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

Leno, 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 Leno surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leno in America

Leno is the 20364th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leno surname appeared 1,305 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 Leno.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leno 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 Leno

The surname Leno is of Italian origin, derived from the Latin word "leno," which means "pimp" or "pander." It is believed to have first emerged in the 13th century in Italy, where it was likely used as a descriptive nickname or a derogatory term for someone involved in the sex trade or other disreputable activities.

In the early 14th century, records show the name Leno appearing in various Italian cities, such as Venice and Florence. It is also found in some of the earliest surviving Venetian tax records from this period, suggesting that the name was established among the urban population.

While the name's origins may be less than flattering, it eventually gained a more respectable meaning over time. By the 15th century, Leno was also used to refer to individuals who worked as innkeepers or hostelry owners, which was a more accepted profession.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Niccolò Leno, a Venetian merchant who lived in the late 14th century. He is mentioned in several historical documents related to trade and commerce in the Venetian Republic.

In the 16th century, the name Leno appeared in the famous Libro d'Oro (Book of Gold), a registry of Venetian noble families. This suggests that by this time, the Leno surname had gained a certain level of respectability and social status.

Another notable figure with the surname Leno was Gasparo Leno, an Italian painter and engraver who lived from 1585 to 1640. He was known for his religious and mythological works, some of which can still be found in churches and galleries across Italy.

In the 18th century, the Leno family produced several accomplished musicians, including Giovanni Battista Leno (1705-1773), an Italian composer and violinist who served at the court of the Duke of Parma.

As the name spread beyond Italy, it also took on different spellings and variations. In France, for example, the name was sometimes written as Lénon or Lenon, while in Spain it appeared as Leno or Lleno.

One of the most famous bearers of the Leno surname in more recent times was Jay Leno (born 1950), the American comedian and television host who hosted "The Tonight Show" from 1992 to 2014.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leno

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

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

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

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