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

Legler, 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 Legler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Legler in America

Legler is the 16802nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Legler surname appeared 1,699 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 Legler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Legler 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 Legler

The surname Legler originated in Germany and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "legelær," which means a maker or builder of leges, a type of wooden barrel or cask used for storing liquids.

One of the earliest known references to the name Legler comes from a historical record in the town of Aachen, dated around 1275, which mentions a woodworker named Johannes Legler. This suggests that the name was initially an occupational surname given to those who crafted leges or wooden barrels.

In the 14th century, the name Legler began appearing in various parts of southern Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Some variations in spelling, such as Legler, Leggeler, and Legeler, were also documented during this time.

A notable early bearer of the name was Hans Legler, a prominent woodcarver and sculptor who lived in Nuremberg during the late 15th century (around 1450-1520). His intricate works adorned several churches and buildings in the city, showcasing the craftsmanship associated with the name.

In the 16th century, the Legler family spread to other parts of Europe, including Switzerland and Austria. One significant figure was Johann Legler (1529-1612), a Swiss Protestant reformer and theologian who played a crucial role in the Reformation movement in Zürich.

Another notable Legler was Johann Georg Legler (1719-1786), a German painter and engraver from Augsburg. His works, which included portraits and religious scenes, were highly regarded during the Baroque period.

As the centuries passed, the Legler name continued to be associated with various professions, including woodworking, carpentry, and construction. In the 19th century, Wilhelm Legler (1819-1885), a German architect and engineer, made significant contributions to the design and construction of several notable buildings in Berlin.

While the name Legler is still found across Germany and other parts of Europe, it has also been carried by individuals who immigrated to other parts of the world, including the Americas and Australia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Legler

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

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

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

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