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

Lightsey, 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 Lightsey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lightsey in America

Lightsey is the 12303rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lightsey surname appeared 2,527 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Lightsey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lightsey 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 Lightsey

The surname Lightsey has its roots in England, originating in the late medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "lēoht" meaning "light" and "īeg" meaning "island," suggesting it may have initially referred to a person living on a bright or well-lit island.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where it appears as "Lighteye." This spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time and its potential ties to specific locations within England.

By the 16th century, the surname had taken on the more recognizable form of "Lightsey." Records from this era, such as the parish registers of St. Nicholas in Ipswich, Suffolk, mention individuals with this surname, providing evidence of its continued use and regional distribution.

A notable figure bearing the Lightsey name was William Lightsey, born in 1592 in Wiltshire, England. He was a prominent merchant and landowner, known for his successful business ventures and philanthropic endeavors within his local community.

As the British Empire expanded, the Lightsey surname traveled across the globe. One example is John Lightsey, born in 1734 in Lancashire, who served as a naval officer in the Royal Navy and played a role in the colonization efforts in the West Indies.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Lightsey, born in 1801 in Oxfordshire. She was a renowned educator and advocate for women's rights, establishing several schools and advocating for equal educational opportunities for girls and women during the Victorian era.

In the United States, the Lightsey surname can be traced back to the early colonial period, with families settling in various regions, including the Carolinas and Virginia. One prominent figure was Thomas Lightsey, born in 1778 in South Carolina, who served as a military officer during the American Revolutionary War and later became a respected politician and landowner in his home state.

While the Lightsey surname may have evolved from its Old English roots, it has maintained a presence throughout history, with individuals bearing this name leaving their mark across various fields and regions around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lightsey

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

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

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

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