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

Loftis, 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 Loftis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Loftis in America

Loftis is the 5162nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Loftis surname appeared 6,777 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 Loftis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Loftis 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 Loftis

The surname Loftis has its origins in England, tracing back to the late medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English word "loft," which referred to an upper room or a loft. This suggests that the name may have originally identified someone who lived in or near a building with a loft or an elevated structure.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable reference is in the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1292, which mentions a John de Lofte. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 also include an entry for a John atte Lofte, indicating the name's presence in different regions of England.

In the 15th century, the surname appears in various spellings, such as Lofte, Loft, and Loftis. The Hearth Tax Rolls of 1674 for Warwickshire list a Thomas Loftis, showcasing the more modern spelling of the name. This variation likely emerged due to the addition of the suffix "-is," which was common in the formation of English surnames.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname was John Loftis, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, around 1520. He was a prominent figure in the wool trade and served as a member of the local guild.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Loftis (1622-1691), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire. He played a significant role in the development of the local community and was a benefactor to several charitable causes.

In the 18th century, Samuel Loftis (1734-1805) was a respected clergyman and author from Yorkshire. He wrote several theological works and served as the vicar of St. Mary's Church in Leeds.

Moving into the 19th century, Elizabeth Loftis (1820-1902) was a pioneering educator from Kent. She founded one of the first schools for girls in her hometown and dedicated her life to promoting education for women.

Lastly, Henry Loftis (1858-1942) was a renowned architect from London. He designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Opera House and the National Gallery extension, leaving a lasting legacy in the architectural landscape of the city.

While the name Loftis may have evolved over time and spread across different regions, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it likely identified individuals living in or near buildings with lofts or elevated structures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Loftis

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

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

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

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