2000
#133,114
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Leker
A surname possibly derived from the Scandinavian word meaning "to play" or "plaything".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 112 Americans carry the last name Leker. That puts it at #156,269 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 3,060,307 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Leker surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
112
1 in 3,060,307
Census rank
#156,269
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
98
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 98 bearers of the surname Leker in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 156269th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Leker, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Black (4.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Leker
The surname LEKER is of Norwegian origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old Norse word "leikr," which means "play" or "game." The name may have been given to individuals who were known for their playful or entertaining nature.
The earliest recorded instances of the LEKER surname can be found in various historical documents from Norway, such as parish records and census data. One notable example is the mention of a Bjørn Leker in the Bergen census of 1301.
LEKER is also associated with several place names in Norway, such as Lekersund and Lekerdalen. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, indicating that individuals bearing the LEKER name may have settled in or owned lands in those areas.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the LEKER surname. One of the earliest recorded was Eirik Leker (1268-1331), a Norwegian merchant and trader who established trade routes between Norway and other parts of Europe.
Another prominent figure was Ingrid Leker (1512-1583), a Norwegian landowner and influential figure in the local community. She was known for her philanthropic efforts and support for education in her region.
In the 18th century, Hans Leker (1723-1798) was a respected Norwegian shipbuilder who designed and constructed several vessels for the Norwegian navy. His work contributed to the country's maritime prowess during that era.
Moving into the 19th century, Knut Leker (1841-1915) was a Norwegian artist renowned for his landscape paintings depicting the natural beauty of his homeland. His works can be found in several art museums and galleries across Norway.
Lastly, Hilde Leker (1879-1959) was a pioneering Norwegian educator who advocated for improved educational opportunities for women. She established several schools and advocated for equal access to education, leaving a lasting impact on the country's educational system.
These are just a few examples of individuals with the LEKER surname who have made significant contributions throughout history in various fields, showcasing the diverse backgrounds and achievements associated with this Norwegian name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Leker
Among Census respondents with the surname Leker, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Black (4.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Leker bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Leker surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.9% · 94
- Black or African American4.1% · 4
Timeline
Historical Census data for Leker
Leker appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#146,201
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
-4 bearers (-3.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 13,087 places
2020
#156,269
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 98
-15 bearers (-13.3%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 10,068 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #133,114 | 117 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #146,201 | 113 | 0.04 | -4 bearers (-3.4%) | Down 13,087 places |
| 2020 | #156,269 | 98 | 0.03 | -15 bearers (-13.3%) | Down 10,068 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Leker surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #146,201 | #156,269 | -6.9% |
| Count | 113 | 98 | -13.3% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -18.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Leker bearers went from 113 to 98 (-13.3% change). The surname moved down 10,068 positions in the national ranking, going from #146,201 to #156,269.
FAQ
Leker surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Leker?
Name Census estimates that about 112 living Americans carry the surname Leker. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 3,060,307 residents.
How common is Leker?
Leker ranks #156,269 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 98 people with the surname Leker. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (112), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Leker.
Has Leker become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Leker went from 113 recorded bearers to 98. That is a decrease of 15 (-13.3%). In the national ranking it fell from #146,201 to #156,269.
What does the Census say about the background of Leker?
Among Census respondents with the surname Leker, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. The next largest groups are Black (4.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Leker in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.9% (94 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Leker appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.9%), Black (4.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Leker (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Leker mean?
A surname possibly derived from the Scandinavian word meaning "to play" or "plaything". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Leker (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Leker?
Find out how many people are called Leker on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.