Lehtinen
A surname derived from the Finnish word lehti, meaning "leaf" or "foliage".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 617 Americans carry the last name Lehtinen. That puts it at #41,886 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.18 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 555,518 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lehtinen 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
617
1 in 555,518
Census rank
#41,886
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
519
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 519 bearers of the surname Lehtinen in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.18 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 41886th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lehtinen, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lehtinen
The surname Lehtinen is of Finnish origin, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Finnish word "lehti," which means "leaf" or "blade." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a wooded area or worked with leaves or blades, such as a forester or a blacksmith.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Lehtinen can be found in historical records from the 16th and 17th centuries in Finland. Some of the earliest known individuals with this surname include Matti Lehtinen (born in 1587) from Turku, and Liisa Lehtinen (born in 1611) from Porvoo.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the name Lehtinen became more widespread across Finland, with several notable individuals bearing this surname. One of the most prominent was Lauri Lehtinen (1750-1825), a Finnish pastor and author who wrote extensively on religious and moral topics.
Another notable figure was Yrjö Lehtinen (1876-1953), a Finnish politician and member of the Finnish Parliament. He played a significant role in the establishment of Finland's independence in 1917 and served as Speaker of the Parliament from 1929 to 1930.
In the 20th century, Lehtinen continued to be a common surname in Finland, with several individuals achieving recognition in various fields. One such individual was Lasse Lehtinen (1908-1995), a Finnish artist and sculptor known for his abstract and modernist works.
Another notable figure was Jari Lehtinen (born 1960), a former professional ice hockey player who played for the Dallas Stars in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was a member of the Finnish national team that won the silver medal at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Furthermore, the name has been associated with several place names in Finland, such as Lehtiniemi, a village in the municipality of Muonio, and Lehtiniemenkangas, a ridge in the municipality of Kemijärvi.
While the Lehtinen surname is predominantly Finnish, it has also been adopted by individuals of other nationalities, particularly in neighboring countries like Sweden and Russia, due to historical migrations and cultural exchanges.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lehtinen
Among Census respondents with the surname Lehtinen, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Lehtinen 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 Lehtinen surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.3%
- Two or more races1.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Lehtinen surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #41,886 | #41,886 | 0.0% |
| Count | 519 | 519 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.18 | 0.18 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Lehtinen bearers went from 519 to 519 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #41,886 to #41,886.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Lehtinen
FAQ
Lehtinen surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lehtinen?
The surname Lehtinen holds position #41,886 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 617 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.18 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lehtinen surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lehtinen, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.9%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (2.3%). 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.