Explore the Family Name Leib
The meaning of Leib
1. Jewish (Ashkenazic): from the Yiddish personal name Leyb, meaning ‘lion’, traditional Yiddish translation equivalent of the Hebrew name Yehuda (Judah), with reference to the Old Testament description of Judah as a ‘lion’s whelp’ (Genesis 49:9). 2. German: from the ancient Germanic personal name Liubo, from liob ‘dear’. This surname is also found in France (Alsace and Lorraine). 3. German: nickname from Middle High German līp ‘life, body’. 4. German: metonymic occupational name from Middle High German leip ‘loaf (of bread)’ for a baker. 5. Possibly also an altered form of German Lieb, because of the confusion of -ie- and -ei-.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Leib in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Leib has experienced changes in its popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it held the rank of 14,857 with a count of 1,829, which represents a rate of 0.68 per 100,000 people. By 2010, however, it had slipped to the 15,788th most popular surname, despite an increase in absolute count to 1,845. This drop in rank corresponds to a decrease of 6.27%, while the increase in count is a marginal 0.87%. The proportion per 100,000 individuals also fell by 7.35% to 0.63 during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,857 | #15,788 | -6.27% |
| Count | 1,829 | 1,845 | 0.87% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.68 | 0.63 | -7.35% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Leib
The ethnic identities associated with the Leib surname have also shifted according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, those identifying as White held the majority at 94.97%, followed by Hispanic at 2.57%, Asian/Pacific Islander at 0.93%, and those of two or more races at 1.31%. No individuals identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native. By 2010, the percentage of those identifying as White had dipped slightly to 93.98%, while the Hispanic ethnicity increased notably by 47.47% to 3.79%. The percentages of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and of two or more races both decreased, to 0.76% and 0.92% respectively. Once again, no individuals identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.97% | 93.98% | -1.04% |
| Hispanic | 2.57% | 3.79% | 47.47% |
| Two or More Races | 1.31% | 0.92% | -29.77% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.93% | 0.76% | -18.28% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |