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

Leonidas, 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 Leonidas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leonidas in America

Leonidas is the 76768th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leonidas surname appeared 250 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 Leonidas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leonidas 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 Leonidas

The surname Leonidas has its origins in Ancient Greece, specifically in the region of Sparta, during the 5th century BC. It is derived from the Greek words "leon" meaning lion, and "idas" meaning son or descendant, thus translating to "son of a lion" or "descendant of a lion".

The name Leonidas gained historical significance due to the legendary Spartan king Leonidas I, who famously led a small band of Greek warriors against the vastly superior Persian forces at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. His bravery and sacrifice were immortalized in history and literature, with the name Leonidas becoming synonymous with courage and heroism.

In ancient Greek manuscripts and records, the name Leonidas appears as early as the 5th century BC, often associated with Spartan warriors and nobility. The earliest known bearer of the name was the aforementioned King Leonidas I, who lived from approximately 540 BC to 480 BC.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Leonidas was Leonidas II, a Spartan king who reigned in the 3rd century BC. He played a pivotal role in the Cleomenean War against the Achaean League, demonstrating the military prowess associated with the name.

In the Byzantine era, the name Leonidas resurfaced in the form of Leonidas of Alexandria, a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century AD. He is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church for his unwavering faith and sacrifice.

During the Renaissance period, the name Leonidas was revived in literary and artistic works, often symbolizing bravery and heroism. One notable figure was Leonidas Tomolitius, a 16th-century Greek scholar and humanist, who played a significant role in the dissemination of Greek literature and culture.

In the modern era, the surname Leonidas has been carried by various individuals across different fields, including Leonidas Kavakos, a renowned Greek violinist born in 1967, and Leonidas Iza, a Colombian writer and poet born in 1955.

It is worth noting that while the name Leonidas has a rich historical legacy, particularly in Greek and Spartan culture, its usage as a surname may have evolved and spread to different regions over time, reflecting the diverse cultural influences and migrations throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leonidas

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

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

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

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