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

Loftin, 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 Loftin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Loftin in America

Loftin is the 5191st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Loftin surname appeared 6,739 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Loftin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Loftin 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 Loftin

The surname Loftin is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "loft," which referred to an upper room or chamber, typically situated above a barn or other outbuilding. The name likely denoted someone who lived or worked in such a loft or attic space.

Loftin is thought to have emerged as a surname in the regions of Devon and Somerset in the southwest of England, where it was first recorded in various spellings, including Loften, Loftan, and Loftain. These early variations reflect the fluid nature of surname spellings in medieval times before standardization became more common.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire from the year 1198, which mention a Geoffrey de Lofta. This suggests that the surname was already established by the late 12th century, though it may have existed earlier in an unrecorded form.

Another notable early reference to the name appears in the Assize Rolls of Somersetshire from 1243, where a Thomas Lofteyn is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the regional differences in the name's early usage and evolution.

In the 14th century, the Loftin surname is recorded in various manorial records and tax rolls throughout the southwest of England, indicating its continued presence and gradual spread. For instance, a John Loftayn is listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Devonshire from 1327, while a Walter Loftyn appears in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Somersetshire from 1380.

Over the centuries, several individuals bearing the Loftin surname have achieved notable prominence. One such figure was William Loftin (c.1625-1691), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Exeter and was known for his scholarly works on theology and church history.

Another notable Loftin was John Loftin (1659-1689), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of navigation and authored works on seamanship and trigonometry.

In the 19th century, Edward Loftin (1815-1894) was a prominent English architect known for his work on churches and other ecclesiastical buildings, particularly in the Gothic Revival style.

Additionally, Samuel Loftin (1804-1877) was an American lawyer, politician, and judge who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia in the mid-19th century.

Finally, one cannot overlook the contributions of Mary Loftin (1905-1994), an American civil rights activist and educator who played a significant role in the desegregation of public schools in Virginia during the 1950s and 1960s.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Loftin

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

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

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

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