LEO Origin of surname
LEO
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic surname based on a male ancestor's given name, in this case of biblical origin.
Leo is a Latin form of the Hebrew Arie, which means "lion". Lion was a widespread 'kinnui' ("secular equivalent") of Judah throughout the Dispersion, first as a given name and eventually as a hereditary family name. Juda(h), (Yehuda in Hebrew), was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, surnamed Ari(eh), "lion" (Genesis 49.38). Translated into Latin (Leo/Leonus), Italian (Leone/Leoni), French (Lion), German (Loewe), Slavic (Lev), and Yiddish (Leib/Leb), the 'kinnui' produced many patronymics (names derived from a male relative) and was sometimes transformed into variants whose meaning and spelling are far removed from the root, although the sound is reminiscent of the original. In some cases Leo is a toponymic (derived from a geographic name of a town, city, region or country). Surnames that are based on place names do not always testify to direct origin from that place, but may indicate an indirect relation between the name-bearer or his ancestors and the place, such as birth place, temporary residence, trade, or family-relatives. Quite often it was associated with places of origin or residence, for instance the city and ancient kingdom of Leon in Spain, and Lyons, the capital of the Rhone department in east central France. Related place names include Lewin Brzeski/Lubien(the German Loewen) in lower Silesia, south western Poland; Lwowek Slaski (the German Loewenberg) in Silesia; Loewenstein in Wuerttemberg, Germany; Levin near Ustek in northern Bohemia; Lewin (the German Hummelstadt) in lower Silesia; or with Levice (the Hungarian Leva) in south Slovakia. Leonte is documented as a Jewish name in the 12th century, Leo in 1204, Lyon in 1292, Juda Sire Leon in the 13th century, Loewelinus in 1334, Leonus in 1486, and Lion in 1621. Jewish family names based on them and their variants comprise Leon and de Leon, recorded in the early 16th century, Lion (1670), Leonhard (1717), Lyon (1726), and Loew (1792).
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Leo include the Polish-born German scholar and poet Friedrich August Leo (1820-1898).
Surnames derive from one of many different origins. Sometimes there may be more than one explanation for the same name. This family name is a patronymic surname based on a male ancestor's given name, in this case of biblical origin.
Leo is a Latin form of the Hebrew Arie, which means "lion". Lion was a widespread 'kinnui' ("secular equivalent") of Judah throughout the Dispersion, first as a given name and eventually as a hereditary family name. Juda(h), (Yehuda in Hebrew), was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, surnamed Ari(eh), "lion" (Genesis 49.38). Translated into Latin (Leo/Leonus), Italian (Leone/Leoni), French (Lion), German (Loewe), Slavic (Lev), and Yiddish (Leib/Leb), the 'kinnui' produced many patronymics (names derived from a male relative) and was sometimes transformed into variants whose meaning and spelling are far removed from the root, although the sound is reminiscent of the original. In some cases Leo is a toponymic (derived from a geographic name of a town, city, region or country). Surnames that are based on place names do not always testify to direct origin from that place, but may indicate an indirect relation between the name-bearer or his ancestors and the place, such as birth place, temporary residence, trade, or family-relatives. Quite often it was associated with places of origin or residence, for instance the city and ancient kingdom of Leon in Spain, and Lyons, the capital of the Rhone department in east central France. Related place names include Lewin Brzeski/Lubien(the German Loewen) in lower Silesia, south western Poland; Lwowek Slaski (the German Loewenberg) in Silesia; Loewenstein in Wuerttemberg, Germany; Levin near Ustek in northern Bohemia; Lewin (the German Hummelstadt) in lower Silesia; or with Levice (the Hungarian Leva) in south Slovakia. Leonte is documented as a Jewish name in the 12th century, Leo in 1204, Lyon in 1292, Juda Sire Leon in the 13th century, Loewelinus in 1334, Leonus in 1486, and Lion in 1621. Jewish family names based on them and their variants comprise Leon and de Leon, recorded in the early 16th century, Lion (1670), Leonhard (1717), Lyon (1726), and Loew (1792).
Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Leo include the Polish-born German scholar and poet Friedrich August Leo (1820-1898).