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

Leija, 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 Leija surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leija in America

Leija is the 5293rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leija surname appeared 6,580 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Leija.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leija 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 Leija

The surname Leija is of Spanish origin, tracing its roots back to the Iberian Peninsula during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "leja," which means a flat and uncultivated land or plain. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have resided in or near such areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Leija surname can be found in the historic Catalan region of Spain. In the 13th century, a document from the city of Barcelona mentions a certain "Bernat de Leija," indicating the presence of this surname in that area during that time.

As the Spanish language and culture spread across the globe through exploration and colonization, the Leija name traveled far and wide. In the 16th century, during the Spanish conquest of the Americas, records show that several individuals with this surname accompanied the expeditions to the New World.

A notable figure in the annals of Spanish history was Pedro de Leija, a military commander who served under the legendary conquistador Hernán Cortés during the conquest of Mexico in the early 1500s. His bravery and leadership were recognized by Cortés himself, and Pedro de Leija played a pivotal role in several key battles against the Aztec forces.

Another historical figure bearing the Leija surname was Fray Juan de Leija, a Spanish friar who lived in the 17th century. He was a member of the Franciscan order and worked tirelessly as a missionary, spreading Christianity and establishing missions in various parts of the Spanish colonies in the Americas.

In the 18th century, a man named Diego de Leija gained recognition for his contributions to the field of architecture. He was a prominent architect who designed and oversaw the construction of several notable buildings and churches in the Spanish territories of the New World, leaving a lasting legacy in the form of his architectural masterpieces.

As the centuries passed, the Leija surname continued to spread and find its place in various parts of the world, particularly in regions influenced by Spanish culture and settlement. Notable individuals bearing this name have made their mark in various fields, from literature and arts to politics and sciences, contributing to the rich tapestry of human history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leija

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

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

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

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