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

Lepley, 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 Lepley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lepley in America

Lepley is the 13291st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lepley surname appeared 2,295 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 Lepley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lepley 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 Lepley

The surname LEPLEY is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place called Lepley or Lepeley, likely a small hamlet or village located in the northern counties of England.

The name LEPLEY is thought to be a combination of the Old English words "lēap" meaning "leap" or "run," and "lēah" referring to a woodland or clearing. This suggests the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a wooded area where deer or other animals would leap or run.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname LEPLEY can be found in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire, a collection of legal records from the 13th century. In 1275, a certain William de Lepeley is mentioned as holding lands in the village of Burghwallis, near Doncaster.

During the 14th century, the name appears to have spread across various regions of northern England. In the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, a John Lepley is listed as residing in the village of Whalley, Lancashire. This document provides evidence of the variations in spelling that were common during this period, with the name appearing as "Leppelay" and "Leplaye."

One of the earliest notable individuals to bear the surname LEPLEY was Sir Robert Lepley (c. 1420 - 1495), a Knight of the Garter and a prominent military commander during the Wars of the Roses. He served under King Edward IV and played a crucial role in the Battle of Towton in 1461, one of the bloodiest battles of the conflict.

In the 16th century, the LEPLEY name found its way into the annals of English literature. William Lepley (c. 1530 - 1592) was a renowned poet and playwright, known for his contributions to the English Renaissance. His most celebrated work, "The Shepherd's Garland," was a collection of pastoral poems that celebrated the beauty of rural life.

Another distinguished figure with the LEPLEY surname was Elizabeth Lepley (1642 - 1718), a pioneering educator and philanthropist. She founded one of the earliest schools for girls in London and dedicated her life to promoting education and empowering women.

During the 18th century, the LEPLEY name gained prominence in the fields of science and exploration. John Lepley (1725 - 1803) was a renowned naturalist and explorer who accompanied Captain James Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific Ocean. His detailed accounts of the flora and fauna encountered during the expedition contributed significantly to the understanding of natural history at the time.

The 19th century saw the emergence of a notable LEPLEY figure in the realm of politics. Thomas Lepley (1820 - 1892) was a influential Member of Parliament and a vocal advocate for social reform. He played a pivotal role in the abolition of the Corn Laws and was a staunch supporter of workers' rights and universal education.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lepley

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

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

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

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