2000
#141,788
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 108
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Fotiou
A Greek surname meaning "light" or "bright".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 139 Americans carry the last name Fotiou. That puts it at #141,309 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,465,859 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Fotiou surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
139
1 in 2,465,859
Census rank
#141,309
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
121
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 121 bearers of the surname Fotiou in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 141309th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Fotiou, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (4.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Fotiou
The surname FOTIOU is of Greek origin, originating from the Greek island of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea. It is believed to have first appeared in the early 16th century, derived from the Greek word "fotizo," meaning "to illuminate" or "to enlighten."
The name FOTIOU is closely linked to the Greek Orthodox faith, and it is thought that the earliest bearers of this surname were likely members of the clergy or individuals involved in religious or scholarly pursuits. The name's connection to the concept of enlightenment and illumination suggests that it may have been bestowed upon those who were considered learned or educated individuals in their communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname FOTIOU can be found in the archives of the Monastery of Arkadi, a historic Greek Orthodox monastery located in Crete. These records, dating back to the late 16th century, mention several individuals bearing the name FOTIOU, indicating that the surname had already established itself in the region by that time.
In the 17th century, the surname FOTIOU appeared in various documents and records from the Venetian authorities who ruled over parts of Crete during that period. This suggests that the name had spread beyond its original confines and was becoming more widely recognized across the island.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname FOTIOU. One such figure was Ioannis Fotiou (1811-1892), a Greek scholar and educator who made significant contributions to the field of education in Crete. Another prominent bearer of the name was Konstantinos Fotiou (1876-1948), a Greek politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Greek Parliament and held various governmental positions.
The FOTIOU surname has also been carried by individuals in the arts and literature. One example is the Greek poet and novelist Nikos Fotiou (1926-2006), whose works explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Additionally, Panagiotis Fotiou (1900-1982) was a renowned Greek painter known for his depictions of Cretan landscapes and traditional village life.
In the realm of sports, the name FOTIOU has been represented by individuals such as Giorgos Fotiou (born 1973), a former professional basketball player who represented the Greek national team and played in various European leagues during his career.
While the surname FOTIOU is most commonly associated with Greece and the Greek diaspora, it has also been documented in various communities around the world, likely as a result of Greek migration patterns over the centuries. However, its roots can be traced back to the island of Crete, where it emerged as a distinctive surname reflecting the rich cultural and religious heritage of the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Fotiou
Among Census respondents with the surname Fotiou, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (4.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Fotiou bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Fotiou surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White88.4% · 107
- Hispanic or Latino5.0% · 6
- Two or more races4.1% · 5
- Black or African American1.7% · 2
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.8% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Fotiou
Fotiou appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#157,234
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 103
-5 bearers (-4.6%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 15,446 places
2020
#141,309
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
+18 bearers (+17.5%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 15,925 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #141,788 | 108 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #157,234 | 103 | 0.03 | -5 bearers (-4.6%) | Down 15,446 places |
| 2020 | #141,309 | 121 | 0.04 | +18 bearers (+17.5%) | Up 15,925 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Fotiou surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #157,234 | #141,309 | 10.1% |
| Count | 103 | 121 | 17.5% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 34.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Fotiou bearers went from 103 to 121 (+17.5% change). The surname moved up 15,925 positions in the national ranking, going from #157,234 to #141,309.
FAQ
Fotiou surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Fotiou?
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the surname Fotiou. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,465,859 residents.
How common is Fotiou?
Fotiou ranks #141,309 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 121 people with the surname Fotiou. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (139), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Fotiou.
Has Fotiou become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Fotiou went from 103 recorded bearers to 121. That is an increase of 18 (+17.5%). In the national ranking it rose from #157,234 to #141,309.
What does the Census say about the background of Fotiou?
Among Census respondents with the surname Fotiou, the largest self-reported group is White at 88.4%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (4.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Fotiou in the 2020 Census, accounting for 88.4% (107 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Fotiou appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (88.4%), Hispanic (5.0%), Two or More Races (4.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Fotiou (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Fotiou mean?
A Greek surname meaning "light" or "bright". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Fotiou (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Fotiou?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.