2000
#79,676
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 222
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.08
Very Rare Last name
Livington
Derived from a location name, likely referring to someone from a place called Livington.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 130 Americans carry the last name Livington. That puts it at #147,221 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,636,572 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Livington surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Livington with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
130
1 in 2,636,572
Census rank
#147,221
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
113
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 113 bearers of the surname Livington in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147221st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Livington, the largest self-reported group is White at 52.2%. The next largest groups are Black (36.3%) and Hispanic (6.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Livington
The surname Livington is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "lif" meaning "life" and "tun" meaning "town" or "settlement". This suggests the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a village or town associated with vitality or prosperity.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where it is listed as "Richard de Lyfyngton". This spelling variation provides insight into the name's evolution over time, with the modern form "Livington" emerging in later centuries.
In the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, there is a reference to a place called "Lifingeston", which could be a precursor to the surname's origin. The name may have been adopted by individuals hailing from this location or a similar area.
Notable individuals with the surname Livington include Sir Robert Livington (1608-1673), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the Commonwealth period. Another prominent figure was John Livington (1766-1835), a British naval officer who participated in the Napoleonic Wars and became a Vice-Admiral.
In the literary realm, Edward Livington (1815-1876) was an American writer and journalist known for his contributions to the New York Evening Post. He published several works, including a memoir titled "Reminiscences of a Journalist".
The surname Livington also has connections to the arts. Mary Livington (1844-1923) was a British painter and illustrator who gained recognition for her depictions of rural life and landscapes. Her works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious galleries.
In the field of education, William Livington (1723-1790) was a notable Scottish clergyman and educator. He served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow and played a significant role in the Scottish Enlightenment.
These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have borne the surname Livington throughout history, contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on various societies.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Livington
Among Census respondents with the surname Livington, the largest self-reported group is White at 52.2%. The next largest groups are Black (36.3%) and Hispanic (6.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Livington bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Livington surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White52.2% · 59
- Black or African American36.3% · 41
- Hispanic or Latino6.2% · 7
- Two or more races2.7% · 3
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.8% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Livington
Livington appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#103,181
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 174
-48 bearers (-21.6%)
Per 100,000 0.06
Rank movement Down 23,505 places
2020
#147,221
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 113
-61 bearers (-35.1%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 44,040 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #79,676 | 222 | 0.08 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #103,181 | 174 | 0.06 | -48 bearers (-21.6%) | Down 23,505 places |
| 2020 | #147,221 | 113 | 0.04 | -61 bearers (-35.1%) | Down 44,040 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Livington surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #103,181 | #147,221 | -42.7% |
| Count | 174 | 113 | -35.1% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.04 | -37.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Livington bearers went from 174 to 113 (-35.1% change). The surname moved down 44,040 positions in the national ranking, going from #103,181 to #147,221.
FAQ
Livington surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Livington?
Name Census estimates that about 130 living Americans carry the surname Livington. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,636,572 residents.
How common is Livington?
Livington ranks #147,221 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 113 people with the surname Livington. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (130), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Livington.
Has Livington become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Livington went from 174 recorded bearers to 113. That is a decrease of 61 (-35.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #103,181 to #147,221.
What does the Census say about the background of Livington?
Among Census respondents with the surname Livington, the largest self-reported group is White at 52.2%. The next largest groups are Black (36.3%) and Hispanic (6.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Livington in the 2020 Census, accounting for 52.2% (59 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Livington appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (52.2%), Black (36.3%), Hispanic (6.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Livington (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Livington mean?
Derived from a location name, likely referring to someone from a place called Livington. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Livington (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Livington?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.