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

Leighty, 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 Leighty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leighty in America

Leighty is the 13903rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leighty surname appeared 2,172 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 Leighty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leighty 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 Leighty

The surname LEIGHTY is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest. It is believed to have originated in the regions of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire in England during the 8th or 9th century.

The name was initially used as a locational surname, referring to individuals who resided near or owned a meadow or clearing. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary surname passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name LEIGHTY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as "Leghte" and "Leighte."

In the 13th century, records show a John de Leighte who was a landowner in Derbyshire. Another notable figure was Robert Leighty, born in 1542 in Nottinghamshire, who was a prominent merchant and trader during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the late 16th and early 17th centuries, many individuals with the surname LEIGHTY migrated to the American colonies, seeking new opportunities and religious freedom. One such individual was William Leighty, born in 1628 in Derbyshire, who settled in Virginia and became a successful farmer.

Throughout history, the LEIGHTY surname has been associated with various notable figures. For instance, Samuel Leighty (1765-1842) was a renowned Methodist minister and pioneer in the American frontier, known for his extensive missionary work and establishment of churches.

Another individual of note was Mary Ann Leighty (1834-1912), a teacher and women's rights activist from Ohio. She advocated for equal educational opportunities for women and played a significant role in the suffrage movement.

In the late 19th century, John Leighty (1856-1932) gained recognition as a prominent architect based in Chicago, responsible for designing several iconic buildings and contributing to the city's architectural landscape.

The LEIGHTY surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, England, which is derived from the Old English "Leighton," meaning a settlement or farm near a meadow.

While the surname LEIGHTY has evolved over centuries and spread across different regions, its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon settlements in England, where it was initially associated with individuals residing near meadows or clearings in forests.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leighty

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

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

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

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