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

Leidy, 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 Leidy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leidy in America

Leidy is the 21307th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leidy surname appeared 1,230 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 Leidy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leidy 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 Leidy

The surname LEIDY has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 16th century or earlier. It is believed to be derived from the Germanic word "leit," which means "people" or "nation." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who was considered a leader or representative of their community.

One of the earliest known records of the LEIDY name can be found in the town of Leiding, located in the region of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. This place name likely shares a common root with the surname and may have influenced its spelling and pronunciation over time.

In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the LEIDY surname was Johann Leidy (1615-1678), a German theologian and author who wrote extensively on religious subjects. His works were widely read and influential during his lifetime.

The LEIDY name also has a presence in historical records from the United States. One of the earliest documented individuals with this surname was Jacob Leidy (1735-1812), a German immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania in the mid-18th century. He and his descendants played a role in the early development of the American colonies.

Another significant figure with the LEIDY surname was Joseph Leidy (1823-1891), an American paleontologist and anatomist who made significant contributions to the study of fossils and comparative anatomy. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential scientists of his time and was elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.

In England, the LEIDY name can be traced back to the 18th century, with records indicating the presence of individuals with this surname in various parts of the country. One notable example is Richard Leidy (1784-1868), a successful businessman and landowner from Gloucestershire, who left a substantial estate upon his death.

Throughout history, there have been numerous other individuals with the LEIDY surname who have made their mark in various fields, including literature, politics, and the arts. While less well-known than some of the figures mentioned above, their contributions have helped shape the rich tapestry of the LEIDY family history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leidy

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

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

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

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