Demetrious is a masculine given name of Greek origin, derived from the name Demetrius, which has its roots in the Greek word "dēmētēr," meaning "mother earth" or "earth goddess." The name gained prominence in ancient Greece and was associated with the goddess Demeter, who was revered as the goddess of agriculture, grain, and fertility.

The earliest known use of the name Demetrius dates back to the 4th century BCE, when it was borne by several prominent figures in Greek history. One of the most notable was Demetrius I Poliorcetes, a Macedonian king and one of the successors of Alexander the Great, who lived from 336 to 283 BCE.

In the Christian tradition, the name Demetrius is associated with a 3rd-century martyr and saint from Thessaloniki, Greece. Saint Demetrius was a Christian soldier who was martyred during the reign of Emperor Maximian in the late 3rd or early 4th century. His fame as a martyr and the miracles attributed to him led to the widespread use of the name throughout the Byzantine Empire.

Throughout the centuries, the name Demetrius, and its variant forms like Demetrious, have been borne by various notable individuals. One of the earliest was Demetrius Phalereus, an Athenian orator, philosopher, and statesman who lived from around 350 to 280 BCE.

In the Middle Ages, the name was popular among Eastern European nobility, particularly in Russia and Bulgaria. One of the most famous bearers was Demetrius I Pavlovich, the first Tsar of the Rurik dynasty, who reigned from 1605 to 1606.

During the Renaissance, the name gained popularity in Western Europe as well. Demetrio Calcondila, a Greek scholar and one of the most important figures in the revival of Greek learning in the West, lived from around 1423 to 1511.

In more recent times, the name has been borne by several notable figures, including Demetrius Vikelas, a Greek businessman and the first president of the International Olympic Committee, who lived from 1835 to 1908, and Demetrius Ypsilantis, a Greek revolutionary leader who played a significant role in the Greek War of Independence, born in 1793.