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

Leota, 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 Leota surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leota in America

Leota is the 46219th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leota surname appeared 461 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 Leota.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leota 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 Leota

The surname Leota originated in Italy, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "leote," which means "lioness." The name likely originated as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who was considered brave or fierce like a lioness.

In the early 14th century, the name Leota appeared in various Italian records, including tax rolls and property deeds. One notable reference is found in a 1347 document from the city of Siena, which mentions a "Ser Leota di Bartolomeo," a notary public who witnessed a legal transaction.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Leota can be traced back to a man named Giovanni Leota, who was born in the Tuscan town of Montepulciano around 1290. He was a respected merchant and landowner, and his family's coat of arms featured a lioness symbolizing their family name.

During the Renaissance period, the Leota family gained prominence in the city of Florence. In the late 15th century, a wealthy banker named Cosimo Leota commissioned the construction of the Palazzo Leota, a magnificent palace that still stands today in the heart of Florence.

Another notable figure in the history of the Leota surname was Beatrice Leota, a 16th-century artist and poet from Verona. She was celebrated for her beautiful portraits and her poetry, which explored themes of love and nature. Beatrice Leota was born in 1532 and died in 1608.

In the 17th century, the Leota family had branches in various parts of Italy, including Venice, Genoa, and Naples. One prominent figure was Gian Battista Leota, a Venetian admiral who served in the Venetian navy during the Cretan War against the Ottoman Empire. He was born in 1621 and died in 1687.

Throughout the centuries, the Leota surname has also been found in various spellings, such as Leotti, Leotta, and Liotta. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and differences in pronunciation or record-keeping practices.

Over time, the Leota surname spread beyond Italy, with individuals bearing the name migrating to other parts of Europe and eventually to the Americas. However, its rich history and connection to Italian culture and heritage remain an integral part of its identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leota

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

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

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

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