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

Lessey, 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 Lessey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lessey in America

Lessey is the 83541st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lessey surname appeared 225 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Lessey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lessey 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 Lessey

The surname Lessey has its origins in France, with records indicating its use as early as the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "lais," meaning a wasteland or uncultivated land. This suggests that the name may have referred to a person who lived or worked on such lands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Lessey surname can be found in the parish records of Normandy, France, dating back to the late 1500s. The name was also present in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, which suggests a potential Norman connection.

In the 17th century, several notable individuals bore the Lessey surname. One such person was Jean Lessey, a French philosopher and writer born in 1625 in Rouen, Normandy. His works included treatises on moral philosophy and critiques of contemporary religious beliefs.

Another historical figure with the Lessey surname was Marguerite Lessey, born in 1670 in Amiens, France. She was a renowned artist and painter during the Baroque period, known for her exquisite portraits and religious scenes.

In the 18th century, the Lessey name gained prominence in the literary world. Jacques Lessey, born in 1742 in Lyon, France, was a celebrated poet and playwright. His works often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.

Moving into the 19th century, the Lessey surname crossed borders and appeared in other parts of Europe. One notable individual was Hans Lessey, a German architect born in 1812 in Berlin. He was responsible for designing several iconic buildings in his native city, including the Berliner Philharmonie concert hall.

In England, the Lessey surname was also present, though less common. One example is William Lessey, born in 1834 in London. He was a prominent businessman and philanthropist, known for his contributions to various charitable organizations and his support for the arts.

Throughout its history, the Lessey surname has been associated with various locations and place names, such as Lessay in Normandy, France, and Lezey in the Marne region of France. Additionally, variations in spelling, like Laissey and Laissay, have been documented over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lessey

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

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

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

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