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

Lika, 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 Lika surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lika in America

Lika is the 71886th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lika surname appeared 271 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 Lika.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lika 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 Lika

The surname Lika is of Croatian origin, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the region of Lika, a mountainous area in central Croatia known for its rugged terrain and harsh climate.

One of the earliest known references to the name Lika can be found in the records of the Frankopan noble family, who ruled over parts of Lika and the surrounding areas during the 14th and 15th centuries. The Frankopan lords often referred to their subjects and followers as "Likani" or "Likavci," suggesting that the name was already in use among the local population.

In the 16th century, the name Lika appeared in various administrative documents and tax registers maintained by the Venetian Republic, which controlled parts of Dalmatia at the time. These records often listed individuals with the surname Lika as residents of villages and towns in the Lika region.

One notable individual bearing the surname Lika was Petar Lika, a Croatian military commander who fought against the Ottoman Empire in the late 17th century. He was born in the village of Bunić, located in the heart of the Lika region, and played a crucial role in defending the region from Turkish invasion.

Another historical figure with the surname Lika was Jure Lika, a Catholic priest and writer who lived in the 18th century. He authored several religious texts and chronicles that provide valuable insights into the daily life and customs of the Lika people during that period.

In the 19th century, the surname Lika became more widespread as many individuals from the region migrated to other parts of Croatia and neighboring countries in search of better economic opportunities. One prominent individual from this era was Ivan Lika, a successful merchant and landowner from the town of Gospić, who played a vital role in the local community's economic development.

Throughout its history, the surname Lika has been closely associated with the rugged and resilient spirit of the people from the Lika region. While not as common as some other Croatian surnames, it remains a proud reminder of the unique cultural heritage and traditions that have endured in this remote corner of the Balkan Peninsula.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lika

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

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

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

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