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

Livesay, 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 Livesay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Livesay in America

Livesay is the 8281st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Livesay surname appeared 4,002 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 Livesay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Livesay 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 Livesay

The surname Livesay originates from the Yorkshire region of England, tracing its roots back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "lif," meaning life, and "ey," meaning island or water-meadow, suggesting a connection to a geographic location near a river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Livesei." This historical document provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames and landholdings in England during the Norman Conquest.

By the 13th century, variations of the spelling emerged, including Livesay, Livesey, and Livisey. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the individual preferences of scribes who transcribed records.

Notable individuals bearing the Livesay surname in history include:

1. William Livesay (1642-1718), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Tenterden in Kent.
2. John Livesay (1733-1811), an American Revolutionary War soldier and early settler in Kentucky.
3. Benjamin Livesay (1765-1843), a prominent Virginia landowner and member of the Virginia House of Delegates.
4. Richard Livesay (1810-1871), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Bath from 1857 to 1865.
5. Alice Livesay (1884-1973), an American educator and author who wrote extensively on the subject of teaching methods.

Historically, the Livesay surname was also associated with certain place names in England, such as Livesey in Lancashire and Livesey Hall, an ancient manor house dating back to the 13th century. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation variations of the surname over time.

While the surname's origins can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who emigrated from their ancestral homelands. The rich history of the Livesay surname reflects the dynamic nature of language and the enduring legacy of names that have spanned centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Livesay

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

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

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

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