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

Like, 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 Like surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Like in America

Like is the 21878th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Like surname appeared 1,187 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 Like.

We can also compare 2010 data for Like 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 Like

The surname "Like" is of English origin, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "lic" or "lica," which means "body" or "corpse." This surname was likely given to someone who worked as an undertaker or gravedigger, as their occupation involved handling corpses.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname "Like" can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. This document lists a certain "Rogerus Lyke" as residing in the village of Abbots Ripton.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various forms, such as "Lyke," "Lik," and "Licke," reflecting the varying spellings and pronunciations of the time. For instance, the Poll Tax returns of 1379 for Yorkshire mention a "Johannes Lyke" from the village of Bingley.

During the medieval period, the surname "Like" was predominantly found in the northern and eastern regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. This geographic concentration suggests that the name may have originated in one of these areas before spreading to other parts of the country.

One notable bearer of the surname was Thomas Lyke, a wealthy merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in several historical records, including the Great Red Book of Bristol, which chronicles the city's merchant activities.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various historical documents, such as parish records and court rolls. For example, the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, record the baptism of a "William Lyke" in 1589.

Another famous bearer of the surname was Robert Like, a renowned English scholar and clergyman who lived from 1567 to 1635. He served as the Dean of Ely Cathedral and was known for his scholarly works on theology and philosophy.

The surname "Like" has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Likewood in Gloucestershire and Likesay in Cumbria. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in certain regions.

Throughout its history, the surname "Like" has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, scholars, clergy, and commoners. While the name may have originated from a somewhat morbid occupation, it has persisted and evolved over the centuries, becoming a part of England's rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Like

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

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

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

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