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

Lier, 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 Lier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lier in America

Lier is the 81772nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lier surname appeared 231 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 Lier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lier 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 Lier

The surname Lier has its origins in the Low Countries, specifically in the regions that are now modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands. It emerged during the medieval period, likely around the 12th or 13th century.

Lier is believed to be derived from the Old Dutch word "lier," which referred to a linden or lime tree. This connection suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive surname, possibly given to someone who lived near a prominent linden tree or in an area where these trees were abundant.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Lier can be found in the records of the city of Lier, located in the Antwerp province of Belgium. This city, whose name is derived from the same root as the surname, was an important center for trade and commerce during the Middle Ages, and it is likely that the surname originated among families living in or near this area.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Jan van Lier (c. 1330-1415) was a prominent Flemish painter and one of the earliest known artists to work in the emerging oil painting technique. His works, including altarpieces and religious paintings, can be found in various churches and museums across Europe.

Another historical figure bearing the Lier surname was Gerard Lier (c. 1480-1551), a Dutch Renaissance scholar and humanist. He was a prolific writer and translator, known for his Latin translations of Greek philosophical works and his contributions to the study of ancient literature.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the records of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), with several individuals bearing the Lier surname serving as sailors, traders, and administrators in the company's colonies and outposts across Asia and the East Indies.

One such individual was Cornelis Lier (1602-1672), a Dutch merchant and administrator who served as the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1670 to 1672. He played a significant role in expanding the Dutch presence and influence in the region.

Another notable figure was Pieter Lier (1630-1704), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his portraiture and genre scenes depicting everyday life in the Netherlands during the 17th century.

While the Lier surname has its roots in the Low Countries, it has since spread to various parts of the world through emigration and migration patterns over the centuries. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in the regions that are now Belgium and the Netherlands, where it likely originated as a descriptive surname related to the linden tree.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lier

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

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

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

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