Explore the Family Name Less
The meaning of Less
1. English: variant of Lass 4. 2. German: unexplained. 3. Slovak (mainly Lešš): unexplained. 4. Probably also a shortened form of an unidentified Jewish surname.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Less in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname "Less" has seen a slight decline in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 25,775th in frequency, dropping to 28,241st by 2010, a decrease of nearly 10 percent. The number of individuals bearing this surname also fell during this period, with 897 people recorded in 2000, decreasing to 847 in 2010, representing a drop of 5.57 percent. Accordingly, the proportion of people named Less per 100k in the population declined by 12.12 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,775 | #28,241 | -9.57% |
| Count | 897 | 847 | -5.57% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.33 | 0.29 | -12.12% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Less
The ethnic identity associated with the surname "Less" has also seen some shifts between 2000 and 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. The vast majority of individuals with this surname are white, with the percentage slightly decreasing from 94.65 in 2000 to 93.15 in 2010. There were no individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year. The percentage of those identifying as two or more races decreased significantly, from 1.23 percent in 2000 to 0.71 percent in 2010. However, there was a considerable increase in the proportion of individuals with the surname Less who identify as Hispanic, rising from 1.11 percent in 2000 to 2.95 percent in 2010. Similarly, the proportion of Black individuals with this surname slightly increased from 2.01 percent to 2.36 percent over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.65% | 93.15% | -1.58% |
| Hispanic | 1.11% | 2.95% | 165.77% |
| Black | 2.01% | 2.36% | 17.41% |
| Two or More Races | 1.23% | 0.71% | -42.28% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |