Explore the Family Name Leys
The meaning of Leys
1. Flemish and Dutch: patronymic from a shortened form of the personal name Laurei(n)s (see Lawrence). 2. French (Nord): from a vernacular short form of the personal name Adélaïde, from ancient Germanic Adelheid (see Leite). 3. French: habitational name from Leys in Saône-et-Loire. 4. Scottish: habitational name from one of a number of places in Aberdeenshire, Angus and Perthshire, named with Old English lǣse ‘pasture, meadow’ (see Lees). 5. English: variant of Lee. Some characteristic forenames: French Benoit, Monique, Patrice, Yanick.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Leys in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Leys saw a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the name was ranked 41,924 in terms of commonality and then dropped to rank 43,077 in 2010, showcasing a -2.75% change. However, the total count of people bearing this surname witnessed an increase from 488 in 2000 to 502 in 2010, a rise of 2.87%. Despite this, the proportion of individuals with the surname per 100,000 people decreased by 5.56% during this decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #41,924 | #43,077 | -2.75% |
| Count | 488 | 502 | 2.87% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.18 | 0.17 | -5.56% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Leys
The ethnicity associated with the surname Leys also underwent some shifts between 2000 and 2010 as per the Decennial U.S. Census data. The majority identified as White, but this percentage decreased from 84.22% to 80.68% over the ten years. Those identifying as Black recorded an increase, climbing from 10.86% in 2000 to 13.94% in 2010. There was also a notable growth in the proportion of people reporting two or more ethnic identities, rising by almost 30%, from 1.84% to 2.39%. Meanwhile, the Hispanic representation saw a slight decline, dropping from 2.87% to 2.59%. There were no recorded instances of people with the surname Leys identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 84.22% | 80.68% | -4.2% |
| Black | 10.86% | 13.94% | 28.36% |
| Hispanic | 2.87% | 2.59% | -9.76% |
| Two or More Races | 1.84% | 2.39% | 29.89% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |