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

Lettie, 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 Lettie surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lettie in America

Lettie is the 142108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lettie surname appeared 117 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 Lettie.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lettie 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 Lettie

The surname Lettie is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "laetig," which means "guide" or "leader." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who was a guide or leader in their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lettie can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Letty" and "Letti," indicating that the spelling was not yet standardized.

In the 13th century, the name Lettie was associated with several landowners in the county of Yorkshire. One notable individual was John Lettie, who was born in 1245 and owned substantial estates in the village of Thornton. His descendants continued to use the surname for several generations.

During the Renaissance period, the name Lettie gained some prominence in the literary world. In 1592, a play titled "The Tragedy of Lettie" was published in London, although the author's identity remains unknown. This suggests that the name was familiar enough to be used as a character in a theatrical production.

In the 17th century, the name Lettie appeared in various historical records, including church registers and court documents. One notable figure was Thomas Lettie, born in 1638, who was a merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. He was involved in trade with the American colonies and played a role in the development of the city's economy.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Lettie, born in 1674, who was a renowned botanist and herbalist. She authored several books on the medicinal properties of plants and was highly regarded for her knowledge of natural remedies.

The surname Lettie also has ties to the aristocracy. In the 18th century, there was a noble family known as the Letties of Cheshire, who traced their lineage back to the Norman conquest of England. One member of this family, Sir William Lettie, born in 1712, served as a Member of Parliament and was known for his advocacy of agricultural reforms.

Throughout its history, the surname Lettie has been associated with various professions, including merchants, landowners, scholars, and politicians. While it may not be a widespread name today, it holds a rich legacy that reflects the diverse experiences of those who carried it across the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lettie

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

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

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

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