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

Leist, 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 Leist surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leist in America

Leist is the 12904th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leist surname appeared 2,382 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 Leist.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leist 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 Leist

The surname Leist has its origins in Germany, where it first appeared in the early 15th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "leist," meaning "ledge" or "border," suggesting that the name may have been initially given to someone who resided near a border or ledge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Leist can be found in the historical records of the city of Nuremberg, where a certain Hans Leist was mentioned in a document dated 1436. This suggests that the name was already established in that region during the late medieval period.

In the 16th century, the name Leist appeared in various parts of Germany, including the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. During this time, the name was sometimes spelled slightly differently, such as "Leyst" or "Leyste," reflecting the variations in regional dialects and scribal practices.

The Leist surname gained prominence in the 17th century, with notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was Johann Leist (1592-1666), a German Lutheran theologian and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of Heidelberg. Another notable Leist from this era was Hans Leist (1610-1678), a German artist and engraver known for his intricate woodcuts.

In the 18th century, the Leist name continued to be found across various German states and principalities. One individual of note was Johann Georg Leist (1725-1799), a German philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the fields of logic and epistemology.

As the Leist family spread throughout Germany over the centuries, some members of the family eventually migrated to other parts of Europe and beyond. For example, in the 19th century, a branch of the Leist family settled in the Netherlands, where they became prominent in the field of horticulture and plant breeding.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Leist was the German writer and philosopher Theodor Leist (1885-1954), who was known for his works on ethics and social philosophy. Another notable figure was Hans Leist (1886-1965), a German architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the reconstruction of Munich after World War II.

The Leist surname has a rich history, originating in medieval Germany and spreading across various regions over the centuries. While the name may have initially been associated with geographical features, it has since been borne by numerous individuals who have made their mark in fields ranging from theology and philosophy to art and architecture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leist

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

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

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

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