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

Lighter, 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 Lighter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lighter in America

Lighter is the 77788th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lighter surname appeared 246 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 Lighter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lighter 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 Lighter

The surname "LIGHTER" is an English occupational surname that originated in the 12th century. It derived from the Old English word "lihtan," which means "to light or kindle." The name was given to those who worked as lighters or lamplighters, responsible for lighting public lamps and street lights.

In the early days, lighters played a crucial role in towns and cities, ensuring that public spaces were illuminated at night. They would carry long poles with a small fire at the end to light the lamps, which were fueled by oil or gas. This occupation was essential for public safety and convenience.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname "LIGHTER" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1212, where a person named Willelmus le Lihter is mentioned. This document provides evidence of the occupational nature of the surname during that time.

Another notable early reference to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279, which lists a person named John le Lythter. This variation in spelling highlights the evolution of the surname over time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Robert Lighter, who was born in Nottinghamshire, England, around 1450. He was a lamplighter in the city of Nottingham and is mentioned in local records from that period.

In the 16th century, a family by the name of Lighter lived in the village of Lighthorne, which is located in Warwickshire, England. The village name is derived from the Old English words "leht" and "horn," meaning "light horn" or "light-shaped hill." This connection suggests that the Lighter family may have originated from or resided in this area.

During the 17th century, a notable figure was John Lighter, who was born in Gloucester, England, in 1624. He was a prominent merchant and trader, and his name appears in various business records from the time.

In the 18th century, Thomas Lighter, born in 1732 in Somerset, England, was a renowned clockmaker and inventor. He is credited with creating innovative clock mechanisms and is mentioned in horological texts from that era.

Another individual worth mentioning is William Lighter, who was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1789. He was a successful entrepreneur and industrialist, playing a significant role in the development of the textile industry in the region.

Throughout history, the surname "LIGHTER" has been associated with various occupations, from lamplighters and merchants to inventors and industrialists. Its origins can be traced back to the 12th century, and it has undergone spelling variations over time. The name has a rich history and continues to be carried by individuals worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lighter

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

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

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

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