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

Ligh, 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 Ligh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ligh in America

Ligh is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ligh surname appeared 106 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 Ligh.

We can also compare 2010 data for Ligh 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 Ligh

The surname LIGH is of Anglo-Saxon origin, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period in England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "leah," which means a meadow, woodland clearing, or glade. Variations in spelling include Leigh, Lea, Lee, Ley, and Lye.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Leuui de Lega in Berkshire. This suggests that the name was already well-established in parts of southern England by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various English records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed individuals like William de la Leye and Richard de la Legh. These early spellings reflect the name's evolution from its Old English origins.

The LIGH surname is also associated with several place names across England, including Leigh in Lancashire, Leigh in Worcestershire, and High Leigh in Cheshire. These locations likely took their names from the Old English word "leah," further reinforcing the surname's connection to these areas.

Notable historical figures bearing the LIGH surname include Sir Thomas Leigh (1504-1571), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable individual was Edward Leigh (1602-1671), a philosopher and religious writer who published works on the nature of sin and the soul.

In the 18th century, Charles Leigh (1749-1815) was a renowned British naturalist and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life. His extensive collection of specimens and illustrations helped advance the field of botany during his time.

Moving into the 19th century, Sir Austen Henry Layard (1817-1894), born Austen Henry Leigh, was a celebrated English explorer and archaeologist. He is best known for his excavations in Mesopotamia, including the rediscovery of the ancient Assyrian cities of Nineveh and Nimrud.

Another prominent figure was Sir Oliver Lodge (1851-1940), a British physicist and writer who made significant contributions to the development of radio technology and the study of electromagnetism. His work on wireless telegraphy and his advocacy for the existence of an "ether" in physics garnered him widespread recognition during his lifetime.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ligh

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

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

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

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