2000
#129,619
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Lepa
A surname of South Slavic origins potentially related to beauty or loveliness.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 120 Americans carry the last name Lepa. That puts it at #152,989 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,856,286 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lepa 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
120
1 in 2,856,286
Census rank
#152,989
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
105
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 105 bearers of the surname Lepa in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152989th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lepa, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (7.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lepa
The surname LEPA originated in Croatia, with the earliest records dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Slavic word "lep," which means "beautiful" or "lovely." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for someone with an attractive appearance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the LEPA surname can be found in a historical document from the city of Dubrovnik in 1375, where a merchant named Ivan LEPA is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already established in the region during that time period.
The LEPA name appears to have been concentrated in the coastal areas of Croatia, particularly in Dalmatia and the Adriatic islands. It is possible that the name originated from one of the small fishing villages or coastal towns in these regions.
In the 16th century, the LEPA surname is referenced in a manuscript detailing the noble families of the island of Korčula. A prominent figure mentioned is Mihovil LEPA, who served as a magistrate and public official on the island in the mid-1500s.
During the 17th century, a notable individual bearing the LEPA surname was Juraj LEPA, a respected physician and scholar from the city of Split. Born in 1610, he authored several works on medicine and anatomy, contributing to the advancement of medical knowledge in the region.
Another historical figure of note is Marija LEPA, a celebrated poet and writer from the island of Hvar. Born in 1745, she gained recognition for her literary works, which often explored themes of love, nature, and the beauty of the Dalmatian coastline.
In the 19th century, a prominent LEPA family resided in the town of Makarska, where they owned vineyards and were involved in the local wine trade. One member, Ivan LEPA (1825-1892), was a respected winemaker and philanthropist who supported the development of the town's infrastructure and education system.
Throughout its history, the LEPA surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, from merchants and civil servants to writers, scholars, and landowners. While the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has evolved into a respected family name with deep roots in the coastal regions of Croatia.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lepa
Among Census respondents with the surname Lepa, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (7.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Lepa 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 Lepa surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.4% · 97
- Asian and Pacific Islander7.6% · 8
Timeline
Historical Census data for Lepa
Lepa 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
#133,863
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 126
+5 bearers (+4.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 4,244 places
2020
#152,989
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
-21 bearers (-16.7%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 19,126 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #129,619 | 121 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #133,863 | 126 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.1%) | Down 4,244 places |
| 2020 | #152,989 | 105 | 0.04 | -21 bearers (-16.7%) | Down 19,126 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 Lepa 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 | #133,863 | #152,989 | -14.3% |
| Count | 126 | 105 | -16.7% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -12.2% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Lepa bearers went from 126 to 105 (-16.7% change). The surname moved down 19,126 positions in the national ranking, going from #133,863 to #152,989.
FAQ
Lepa surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Lepa?
Name Census estimates that about 120 living Americans carry the surname Lepa. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,856,286 residents.
How common is Lepa?
Lepa ranks #152,989 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 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 105 people with the surname Lepa. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (120), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 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 Lepa.
Has Lepa become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Lepa went from 126 recorded bearers to 105. That is a decrease of 21 (-16.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #133,863 to #152,989.
What does the Census say about the background of Lepa?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lepa, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.4%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (7.6%). 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 Lepa in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.4% (97 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Lepa appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.4%), Asian/Pacific Islander (7.6%). 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 Lepa (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 Lepa mean?
A surname of South Slavic origins potentially related to beauty or loveliness. 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 Lepa (0.04 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 have the surname Lepa?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.