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

Lenox, 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 Lenox surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lenox in America

Lenox is the 10607th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lenox surname appeared 3,019 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 Lenox.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lenox 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 Lenox

The surname Lenox has its origins in Scotland, derived from the historic county of Lennox, which encompassed parts of the modern council areas of West Dunbartonshire and Stirling. The name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic words "lenn" meaning "smooth" and "ùchd" meaning "breast" or "upland," referring to the region's rolling hills and meadows.

In ancient charters and records, the name appears with various spellings such as Levenax, Levenauchis, and Leuenaux, reflecting the evolution of the name over time. The earliest known recorded reference to the name dates back to the 12th century when Alwyn, Earl of Lennox, is mentioned in a charter granted by King David I of Scotland.

The Lennox family, who held the earldom of Lennox, played a significant role in Scottish history. One notable member was Isabel, Countess of Lennox, who married King Robert II of Scotland in 1347, establishing a direct link between the Lennox family and the Scottish monarchy.

The name Lenox gained prominence outside of Scotland during the reign of King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) when several members of the Lennox family served as courtiers and gained favor with the king. One such figure was Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox (1542-1583), who wielded considerable influence at the Scottish court.

Another notable individual with the surname Lenox was James Lenox (1800-1880), an American philanthropist and bibliophile who founded the Lenox Library, now part of the New York Public Library. His collection of rare books and manuscripts became the cornerstone of the library's holdings.

Walter Lenox (1859-1920) was an American entrepreneur who founded the Lenox China Company, a renowned manufacturer of fine ceramic tableware. The company's products, adorned with intricate designs and patterns, became synonymous with luxury and elegance in the early 20th century.

In literature, the surname Lenox is associated with James Lenox Belknap (1856-1924), an American author and journalist who wrote extensively about the history and culture of the American South. His works, such as "The Straits of Malacca" and "The Crested Seas," provided valuable insights into the region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the Lenox name has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread worldwide, with notable bearers in various fields, from business and philanthropy to literature and art, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural and historical fabric of multiple nations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lenox

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

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

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

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