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

Lui, 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 Lui surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lui in America

Lui is the 5641st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lui surname appeared 6,156 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 Lui.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lui 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 Lui

The surname "LUI" is of Italian origin, and it can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Italian word "lui," which means "he" or "him." This name was likely used as a nickname or a descriptive name for someone who was constantly referring to himself in the third person.

The earliest recorded instances of the name "LUI" can be found in various historical records from northern Italy, particularly in the regions of Lombardy and Veneto. It is possible that the name was initially used as a nickname or a distinguishing term for a family or individual before becoming a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest known references to the name "LUI" appears in a 14th-century document from the city of Verona, where a certain "Giovanni Lui" is mentioned as a merchant. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname were already established in urban centers and involved in trade and commerce during that period.

In the 15th century, the name "LUI" can be found in the records of the Venetian Republic, where several individuals with this surname held positions of importance. For instance, a certain "Marco Lui" was a prominent member of the Venetian nobility and served as a diplomat during the reign of the Doge Francesco Foscari (1423-1457).

Throughout the centuries, the surname "LUI" has been associated with various notable figures. One of the most famous individuals bearing this name was Girolamo Lui (1497-1576), a renowned Italian architect and engineer who was responsible for the construction of several iconic buildings in Venice, including the Procuratie Nuove in St. Mark's Square.

Another notable figure with the surname "LUI" was Vincenzo Lui (1629-1706), an Italian painter and engraver from Milan who was celebrated for his religious works and portraits. His artwork can be found in numerous churches and galleries across Italy.

In the 19th century, the name "LUI" gained prominence in the field of literature with the Italian poet and writer Alessandro Lui (1811-1879), who was known for his romantic and patriotic works.

Other notable individuals with the surname "LUI" include:

1. Enrico Lui (1888-1967), an Italian politician and statesman who served as a member of the Italian Parliament and held several ministerial positions.
2. Guido Lui (1903-1982), an Italian architect and urban planner who was instrumental in the reconstruction efforts after World War II.
3. Francesca Lui (1923-2018), an Italian actress and film director who gained recognition for her work in the Italian Neorealist cinema movement.
4. Lorenzo Lui (born 1961), an Italian businessman and entrepreneur who founded one of Italy's largest fashion and retail companies.
5. Martina Lui (born 1987), an Italian professional tennis player who has won several singles and doubles titles on the WTA Tour.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lui

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

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

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

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