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

Leland, 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 Leland surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leland in America

Leland is the 6921st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leland surname appeared 4,848 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Leland.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leland 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 Leland

The surname Leland originates from England and is derived from the Old English phrase "lēah land," which translates to "meadow land" or "fallow land." This name was initially used to identify individuals who resided in areas characterized by meadows or fallow fields.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Leland can be traced back to the 13th century. One notable mention is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where the name is listed as "de Lelande." This record suggests that the name was initially used as a locative surname, indicating the place of origin or residence of the individual.

In the 14th century, the Leland surname appeared in various historical documents, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it was spelled as "Leylond." This variation in spelling was common during that era due to the lack of standardized orthography.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Leland was John Leland, an influential English poet and antiquarian born in 1506. He is renowned for his extensive travels throughout England, during which he studied and documented various historical sites and manuscripts.

Another notable figure associated with the surname was Charles Godfrey Leland, an American humorist, and folklorist born in 1824. He is best known for his contributions to the study of American folklore and his work in preserving the heritage of the Pennsylvania Dutch community.

In the 16th century, the Leland surname was linked to several place names in England, such as Leland in Gloucestershire and Leland in Yorkshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Throughout history, the Leland surname has been associated with various notable individuals, including:

1. Thomas Leland (1722-1785), an American lawyer and politician who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress.
2. John Leland (1754-1841), an influential American Baptist minister and advocate for the separation of church and state.
3. Leland Stanford (1824-1893), an American industrialist and politician who co-founded Stanford University.
4. Leland Ossian Howard (1857-1950), an American entomologist and pioneer in the field of economic entomology.
5. Leland Stanford Jr. (1868-1884), the son of Leland Stanford, whose untimely death at age 15 prompted his parents to establish Stanford University in his memory.

While the Leland surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, through migration and immigration patterns over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leland

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

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

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

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