Explore the Family Name Leif
The meaning of Leif
1. Swedish: from the Old Norse personal name Leifr, a short form of the compound names with the second element leifr (from leif ‘heir’). 2. Americanized form of Swedish Lööf, Löf, or Löv (see Leaf 3). 3. English: rare variant of Leaf.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Leif in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Leif was ranked 50,055 in popularity in 2000 and dropped slightly to 50,771 in 2010, a change of -1.43%. However, the actual count of individuals with the surname increased from 393 to 411 during this decade, a rise of roughly 4.58%. The proportion of individuals with the surname Leif per 100,000 people also decreased by 6.67%, from 0.15 to 0.14.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #50,055 | #50,771 | -1.43% |
| Count | 393 | 411 | 4.58% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.15 | 0.14 | -6.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Leif
Regarding ethnic identity, the data from Decennial U.S. Census shows that most bearers of the surname Leif identify as White, with 97.20% in 2000 and 96.11% in 2010, indicating a slight decrease of 1.12%. In 2000, 1.53% identified as belonging to two or more races, but this percentage dropped to zero by 2010. An interesting development is seen in the Asian/Pacific Islander category, which had no representation in 2000 but accounted for 1.70% in 2010. Meanwhile, there were no recorded instances of the surname among those identifying as Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.2% | 96.11% | -1.12% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.7% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.53% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |