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

Lighten, 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 Lighten surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lighten in America

Lighten is the 94311th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lighten surname appeared 194 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 Lighten.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lighten 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 Lighten

The surname Lighten is of English origin, emerging in the late medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "lihtan," which means "to illuminate" or "to make light." The name likely referred to an occupation or a distinguishing physical characteristic of an individual.

In the early records, the surname was often spelled as "Lichten" or "Lychten," reflecting the evolving nature of English orthography. One of the earliest documented instances of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a person named William Lichten.

During the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "Lyghtyn" and "Lytton," in various legal and ecclesiastical records. For example, the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, from 1348 record a person named John Lyghtyn.

The name Lighten has also been linked to certain place names, particularly in the county of Shropshire. The village of Lighten, now known as Litton, may have influenced the surname's formation. In the Domesday Book of 1086, the place is mentioned as "Lilitune," which could have contributed to the surname's early variations.

Among notable historical figures bearing the surname Lighten, one can mention:

1. William Lighten (c. 1480 - 1554), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London during the reign of Henry VIII.

2. John Lighten (1602 - 1675), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Brightwell, Berkshire.

3. Elizabeth Lighten (1650 - 1718), a Quaker writer and prominent figure in the early Quaker movement in England.

4. Thomas Lighten (1718 - 1796), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

5. Mary Lighten (1795 - 1872), an English philanthropist and social reformer, known for her efforts in improving the living conditions of the working classes in Manchester.

While the surname Lighten may not be among the most common in modern times, its historical roots and associated individuals have left an indelible mark on the tapestry of English history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lighten

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

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

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

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