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

Elenes, 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 Elenes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elenes in America

Elenes is the 25403rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elenes surname appeared 974 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 Elenes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elenes 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 Elenes

The surname Elenes is believed to have originated in Greece during the Byzantine period, which lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. It is thought to be derived from the Greek word "Elenis," which means "Greek." This suggests that the name was initially used to distinguish people of Greek origin or heritage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Elenes can be found in a Byzantine manuscript dating back to the 11th century. This document mentions an individual named Ioannes Elenes, who was a merchant from the city of Thessaloniki. It is likely that the surname was already in use by this time, indicating its antiquity.

During the Ottoman period, which began in the 15th century, the Elenes surname was also found among Greek communities living in various parts of the Ottoman Empire. Historical records from this era show that several families bearing this name lived in cities like Constantinople (now Istanbul) and Smyrna (now Izmir).

In the 17th century, a notable figure named Georgios Elenes (1605-1672) was a Greek scholar and theologian who taught at the Patriarchal School in Constantinople. He was known for his writings on theology and philosophy, which contributed to the intellectual and cultural life of the Greek community during that time.

Another individual of note was Alexandros Elenes (1780-1856), a Greek merchant and philanthropist who lived in the city of Chios. He was known for his contributions to the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, as well as his support for educational institutions and charitable causes.

In the 19th century, the Elenes surname continued to be found among Greek communities in various parts of the world. For example, Ioannis Elenes (1820-1895) was a Greek merchant and shipowner who lived in the city of Odessa, which was part of the Russian Empire at the time.

It is worth noting that the surname Elenes has also been associated with certain place names in Greece. For instance, there is a village called Elenes in the region of Laconia, which may have been the origin of the surname for some families.

Overall, the surname Elenes has a rich history that can be traced back to the Byzantine period and the Greek communities of the Eastern Mediterranean. Its meaning and association with Greek heritage have been preserved throughout the centuries, making it a significant part of the cultural and linguistic heritage of the Greek people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elenes

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

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

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

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