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

Leining, 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 Leining surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leining in America

Leining is the 148347th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leining surname appeared 111 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 Leining.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leining 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 Leining

The surname LEINING has its origins in the German language, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old German word "lein," meaning flax or linen, suggesting that the family's ancestral occupation may have been related to the production or trade of linen fabrics.

LEINING is thought to have originated in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in the states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. The earliest known record of the name appears in the parish registers of the town of Augsburg in 1512, where a certain Johannes Leining is mentioned.

Throughout the centuries, variations in spelling have been observed, such as Leining, Leyning, and Leiniger. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the evolving nature of language over time.

In the 17th century, the Leining family gained prominence in the city of Nuremberg, where a merchant named Friedrich Leining (1628-1694) established a successful trading business. His son, Hans Leining (1662-1732), became a respected banker and philanthropist, contributing significantly to the city's economic and cultural development.

Another notable figure bearing the LEINING surname was Gottlieb Leining (1767-1842), a German theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Heidelberg. His writings on ethics and moral philosophy were widely influential during his time.

In the 19th century, the LEINING name found its way across the Atlantic, with several families emigrating to the United States and Canada. One such individual was Johann Leining (1812-1889), a farmer from Bavaria who settled in Ohio, where he and his descendants played an active role in the local agricultural community.

It is worth mentioning that the LEINING surname has also been associated with various place names in Germany, such as Leiningen, a town in Rhineland-Palatinate, and Leiningenscher Hof, a historic estate in Worms. However, the direct connection between these place names and the surname remains uncertain.

Throughout history, the LEINING surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, bankers, intellectuals, and farmers, each contributing to the rich tapestry of their respective communities and societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leining

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

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

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

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