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

Athens, 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 Athens surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Athens in America

Athens is the 39717th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Athens surname appeared 553 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 Athens.

We can also compare 2010 data for Athens 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 Athens

The surname ATHENS is believed to have originated in ancient Greece, specifically in the region surrounding the city of Athens. The name is likely derived from the Greek word "Athênai," which refers to the city itself. It is thought to have first emerged as a descriptive surname, given to individuals who hailed from or had some connection to the city or region of Athens.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ATHENS can be found in a Byzantine manuscript from the 9th century, where it appears as "Athênios." This Greek form of the name suggests that it was already in use during the Byzantine era, reflecting the enduring significance of Athens as a cultural and intellectual center of the time.

As the centuries passed, the name spread across Europe, particularly during the Renaissance period when scholars and intellectuals from Greece traveled to various parts of the continent, carrying their surnames with them. The name ATHENS is mentioned in several historical documents from this era, including a record from the University of Padua in Italy, where a scholar named Georgios ATHENS taught philosophy in the late 15th century.

In England, the surname ATHENS can be traced back to the 16th century, when it was likely introduced by Greek immigrants or scholars. One notable figure bearing this surname was Sir John ATHENS, a merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London, who lived from 1545 to 1611.

Another prominent individual with the surname ATHENS was Demetrios ATHENS, a Greek scholar and philosopher who lived in the 17th century. Born in 1635 on the island of Chios, he later traveled to Italy and taught at various universities, including the University of Padua, where he held the chair of philosophy.

In the 18th century, the name ATHENS gained further recognition with the birth of John ATHENS (1714-1790), an English architect and surveyor who was involved in the construction of several notable buildings in London, including the Mansion House and the Royal Exchange.

Throughout history, the surname ATHENS has been associated with individuals from various fields, including academics, philosophers, artists, and writers. For instance, Georgios ATHENS (1867-1942) was a renowned Greek painter and scholar who played a significant role in the revival of Byzantine art in the early 20th century.

While the surname ATHENS may have originated in Greece, it has since spread across the world, carried by individuals of Greek descent and those who have embraced the name's rich cultural and historical connections to the ancient city of Athens.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Athens

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

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 Athens 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 Athens 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 Athens was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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