Kanellis
Of Greek origin, meaning "cinnamon" or "cinnamon tree."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 206 Americans carry the last name Kanellis. That puts it at #95,955 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.06 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,663,856 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Kanellis surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
206
1 in 1,663,856
Census rank
#95,955
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
190
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 190 bearers of the surname Kanellis in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 95955th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Kanellis, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Kanellis
The surname Kanellis has its origins in Greece, where it first emerged in the late Middle Ages or early Renaissance period. It is derived from the Greek word "kanella," which means "cinnamon," likely referring to someone involved in the trade or cultivation of this valuable spice.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a merchant's ledger from the island of Chios, dated around 1460, which mentions a "Nikolas Kanellis" as a supplier of cinnamon and other spices. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the Aegean region by that time.
As the Kanellis family spread across the Greek mainland and islands, variations in spelling arose, such as Kanellos, Kanellopulos, and Kanellakis. These variations often indicated different branches of the family or regional dialects.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named Georgios Kanellis was a renowned scholar and translator of ancient Greek texts. He was born in Crete in 1501 and spent much of his life in Venice, where he collaborated with notable humanists of the time.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Konstantinos Kanellis, a Greek naval officer and revolutionary who played a significant role in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire in the early 19th century. He was born in 1792 on the island of Hydra and fought valiantly in several naval battles.
During the Byzantine era, the name Kanellis can be found in various historical documents and chronicles, particularly those related to trade and commerce in the Mediterranean region. For instance, a merchant named Ioannis Kanellis is mentioned in a Venetian trade agreement with the Byzantine Empire in the 12th century.
In more recent times, notable individuals with the surname Kanellis include Maria Kanellis, an American professional wrestler and actress born in 1982, and Giorgos Kanellis, a Greek professional basketball player born in 1990.
Throughout its history, the surname Kanellis has maintained a strong connection to its Greek roots and the spice trade, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and maritime traditions of the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Kanellis
Among Census respondents with the surname Kanellis, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Two or More Races (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Kanellis bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Kanellis surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.1%
- Hispanic or Latino4.7%
- Two or more races2.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Kanellis surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #95,955 | #95,955 | 0.0% |
| Count | 190 | 190 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.06 | 0.06 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Kanellis bearers went from 190 to 190 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #95,955 to #95,955.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Kanellis
FAQ
Kanellis surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Kanellis?
The surname Kanellis holds position #95,955 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 206 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.06 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Kanellis surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Kanellis, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (4.7%) and Two or More Races (2.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.