Lantos
A surname of Hungarian origin meaning from the village of Lantosfalva.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Lantos. That puts it at #123,064 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Lantos 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
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#123,064
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
140
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 140 bearers of the surname Lantos in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 123064th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Lantos, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Lantos
The surname Lantos originated in Hungary, with the earliest records dating back to the late 15th century. It is believed to be derived from the Hungarian word "lantos," which means "lute player" or "lutenist." This suggests that the name may have been originally given as an occupational surname to someone who played the lute or other stringed instruments.
The Lantos surname is found in various historical records from Hungary, including church registers and census documents. One of the earliest known instances of the name appears in a 1492 document from the town of Szeged, which mentions a certain Benedictus Lantos.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Lantos can be found in various regions of Hungary, particularly in the central and eastern parts of the country. Some notable Lantos individuals from this period include Gáspár Lantos (1564-1626), a Hungarian Protestant preacher and writer, and János Lantos (1677-1734), a Catholic priest and author from the town of Eger.
The Lantos surname also appears in several place names and geographical locations throughout Hungary. For example, there is a village called Lantosháza in Bács-Kiskun County, which likely derives its name from the presence of Lantos families in the area.
Outside of Hungary, the Lantos name can be found in various parts of Europe and North America, often as a result of emigration from Hungary. One notable individual with this surname is Tom Lantos (1928-2008), a Hungarian-American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for over 25 years.
Other notable individuals with the Lantos surname include Géza Lantos (1908-1993), a Hungarian-American mathematician and computer scientist; János Lantos (1944-1998), a Hungarian football player and manager; and Tamás Lantos (born 1976), a Hungarian singer and actor.
Overall, the Lantos surname has a rich history rooted in Hungary, with connections to the arts, religion, and various professions throughout the centuries. Its origins as an occupational name related to the lute player reflect the cultural and musical traditions of the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Lantos
Among Census respondents with the surname Lantos, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Lantos 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 Lantos surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.9%
- Hispanic or Latino7.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Lantos 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 | #123,064 | #123,064 | 0.0% |
| Count | 140 | 140 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Lantos bearers went from 140 to 140 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #123,064 to #123,064.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Lantos
FAQ
Lantos surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Lantos?
The surname Lantos holds position #123,064 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Lantos surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Lantos, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.9%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (7.1%). 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.