts and records related to the Scottish Covenanters, a Presbyterian movement that played a significant role in the religious and political upheavals of that era. One such individual was John Leggat (1620-1684), a Scottish minister and covenanter who was imprisoned for his beliefs.

The surname Leggat has also been associated with places and geographic features in Scotland. For instance, the village of Leggat in Aberdeenshire is believed to have derived its name from the surname. Additionally, the Leggat Burn, a stream in East Ayrshire, likely takes its name from the same source.

Over the centuries, the surname Leggat has undergone various spelling variations, including Leggate, Leggatt, and Leggett. These variations reflect the regional dialects and scribal practices of different areas in Scotland where the name was prevalent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leggat

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

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

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

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