2000
#12,387
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,300
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.85
Rare Last name
Lepley
An English surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name or a nickname for a cunning person.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,574 Americans carry the last name Lepley. That puts it at #13,061 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.75 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 133,160 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lepley 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Lepley with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.6K
1 in 133,160
Census rank
#13,061
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,245 bearers of the surname Lepley in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.75 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13061st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lepley, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.7%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lepley
Among Census respondents with the surname Lepley, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.7%) and Hispanic (2.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Lepley 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 Lepley surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.5% · 2,098
- Two or more races3.7% · 82
- Hispanic or Latino2.1% · 48
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6% · 13
- Black or African American0.1% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Lepley
Lepley 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
#13,291
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,295
-5 bearers (-0.2%)
Per 100,000 0.78
Rank movement Down 904 places
2020
#13,061
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,245
-50 bearers (-2.2%)
Per 100,000 0.75
Rank movement Up 230 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #12,387 | 2,300 | 0.85 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #13,291 | 2,295 | 0.78 | -5 bearers (-0.2%) | Down 904 places |
| 2020 | #13,061 | 2,245 | 0.75 | -50 bearers (-2.2%) | Up 230 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 Lepley 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 | #13,291 | #13,061 | 1.7% |
| Count | 2,295 | 2,245 | -2.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.78 | 0.75 | -3.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Lepley bearers went from 2,295 to 2,245 (-2.2% change). The surname moved up 230 positions in the national ranking, going from #13,291 to #13,061.
FAQ
Lepley surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Lepley?
Name Census estimates that about 2,574 living Americans carry the surname Lepley. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 133,160 residents.
How common is Lepley?
Lepley ranks #13,061 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.75 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,245 people with the surname Lepley. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,574), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.75 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.75 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Lepley.
Has Lepley become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Lepley went from 2,295 recorded bearers to 2,245. That is a decrease of 50 (-2.2%). In the national ranking it rose from #13,291 to #13,061.
What does the Census say about the background of Lepley?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lepley, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.7%) and Hispanic (2.1%). 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 Lepley in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.5% (2,098 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Lepley appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.5%), Two or More Races (3.7%), Hispanic (2.1%). 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 Lepley (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 Lepley mean?
An English surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name or a nickname for a cunning person. 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 Lepley (0.75 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 common is the surname Lepley?
You can see how many Americans have the surname Lepley on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.