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

Lamia, 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 Lamia surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Lamia in America

Lamia is the 52267th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Lamia surname appeared 397 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 Lamia.

We can also compare 2010 data for Lamia 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 Lamia

The surname LAMIA has its roots in ancient Greece, with its origins dating back to the 5th century BCE. It is derived from the Greek word "Lamia," a mythological creature that was believed to be a beautiful woman who enticed young men and children before devouring them. The name was likely given to families or individuals associated with this mythical figure or possessing traits reminiscent of the creature's alluring yet dangerous nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the LAMIA surname can be found in the works of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who mentions a woman named Lamia in his writings from the 5th century BCE. The name also appears in various ancient Greek texts and manuscripts, suggesting its widespread use during that time period.

In the Middle Ages, the LAMIA surname gained prominence in Italy, particularly in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria. It is believed that the name was introduced to these areas by Greek settlers or through cultural exchanges with the Byzantine Empire. During this time, the surname was often associated with nobility and aristocracy, with several notable individuals bearing the LAMIA name.

One such notable figure was Battista Lamia, an Italian Renaissance artist born in Faenza in 1468. He was renowned for his frescoes and worked on various religious commissions throughout Italy. Another prominent individual was Niccolò Lamia, a 16th-century Venetian diplomat and ambassador who played a significant role in negotiating treaties between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire.

In the 17th century, the LAMIA surname appeared in Spain, where it was often spelled as "Lamía." One notable bearer of this name was Diego Lamía y Salvatierra, a Spanish nobleman and military officer who served in the Spanish army during the 17th century.

As the surname spread across Europe, it also found its way to other parts of the world through migration and colonization. In the 19th century, there are records of individuals with the LAMIA surname in British India, such as John Lamia, a civil servant in the Bengal Presidency during the early 1800s.

Throughout its long history, the LAMIA surname has been associated with various professions, including artists, diplomats, military personnel, and civil servants. While its origins can be traced back to ancient Greek mythology, the name has endured and continues to be carried by families across the globe, reflecting the rich cultural diversity and migration patterns that have shaped human societies over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Lamia

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!