Leyson last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Leyson

A variant of the English surname Lawson, derived from the given name Lawrence.

Leyson, 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 Leyson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leyson in America

Leyson is the 74141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leyson surname appeared 261 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 Leyson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leyson 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 74141 79115 -6.49%
Count 261 224 15.26%
Proportion per 100k 0.09 0.08 11.76%

The history of the last name Leyson

The surname Leyson has its origins in the British Isles, specifically England and Wales. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest, and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement. The combination of these words likely referred to a settlement or village located in a meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Leyson can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings and wealth in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The spelling at the time was "Leitun" or "Leyton," which over time evolved into the modern form of Leyson.

During the medieval period, the name was often associated with landowners or individuals who resided in or near a settlement named Leyton or a variation thereof. Some notable examples include Sir John de Leyton, a knight who fought in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, and William Leyson, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London in the late 14th century.

As the name spread across England and Wales, variations in spelling began to emerge, such as Leyston, Layson, and Layton. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of local record keepers.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, several individuals bearing the Leyson surname gained recognition for their contributions to various fields. One notable figure was Edward Leyson (1617-1693), an English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious topics. Another was Thomas Leyson (1725-1801), a Welsh poet and playwright whose works helped preserve and promote the Welsh language and culture.

Other notable individuals with the Leyson surname include:

  1. Richard Leyson (1593-1668), an English merchant and Member of Parliament.
  2. Mary Leyson (1670-1745), a Welsh philanthropist known for her charitable works in Pembrokeshire.
  3. John Leyson (1810-1879), a Welsh politician and advocate for workers' rights.
  4. William Leyson (1854-1932), a Welsh industrialist and founder of the Leyson Mining Company.
  5. Hywel Leyson (1920-1997), a Welsh actor and playwright known for his work in television and theater.

While the Leyson surname has its roots in the British Isles, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its origins can be traced back to the early settlements and place names of England and Wales, reflecting the history and evolution of this distinctive surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leyson

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

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 Leyson was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 15.71% 41
Non-Hispanic Black Only 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 75.10% 196
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 4.60% 12
Hispanic Origin 4.60% 12

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 Leyson has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 15.71% 20.54% -26.65%
Black 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Asian and Pacific Islander 75.10% 66.96% 11.46%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
Two or More Races 4.60% 5.80% -23.08%
Hispanic 4.60% 6.70% -37.17%

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

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Leyson last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/leyson-surname-popularity/.

"Leyson last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/leyson-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Leyson last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/leyson-surname-popularity/.

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