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Leightner Family History

Leightner Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Lightner, Feightner, Leitner, Lighter, Leichter, Leichner, Feighner

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Leightner family from?

You can see how Leightner families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Leightner family name was found in the USA between 1840 and 1920. The most Leightner families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 2 Leightner families living in Pennsylvania. This was about 67% of all the recorded Leightner's in USA. Pennsylvania had the highest population of Leightner families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Leightner surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Leightner ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Leightner. 27% of Leightner men worked as a Laborer and 28% of Leightner women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Leightner were Machinist and Operator.

View Census Data for Leightner | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    27%
  • Carpenter
    22%
  • Farmer
    22%
  • Machinist
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    28%
  • Cook
    19%
  • Housewife
    19%
  • Operator
    19%

What Leightner family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Leightner. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Leightner census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Leightner

Passenger Lists

There are 27 immigration records available for the last name Leightner. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Leightner immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 205 military records available for the last name Leightner. For the veterans among your Leightner ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Leightner military records

You've only scratched the surface of Leightner family history

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What is the average Leightner lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Leightner life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1976, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Leightner in 1963 was 69, and 90 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Leightner

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Leightner ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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