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

Xenakis, 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 Xenakis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Xenakis in America

Xenakis is the 46138th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Xenakis surname appeared 462 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 Xenakis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Xenakis 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 Xenakis

The surname Xenakis has its origins in Greece, specifically from the island of Crete in the Mediterranean. The name's earliest roots can be traced to the Greek word "xenos," meaning "foreigner" or "stranger," which was often used to describe someone who was new to a particular community. The suffix "-akis" is a diminutive form common in Cretan surnames, indicating "small" or "son of." As a result, Xenakis roughly translates to "little stranger" or "son of the stranger."

Historically, the name Xenakis appears in various records from the Byzantine period, around the 10th and 11th centuries. During this time, Greek names were often documented in official manuscripts and archives. One such reference is found in a 12th-century manuscript discussing land ownership and population settlements in Crete. Although specific individuals were not always named, the presence of the suffix "-akis" in surnames like Xenakis was already noticeable in these documents.

The earliest recorded example of the name Xenakis dates back to the late 14th century, when an individual named Ioannis Xenakis is mentioned in Venetian records. Ioannis was a landowner in Crete, and the documents pertain to land disputes and tax records from the year 1387.

In the 15th century, the name appears again in the Venetian Census of Crete, which listed George Xenakis as a local merchant. George was born in 1423 and lived during a time when Crete was under Venetian rule. His name appears in several trade documents, indicating his involvement in commerce and the local economy.

Another notable figure is Andreas Xenakis, born in 1750, who was a prominent member of the Filiki Eteria, a secret society that played a crucial role in initiating the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire in 1821. Andreas' contributions to the cause are documented in various historical texts about the revolution.

In the 19th century, Eleftherios Xenakis, born in 1860, became a well-known politician in Crete. He participated in the Cretan Revolt of 1897 against Ottoman rule and later became a key figure in the movement for the union of Crete with Greece. His efforts are chronicled in several historical records and writings on Cretan history.

Finally, the most famous bearer of the name is Iannis Xenakis, a renowned composer and architect who was born in 1922 and passed away in 2001. Iannis Xenakis is celebrated for his innovative compositions that blended music with mathematical concepts and for his significant contributions to architectural theory. His works and legacy continue to be influential in both fields.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Xenakis

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

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

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

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