The Lightfoot surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 8,634 people carried this name — #4,109 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 34,100 people counted. That is up 5% from 8,190 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Lightfoot surname

A surname transferred from the nickname.

From light + foot, a nickname for a messenger or fast runner.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Lightfoot» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a nickname: ‘light foot’.

An early record he cites: William Lightfot, Cambridgeshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 482 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Lightfoot was found among the farmers of 4 counties.

It was most frequent in Cumberland and Westmorland: 20 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 500. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Cumberland and Westmorland 20
Cheshire 17
Yorkshire, North and East Ridings 10
Lincolnshire 9

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

18 Lightfoot families were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 122 people lived in those households, 6.8 to a family on average. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Virginia 8
Pennsylvania 5
North Carolina 2
Connecticut 1
Maryland 1
South Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 250 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Lightfoot in American newspapers,
1914–1930.

Newspaper page from New Britain Herald carrying the name Lightfoot
New Britain Herald 1930-10-07
Newspaper page from New Britain Herald carrying the name Lightfoot
New Britain Herald 1929-04-09
Newspaper page from The Richmond Palladium And Sun-telegram carrying the name Lightfoot
The Richmond Palladium And Sun-telegram 1914-08-11

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 41,015 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Lightfoot in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

14,514 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Lightfoot. The most, 3,045, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Victoria, at 1.7 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 5,083
Victoria 4,682
Western Australia 1,220
Queensland 1,193
South Australia 1,187
Tasmania 1,016
ACT (Canberra) 82
Northern Territory 6

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Lightfoot.

Who carried it

People named Lightfoot,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Lightfoot
    John Lightfoot 1602–1675 · theologian
  • Hannah Lightfoot
    Hannah Lightfoot 1730–1759
  • John Lightfoot
    John Lightfoot 1735–1788 · priest
  • John Prideaux Lightfoot
    John Prideaux Lightfoot 1803–1887 · writer
  • Jane Josepha Lightfoot d. 1832
  • Goodrich Lightfoot Jr. 1713–1778

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Lightfoot,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States755 records

755 records of the Lightfoot name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 279
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 170
  • Other U.S. records 306
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record John O. Lightfoot

    Born 1919 in Alabama. Enlisted 1943 at Fort Benning, Georgia; metal worker from Pike County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 2001, buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Tuskegee, Alabama.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Belvin Lightfoot

    Born 1947; from La Marque, Texas. U.S. Army, infantryman; killed in action 1967 in Long An, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Charles E. Lightfoot

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Etruria from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 31; tailor. From Hempshire, England; bound for Virginia.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 755 records for Lightfoot in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia399 records

399 records of the Lightfoot name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 229
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 75
  • Other Australian records 95
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record John Lightfoot

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1831. Married 1831 in New Norfolk, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record George Lightfoot

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Princess Royal, arriving 1823; ticket of leave 1840. Native of Chester.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Lightfoot

    Arrived in Victoria in 1853 aboard the Baltimore, aged 27; British.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 399 records for Lightfoot in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada190 records

190 records of the Lightfoot name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 136
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 21
  • Other Canadian records 33
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jas Lightfoot

    Came to Ontario in 1881 aboard the Grecian, landing at Quebec, bound for Clarksons, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Harold N. Lightfoot

    Buried in 1985 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 74.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Wilbur Ernest Lightfoot

    Died 1954 in Wolfville, Kings, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 190 records for Lightfoot in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom37 records

37 records of the Lightfoot name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 28
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 7
  • Other British records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Marion Lightfoot

    Buried in 1910 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 23.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Thomas Lightfoot

    Will proved in 1937; of Bangor, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record A. Lightfoot

    Highland Light Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 37 records for Lightfoot in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand23 records

23 records of the Lightfoot name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 17
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 4
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Lester William Lightfoot

    Died 1997, aged 69; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Frederick Richard Lightfoot

    Died 1965, aged 73; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Gordon Fredrick Lightfoot

    Born 1915, died 1975; ashes interred at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 23 records for Lightfoot in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Netherlands5 records

5 records of the Lightfoot name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 4
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 1
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record John William Lightfoot

    Died 1901 in Rotterdam, aged 46.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Lucy Lightfoot

    Married in 1773 in Rotterdam; born in Durham in England.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record James Lightfoot

    Married in 1746 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 5 records for Lightfoot in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France1 record

1 record of the Lightfoot name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Hilda May Lightfoot

    Born 1907 in Great Britain; died 2000 in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Lightfoot.

When the index is not enough

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