Leiner
A German surname derived from the place name Leine, referring to someone from that area.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 823 Americans carry the last name Leiner. That puts it at #32,203 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.24 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 416,469 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Leiner 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
823
1 in 416,469
Census rank
#32,203
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
716
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 716 bearers of the surname Leiner in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 32203rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Leiner, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Leiner
The surname LEINER is of German origin, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Old German word "leinen," meaning "linen" or "flax," suggesting that the original bearers of this name were likely involved in the linen trade or worked with flax cultivation.
The name was initially concentrated in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where the textile industry was prominent during the medieval period. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents, such as parish records and town registries from these areas.
One notable early reference to the LEINER surname can be found in the Württembergisches Klosterbuch, a 17th-century manuscript detailing the history of monasteries in the region of Württemberg. The manuscript mentions a certain Johann LEINER, who lived in the town of Esslingen in the mid-1600s.
In the 18th century, the LEINER name began to spread beyond the German states, with some bearers migrating to other parts of Europe and even to the Americas. One such individual was Hans LEINER, a Bavarian weaver who settled in Pennsylvania in the 1750s and became a respected member of the local German community.
Another notable figure with the LEINER surname was Karl LEINER (1808-1880), a German painter and lithographer from Saxony. His works, which often depicted landscapes and rural scenes, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime and can be found in various museums across Germany.
The 19th century saw the rise of several influential LEINER families in various fields. One example is the Austrian LEINER family, which established a successful textile manufacturing business in the city of Linz. The company, founded by Johann LEINER (1815-1887), remained a prominent presence in the Austrian textile industry for over a century.
In the realm of academia, Otto LEINER (1857-1919) was a renowned German mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to the study of electrodynamics and the theory of relativity. His works were widely studied and referenced by fellow scientists of his time.
As the LEINER surname spread across Europe and beyond, it has been associated with various professions and industries, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its bearers throughout history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Leiner
Among Census respondents with the surname Leiner, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Leiner 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 Leiner surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.0%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.3%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Black or African American1.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Leiner 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 | #32,203 | #32,203 | 0.0% |
| Count | 716 | 716 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Leiner bearers went from 716 to 716 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #32,203 to #32,203.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Leiner
FAQ
Leiner surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Leiner?
The surname Leiner holds position #32,203 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 823 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Leiner surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Leiner, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.0%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.3%). 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.