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

Lockhart, 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 Lockhart surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lockhart in America

Lockhart is the 1261st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lockhart surname appeared 27,883 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Lockhart.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lockhart 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 Lockhart

The surname Lockhart has its origins in the Lanarkshire region of Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "loc" meaning lock or enclosure, and "hart" meaning a deer park or forest. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in a deer park or enclosed woodland area.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which listed those who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England after his invasion of Scotland. One entry reads "William de Lochert" from the county of Ayr. This suggests the name was originally spelled "Lochert" or "Lochhart" before evolving into its modern form.

In the 14th century, the Lockharts were established as a prominent Scottish family, with lands and castles in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. One notable member was Sir Stephen Lockhart (c.1340-1412), who fought alongside Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

The name also appears in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in the 15th century, where a "John Lokhert" is recorded as a tenant farmer in Renfrewshire in 1456. This suggests the name had spread beyond its original Lanarkshire base by this time.

In the 16th century, the Lockharts were involved in the turbulent politics and power struggles of the Scottish Reformation. George Lockhart (1546-1612) was a staunch Protestant and supporter of John Knox, while his son Sir James Lockhart (1594-1670) was a royalist and fought for King Charles I during the English Civil War.

Other notable Lockharts throughout history include John Gibson Lockhart (1794-1854), a Scottish writer and biographer who wrote the Life of Sir Walter Scott, and John Lockhart-Ross (1721-1790), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War.

Overall, the surname Lockhart has a rich history spanning over 800 years, with its origins firmly rooted in the medieval Scotland of the 12th and 13th centuries. It has been borne by soldiers, writers, landowners, and farmers throughout the centuries, reflecting the diverse experiences of those who carry this distinctive Scottish name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lockhart

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

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

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

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