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

Lias, 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 Lias surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lias in America

Lias is the 26391st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lias surname appeared 925 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 Lias.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lias 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 Lias

The surname "Lias" has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "leah," which means a meadow or a clearing in a forest. This suggests that the name may have originated among families living in rural areas or settlements located in such clearings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Lias" appears in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1332, where it is spelled as "Lyas." This document mentions a person named Richard Lyas, indicating that the name was already in use during that time.

In the 15th century, the surname is found in various records with variations in spelling, such as "Lias," "Lyas," and "Lyes." These variations likely reflect regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

The name "Lias" is also associated with several place names in England, such as Lias Green in Staffordshire and Lias Farm in Worcestershire. These place names may have contributed to the development and establishment of the surname in those areas.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname "Lias" include:

1. John Lias (c. 1500 - unknown), a landowner and farmer from Gloucestershire, mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524.
2. William Lias (c. 1580 - 1652), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, known for his involvement in the local government and trade.
3. Elizabeth Lias (c. 1620 - 1685), a Puritan writer and religious activist from Dorset, whose works advocated for religious tolerance and women's education.
4. Thomas Lias (1755 - 1828), a renowned clockmaker from Worcestershire, credited with the invention of the lever escapement in clocks, which significantly improved their accuracy.
5. Mary Lias (1821 - 1902), a philanthropist and social reformer from Somerset, who established several schools and charitable organizations for the underprivileged.

While the surname "Lias" may not be among the most common names today, its historical roots and associations with various places and individuals in England provide a rich tapestry of stories and contributions to the cultural and social fabric of the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lias

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

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

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

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