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

Lightsy, 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 Lightsy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lightsy in America

Lightsy is the 156044th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lightsy surname appeared 104 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 Lightsy.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lightsy 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 Lightsy

The surname Lightsy is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from a place name or an old English word related to a physical or occupational descriptor.

One potential origin is that it stems from the Old English word "lēoht," meaning "light" or "bright," combined with the suffix "-sy" or "-sey," which was often used to denote a person's place of origin or residence. This could suggest that the name initially referred to someone who lived in a well-lit or bright area or had a fair complexion.

Another possible source is that the name evolved from an old place name containing similar elements, such as a village or town with "light" or a related word in its name. Place names were commonly adopted as surnames in medieval times, often reflecting a person's place of birth or residence.

The earliest known records of the Lightsy surname can be traced back to the late 13th century. One notable reference is found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which lists a certain John Lightsy as a taxpayer in the village of Ripon.

In the 15th century, a Thomas Lightsy was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, dated 1428. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname were present in the northern counties of England during that time period.

Another early record is the marriage of Elizabeth Lightsy to William Browne in the parish of St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, in 1567. This indicates that the surname had spread to the capital city by the 16th century.

One notable figure bearing the Lightsy name was Sir Richard Lightsy (1588-1653), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Essex who served as the High Sheriff of Essex in 1636. He played a significant role in supporting the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War.

Another individual of note was Reverend John Lightsy (1632-1704), a Puritan minister and author who served as the vicar of Uppingham in Rutland. He published several religious works, including "A Treatise on the Lord's Supper" in 1692.

In the 18th century, a certain William Lightsy (1723-1789) gained recognition as a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker in London. His timepieces were highly sought after by the aristocracy and gentry of the time.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the contribution of Mary Lightsy (1856-1938), a pioneering female educator who founded the Lightsy Girls' School in Hertfordshire in 1884. The school provided quality education for young women at a time when access to education for females was limited.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lightsy

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

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

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

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