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

Leitch, 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 Leitch surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leitch in America

Leitch is the 9976th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leitch surname appeared 3,234 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 Leitch.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leitch 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 Leitch

The surname Leitch is of Scottish origin, originating from the ancient Gaelic language spoken in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic word "leitir," meaning a slope or hillside, indicating that the name was likely given to families living on or near a slope or hillside.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared in various spellings, such as Leytch, Leitche, and Leitch, in various historical records and documents from the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Leitch was John Leitch, who was mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1329. Another notable figure was Sir Robert Leitch, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century.

The name Leitch has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history, including James Leitch (1808-1870), a Scottish architect who designed several prominent buildings in Glasgow, and William Leitch (1804-1890), a Scottish-born Australian explorer and surveyor who played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of Western Australia.

Another notable figure was John Leitch (1817-1888), a Scottish minister and author who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1886. In more recent times, David Leitch (born 1975) is a renowned stunt performer, actor, and film director, known for his work on films such as "Deadpool 2" and "Atomic Blonde."

The surname Leitch has also been linked to various place names in Scotland, such as Leitchtown, a village in Moray, and Leitchriggs, a farm near Dumfries. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and the Gaelic word "leitir," suggesting that the name was likely derived from families living in or near these locations.

While the surname Leitch may not be as widely known as some other Scottish surnames, it has a rich history and connections to various areas of Scotland, with its origins tracing back to the ancient Gaelic language and the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leitch

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

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

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

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