Liggens
A surname potentially derived from the occupational term "ligger" referring to someone who carried heavy loads.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 137 Americans carry the last name Liggens. That puts it at #152,628 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,501,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Liggens surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
137
1 in 2,501,856
Census rank
#152,628
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Liggens in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152628th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Liggens, the largest self-reported group is Black at 87.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Two or More Races (4.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Liggens
The surname "LIGGENS" is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period, specifically the 13th and 14th centuries. It is believed to have originated in the region of Lincolnshire, England, where it was likely derived from the Old English word "ligen," meaning "to lie down" or "to reside."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "LIGGENS" can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire, a census-like record compiled in 1274-1275. This suggests that families bearing this surname were already established in the area by the late 13th century. It is also possible that the name was originally a nickname or occupational name given to individuals who worked as landowners or tenants on agricultural lands.
In the early 15th century, a man named William LIGGENS was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Ingoldmells in Lincolnshire, dated around 1420. This provides further evidence of the name's presence in the region during the medieval period.
The name "LIGGENS" has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Liggons Hill in Somerset and Liggins Lane in Worcestershire. These place names likely derived from the surname, reflecting the settlement of families bearing this name in different parts of the country over time.
Notable individuals with the surname "LIGGENS" throughout history include:
1. John LIGGENS (c. 1580-1640), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of Wigan in Lancashire.
2. Richard LIGGENS (1670-1743), a British merchant and plantation owner in the West Indies, known for his involvement in the Caribbean sugar trade.
3. Elizabeth LIGGENS (1733-1805), an English writer and poet, best known for her collection of poems titled "Poetical Essays."
4. Thomas LIGGENS (1789-1864), a British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent figure in the colonial administration of India.
5. William LIGGENS (1822-1901), an English industrialist and philanthropist, known for his contributions to the development of the textile industry in Lancashire.
While the surname "LIGGENS" has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Liggens, Liggin, Liggan, and Liggon, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in the East Midlands region of England, particularly Lincolnshire.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Liggens
Among Census respondents with the surname Liggens, the largest self-reported group is Black at 87.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Two or More Races (4.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Liggens bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Liggens surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American87.8%
- Hispanic or Latino4.7%
- Two or more races4.7%
- Unknown or suppressed2.8%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Liggens surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #143,847 | #152,628 | -6.1% |
| Count | 106 | 107 | 0.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Liggens bearers went from 106 to 107 (+0.9% change). The surname moved down 8,781 positions in the national ranking, going from #143,847 to #152,628.
FAQ
Liggens surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Liggens?
The surname Liggens holds position #152,628 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 137 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Liggens surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Liggens, the largest self-reported group is Black at 87.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Two or More Races (4.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.