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

Leroy, 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 Leroy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leroy in America

Leroy is the 4571st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leroy surname appeared 7,759 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Leroy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leroy 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 Leroy

The surname LEROY has its origins in France, with the earliest records of the name dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the French words "le" and "roi," which translates to "the king." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who worked in royal service or was associated with the king in some way.

During the Middle Ages, the LEROY surname was particularly prevalent in the northern regions of France, such as Normandy and Picardy. It was commonly found in medieval records and documents, including the famous Domesday Book, which was commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname LEROY was Jean LEROY, a French nobleman who lived during the 13th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Louis IX and played a significant role in the Seventh Crusade.

In the 14th century, the surname LEROY was also associated with the city of Rouen in Normandy. The town's records mention a family called LEROY DU PETIT-QUEVILLY, who were influential landowners in the area.

Another notable bearer of the LEROY surname was Pierre LEROY, a French mathematician and physicist who lived from 1717 to 1785. He made significant contributions to the field of horology and is credited with developing the detached lever escapement, which greatly improved the accuracy of clocks and watches.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the LEROY surname spread throughout France and beyond, as individuals with this name migrated to other parts of Europe and the Americas. One such person was René LEROY, a French explorer and cartographer who was born in 1654 and is known for his detailed maps of the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes region.

In the 19th century, the LEROY surname gained further prominence with the birth of Alphonse LEROY, a French artist and engraver who lived from 1809 to 1885. He is particularly renowned for his etchings and lithographs depicting scenes of everyday life in Paris.

Throughout its long history, the LEROY surname has been associated with various professions and social classes, from noblemen and royalty to artisans, scientists, and explorers. Despite its widespread distribution, the name has maintained its French origins and continues to be a prominent surname in France and other parts of the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leroy

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

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

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

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