Leotta last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Leotta

Of Italian origin, meaning "lioness" or "brave woman."

Leotta, 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 Leotta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Leotta in America

Leotta is the 57101st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Leotta surname appeared 357 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 Leotta.

We can also compare 2010 data for Leotta 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.

20102000Change (%)
Rank57101531917.09%
Count357365-2.22%
Proportion per 100k0.120.14-15.38%

The history of the last name Leotta

The surname Leotta originated in Sicily, an island located in the Mediterranean Sea off the southern coast of Italy. Its roots can be traced back to the 11th century during the Norman conquest of the region. The name is derived from the Greek word "leonta," which means "lion," and it is believed to have been initially used as a nickname or a personal descriptor.

In the early medieval period, surnames were not commonly used, and people were often identified by their place of origin, occupation, or physical characteristics. The surname Leotta likely emerged as a way to distinguish individuals who displayed lion-like qualities, such as bravery, strength, or leadership.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Leotta can be found in a document from the 13th century, which mentions a nobleman named Riccardo Leotta. This document provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the medieval period in Sicily.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Leotta has been associated with various historical figures and notable individuals. In the 15th century, a Sicilian artist named Giovanni Leotta gained recognition for his intricate woodcarvings and religious sculptures. His works can still be admired in several churches and museums across Sicily.

Another prominent figure with the Leotta surname was Francesco Leotta, a 17th-century Sicilian writer and scholar. He authored several works on history, literature, and philosophy, contributing to the intellectual discourse of his time.

In the 19th century, Giuseppe Leotta, a Sicilian patriot and revolutionary, played a significant role in the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification. His activism and dedication to the cause earned him a place in the annals of Italian history.

The Leotta surname has also been associated with various place names and locations in Sicily. For instance, the town of Leotta, located in the province of Messina, derives its name from the surname, suggesting a historical connection between the family and the area.

Across the centuries, the Leotta surname has undergone various spellings and variations, such as Leota, Liotta, and Liota. These variations reflect the linguistic and cultural influences that shaped the name over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Leotta

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

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 Leotta was:

Race/EthnicityPercentageTotal Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only96.64%345
Non-Hispanic Black Only(S)%(S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only0.00%0
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races(S)%(S)
Hispanic Origin2.24%8

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 Leotta has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

20102000Change (%)
White96.64%95.07%1.64%
Black(S)%0.00%(S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander0.00%(S)%(S)%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0.00%0.00%0.00%
Two or More Races(S)%(S)%(S)%
Hispanic2.24%3.56%-45.52%

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

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

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