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

Diogene, 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 Diogene surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Diogene in America

Diogene is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Diogene surname appeared 103 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 Diogene.

The history of the last name Diogene

The surname "DIOGENE" is believed to have originated in Italy, specifically in the region of Calabria, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Greek word "diogens," meaning "born of Zeus" or "heaven-born." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to individuals who were considered exceptional or divine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a document from the 12th century, where a nobleman named Diogene di Calabria is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use among the aristocracy of the region during that time.

In the 13th century, a Franciscan friar named Diogene da Palermo gained recognition for his scholarly works on theology and philosophy. He was born in Palermo, Sicily, in 1210 and died in 1282.

During the Renaissance period, a notable figure with the surname Diogene was Petrus Diogene, a humanist scholar and poet from Naples. He lived from 1450 to 1520 and was renowned for his Latin poetry and translations of ancient Greek texts.

In the 17th century, a prominent Italian lawyer and jurist named Giovanni Battista Diogene (1590-1658) made significant contributions to the field of civil law. He served as a judge in the Kingdom of Naples and authored several influential legal treatises.

Another individual of note was Girolamo Diogene (1670-1735), an Italian architect and engineer from Calabria. He was responsible for the design and construction of several churches and public buildings in the region.

While the surname Diogene is not as common as some other Italian surnames, it has maintained a presence throughout history, particularly in southern Italy and Sicily. The name's connection to Greek philosophy and its associations with nobility and scholarship have contributed to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Diogene

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

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 Diogene 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.

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

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

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