Explore the Family Name Letter
The meaning of Letter
English: habitational name from Letters (Ross and Cromarty), Leitters (Perthshire), or any of many other minor places in Scotland named with Gaelic leiter ‘steep slope’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Letter in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Letter" significantly decreased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked at 50,686 in terms of prevalence but by 2010, it had fallen to 88,685, a drop of nearly 75%. Similarly, the count of individuals with this surname also saw a decline from 387 in 2000 to 209 in 2010, representing a decrease of about 46%. The proportion of the population with this surname per 100,000 people declined by half, from 0.14 to 0.07.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #50,686 | #88,685 | -74.97% |
| Count | 387 | 209 | -45.99% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.07 | -50% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Letter
Examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Letter", according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the majority identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, with a slight decrease of 0.14% over the decade. In 2000, 2.33% identified as Hispanic and 1.55% identified as Black, however, these percentages dropped to zero by 2010. There were no changes in the percentages of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Two or more races, or American Indian and Alaskan Native during this period, as these categories remained at zero in both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.35% | 95.22% | -0.14% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 2.33% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 1.55% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |