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

Elena, 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 Elena surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elena in America

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

The Elena 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 Elena.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elena 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 Elena

The surname ELENA originated in Italy during the medieval period, likely derived from the Latin name Helena or the Greek name Helene, meaning "bright" or "shining light." It was initially used as a feminine given name before evolving into a family name.

ELENA is believed to have first appeared as a surname in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria, where it was associated with noble families and landowners. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries.

One notable mention of the ELENA surname is in the "Codice Diplomatico Longobardo," a collection of Lombard diplomatic documents from the 7th to the 11th centuries. This suggests that the name may have been present in Italy even before the medieval period.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Giovanni ELENA (1420-1498) was a renowned Italian humanist, scholar, and philosopher who played a significant role in the Renaissance movement. He was highly respected for his contributions to the study of Classical literature and philosophy.

Another notable individual with the ELENA surname was Girolamo ELENA (1568-1630), an Italian painter and architect who was active in Rome during the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. His works can be found in various churches and palaces throughout Italy.

During the 16th century, the ELENA family was also known to have owned several vineyards and estates in the Tuscan region, particularly around the city of Siena. This is evident from land records and property deeds from that time.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Vincenzo ELENA (1732-1804) was a highly acclaimed Italian composer and violinist. He composed numerous operas, concertos, and chamber works, and his music was widely performed throughout Europe.

Another individual of note was Caterina ELENA (1855-1932), an Italian educator and feminist activist who campaigned for women's rights and access to education. She founded several schools and educational institutions for underprivileged girls in her native Tuscany.

While the ELENA surname has its roots in Italy, over the centuries, it has spread to other parts of Europe and the world due to migration and intermarriage. However, its earliest origins and historical significance can be traced back to the Italian regions of Tuscany and Umbria during the medieval and Renaissance periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elena

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

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

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

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