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

Lehto, 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 Lehto surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lehto in America

Lehto is the 18729th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lehto surname appeared 1,466 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 Lehto.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lehto 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 Lehto

The surname Lehto has its origins in Finland, dating back to the medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Finnish word "lehto," which means a grove or a small forest. This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who lived near or worked in forested areas.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Lehto surname can be found in the Finnish census records from the late 16th century. These records often listed individuals by their place of residence or occupation, indicating that the Lehto name was likely used to identify those who lived in or near a grove or forest.

Throughout the centuries, the Lehto surname has been documented in various historical records, such as church registers, tax rolls, and property deeds. One notable example is the mention of a Lehto family in the records of the Turku Cathedral, which dates back to the 17th century.

Interestingly, the Lehto surname has also been linked to certain place names in Finland. For instance, the town of Lehto in the municipality of Lohja is believed to have derived its name from the same etymological root as the surname.

Several notable individuals with the surname Lehto have made significant contributions throughout history. One such figure was Timo Lehto (1924-1991), a Finnish writer and poet who was renowned for his works exploring themes of loneliness and alienation. Another prominent Lehto was Urho Lehto (1912-1989), a Finnish mathematician renowned for his contributions to the field of complex analysis.

Other individuals with the Lehto surname include Juha Lehto (born 1957), a Finnish politician and member of the European Parliament, and Jukka Lehto (born 1968), a Finnish ice hockey player who represented Finland in the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics.

It is worth noting that the Lehto surname is not limited to Finland; it has also been found in other Nordic countries, such as Sweden and Norway, likely due to migration patterns and cultural exchanges between these regions.

In conclusion, the surname Lehto has a rich history rooted in Finland's medieval past, with connections to the natural landscape and forested areas. Its presence in historical records and its association with notable individuals throughout the centuries attest to its enduring significance in Finnish culture and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lehto

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

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

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

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