Find out how popular the last name Achilles is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Achilles.

Achilles, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Achilles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Achilles in America

Achilles is the 35489th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Achilles surname appeared 634 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Achilles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Achilles to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Achilles

The surname Achilles derives its origins from ancient Greece, tracing back to the renowned hero Achilles from Homer's epic poem, the Iliad. This name was initially used as a personal name in Greek mythology, associated with the legendary warrior and central figure in the Trojan War.

The name Achilles is believed to have entered the realm of surnames during the Middle Ages, particularly in regions with strong ties to Greek culture and literature. It was likely adopted as a surname by individuals or families who sought to establish a connection with the heroic figure from ancient tales.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Achilles can be found in medieval manuscripts and chronicles from the Byzantine Empire, where the name was occasionally used as a surname among the Greek nobility and scholarly circles.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing this surname was Petros Achilles, a Greek scholar and philosopher who resided in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). He authored several treatises on philosophy and was renowned for his expertise in ancient Greek literature.

During the Renaissance period, the surname Achilles gained popularity among humanist scholars and intellectuals who revered classical Greek and Roman literature. Notably, Paulus Achilles, a German poet and humanist born in 1480, adopted this surname as a tribute to the legendary hero.

Another prominent individual with the surname Achilles was Johann Achilles, a German astronomer and mathematician born in 1551. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and is credited with improving the accuracy of planetary tables.

In the 18th century, a French military officer named Louis Achilles gained recognition for his service during the Napoleonic Wars. He rose through the ranks and was awarded several honors for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

While the surname Achilles has been relatively uncommon throughout history, it has carried a symbolic connection to the virtues of courage, strength, and heroism associated with the legendary Greek figure. The name has persisted as a reminder of the enduring influence of ancient Greek mythology and literature on Western culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Achilles

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Achilles.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Achilles was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Achilles has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Achilles was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Achilles, please contact us.

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