Lemmon
An English surname derived from the Old English word "hlēomonn," meaning a person living near a lemon tree.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 7,164 Americans carry the last name Lemmon. That puts it at #5,633 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 2.09 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 47,844 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lemmon surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
7.2K
1 in 47,844
Census rank
#5,633
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
2.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
6.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 6,170 bearers of the surname Lemmon in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 2.09 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 5633rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lemmon, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.6%. The next largest groups are Black (4.4%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lemmon
The surname Lemmon is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from the Old English words "lemun" or "lemon," meaning a lemon tree or a place where lemon trees grew.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Lemon," referring to a person from a place associated with lemon trees or lemon cultivation. This suggests that the name may have originated in areas where lemon trees were grown, possibly in the southern regions of England.
During the Middle Ages, the name was also spelled in various ways, such as "Lemon," "Lemmon," and "Lemmond." These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling conventions of the time.
Notable individuals with the surname Lemmon include:
1. Jack Lemmon (1925-2001), an American actor and musician, known for his roles in films such as "Some Like It Hot," "The Apartment," and "The Odd Couple."
2. Sir John Lemmon (1608-1665), an English judge and Member of Parliament during the English Civil War.
3. William Lemmon (1839-1917), an English botanist and explorer, known for his expeditions to the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean region.
4. John Lemmon (1914-1988), an American Major League Baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Athletics.
5. Sarah Lemmon (1836-1923), an American pioneer and author, who documented her experiences as a settler in the American West.
While the surname Lemmon is not among the most common surnames, it has a long and intriguing history, reflecting the influence of Old English language and the cultural significance of lemon cultivation in certain regions of England during medieval times.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lemmon
Among Census respondents with the surname Lemmon, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.6%. The next largest groups are Black (4.4%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Lemmon bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Lemmon surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White90.6%
- Black or African American4.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Lemmon surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,633 | #5,633 | 0.0% |
| Count | 6,170 | 6,170 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 2.09 | 2.09 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Lemmon bearers went from 6,170 to 6,170 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #5,633 to #5,633.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Lemmon
FAQ
Lemmon surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lemmon?
The surname Lemmon holds position #5,633 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 7,164 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 2.09 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lemmon surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lemmon, the largest self-reported group is White at 90.6%. The next largest groups are Black (4.4%) and Hispanic (2.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.