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

Lemen, 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 Lemen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lemen in America

Lemen is the 20792nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lemen surname appeared 1,270 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Lemen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lemen 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 Lemen

The surname LEMEN is of English origin, with roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "laeman," meaning "servant" or "retainer." This name was likely given as an occupational surname to those who served in noble households or estates.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, with mentions in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it appeared as "Leman." Over time, the spelling evolved to its current form, LEMEN, as well as variations like Lemmon and Lemon.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a landowner named Radulfus Leman is listed as holding lands in Hertfordshire, suggesting that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest. This early record provides evidence of the name's longevity in England.

One notable bearer of the LEMEN name was Sir John Lemen, a wealthy merchant and philanthropist born in Beccles, Suffolk, in 1544. He founded the Lemen School in Beccles, which still operates today, and his legacy continues through the Lemen Trust charity.

Another prominent figure was William Lemen, born in 1753 in Saybrook, Connecticut. He was a Baptist minister and a pioneer in the American Midwest, establishing several churches and communities in Illinois during the early 19th century.

In the literary world, James Lemen, an American author and playwright born in 1861, gained recognition for his works exploring themes of social justice and American life.

James Lemen Willard, born in 1852 in New York, was a influential educator and philosopher who served as the president of the Pennsylvania State College (now Penn State University) from 1891 to 1899.

Lastly, Jennie Lemen, born in 1889 in Illinois, was a notable suffragist and activist who fought for women's rights and played a pivotal role in the campaign for the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in the United States.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lemen

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

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

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

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