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

DiLeo, 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 DiLeo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DiLeo in America

DiLeo is the 12269th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DiLeo surname appeared 2,535 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname DiLeo.

We can also compare 2010 data for DiLeo 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 DiLeo

The surname DILEO originated in Italy, with its earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian words "di" meaning "from" and "leo" meaning "lion," suggesting that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with lion-like qualities or characteristics.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the DILEO surname can be found in a medieval Italian manuscript from the city of Florence, where a certain Guido DILEO was mentioned as a prominent merchant in the year 1287. This document provides valuable insight into the name's long-standing presence in the region.

During the Renaissance period, the DILEO name gained further prominence, with several notable individuals bearing the surname. One such figure was Francesco DILEO (1455-1521), a renowned painter from the Venetian school, whose works adorned churches and palaces throughout northern Italy.

In the 17th century, the DILEO family established themselves as landowners and nobles in the region of Calabria, southern Italy. Records from this period mention a Niccolò DILEO (1612-1678), who was a respected magistrate and jurist in the city of Reggio Calabria.

As the DILEO name spread across Italy, it also found its way into neighboring regions. In the 18th century, a branch of the family settled in the Dalmatian city of Ragusa (present-day Dubrovnik, Croatia), where they were involved in maritime trade. One notable figure from this period was Luca DILEO (1732-1801), a successful merchant and ship owner.

Moving into the 19th century, the DILEO surname gained recognition in the field of literature. Giuseppe DILEO (1819-1892), a poet and author from Naples, was celebrated for his romantic works that captured the spirit of the city and its people.

Throughout its history, the DILEO surname has been associated with various professions, from artists and writers to merchants and landowners. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Italy, the name has left its mark across multiple regions and continues to carry a rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DiLeo

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

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

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

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