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

Lighthouse, 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 Lighthouse surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lighthouse in America

Lighthouse is the 143149th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lighthouse surname appeared 116 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 Lighthouse.

The history of the last name Lighthouse

The surname "LIGHTHOUSE" is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the late 15th century. It is thought to have been derived from the Old English words "leoht" (meaning light) and "hus" (meaning house), referring to the structure that served as a beacon to guide ships at sea.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Parish Records of St. Mary's Church in Ipswich, Suffolk, where a John Lighthouse was mentioned in 1492. This suggests that the name was already in use by the end of the 15th century, potentially indicating a connection to the coastal region of East Anglia.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Lighthouse appeared in various historical documents, including the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524, where a William Lighthouse was listed as a taxpayer in Lincolnshire. Additionally, in the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, a Robert Lighthouse was recorded as a resident of Warwickshire.

The surname Lighthouse has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was Sir Henry Lighthouse (1602-1672), a prominent merchant and member of the East India Company, who played a role in the establishment of British settlements in India during the 17th century.

Another notable bearer of the name was Mary Lighthouse (1674-1738), a pioneering educator who founded one of the earliest girls' schools in London. Her contributions to the education of women during a time when such opportunities were limited were highly regarded.

In the 19th century, the Lighthouse name gained further recognition with the work of James Lighthouse (1818-1892), a renowned civil engineer who was instrumental in the construction of several lighthouses along the British coast, including the famous Eddystone Lighthouse in Cornwall.

Further examples of individuals with the surname Lighthouse include Elizabeth Lighthouse (1756-1822), a celebrated author and poet whose works explored themes of nature and spirituality, and Sir William Lighthouse (1824-1901), a distinguished military officer who served in the Crimean War and later became the Governor of Gibraltar.

While the Lighthouse surname may not have been as widespread as some others, its historical significance is undeniable, with its origins closely tied to the maritime traditions of England and the important role of lighthouses in guiding seafarers safely to shore.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lighthouse

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

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 Lighthouse 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.

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

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

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