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

Leisure, 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 Leisure surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leisure in America

Leisure is the 17229th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leisure surname appeared 1,644 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 Leisure.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leisure 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 Leisure

The surname Leisure is believed to have originated in England during the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "leisu," which means "pasture" or "meadow." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived near a meadow or pasture land.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Leisure can be found in various historical documents from the medieval period. One notable example is the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, which mention a John le Leysure in 1278. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk, where a William Leyseour is mentioned in 1328. This variation in spelling, "Leyseour," highlights the fluidity of surnames during this time period and the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

The name Leisure is also found in the Hearth Tax Returns of Oxfordshire in 1665, which lists a Thomas Leisure as a resident of the area. This record provides evidence of the name's continued use and evolution over the centuries.

One notable individual bearing the surname Leisure was Sir William Leisure (1538-1612), an English courtier and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as a member of the Privy Council and was knighted in 1591 for his service to the Crown.

Another prominent figure was John Leisure (1670-1743), a British mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1711.

In the 18th century, the name appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, where a marriage between Thomas Leisure and Mary Woodward is recorded in 1722. This provides further evidence of the name's presence in various regions of England during this time period.

The Leisure surname can also be found in the historical records of Scotland, where a variant spelling, "Leasure," was used. One notable Scottish individual bearing this name was James Leasure (1795-1868), a merchant and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the Scottish textile industry.

Throughout its history, the surname Leisure has been associated with various occupations and professions, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore the name. From landowners and farmers to courtiers, mathematicians, and industrialists, the name has left its mark on different spheres of society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leisure

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

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

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

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