Show ContentsLeo History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Leo family

The surname Leo was first found in Hamburg, where the name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation which would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs. The name is also connected to several place names in the Holstein region where they were elevayted to the nobility in 1680.

Early History of the Leo family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leo research. Another 107 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1649 and 1814 are included under the topic Early Leo History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leo Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Leo, deLeo, Deleo, Pyrzewski and others.

Early Notables of the Leo family

Notables of the time included

  • the Leo family of Hamburg

Leo Ranking

In the United States, the name Leo is the 6,217th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Leo is ranked the 5,814th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 2


United States Leo migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Leo Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Leo, who landed in Virginia in 1714 3
Leo Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • H Leo, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 3
  • Carl Leo, who arrived in New York, NY in 1851
  • Jonathan Leo, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1857 3
  • Andreas Leo, who settled in America in 1859
  • Bridget Leo, who arrived in New York, NY in 1865
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Leo Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Agnes Leo, aged 40, who settled in America from Castle Connell, in 1902
  • Acenssio Leo, aged 35, who landed in America from Caltabellotto, in 1906
  • Agnesa Leo, aged 59, who landed in America from Siano, Italy, in 1909
  • Alberto Leo, aged 13, who immigrated to the United States from Cesoria, Napoli, in 1909
  • Alberto Leo, aged 36, who settled in America from Napoli, Napoli, in 1909
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Leo migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Leo Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary Leo, (b. 1820), aged 17, Irish maid who was convicted in Limerick, Ireland for 7 years for house robbery, transported aboard the "Diamond" on 29th November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 4
  • Robert Leo, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cressy" in 1847 5

New Zealand Leo migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Leo Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Daniel Leo, aged 27, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oxford" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Leo (post 1700) +

  • John Patrick Leo (1935-2022), American writer and journalist, editor-in-chief of "Minding the Campus", a conservative-libertarian web site focusing on America's colleges and universities
  • Theodore F. Leo (b. 1970), American punk rock/indie rock songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist
  • Melissa Chessington Leo (b. 1960), American actress and winner of a Golden Globe award and Best Supporting Actress Oscar at the 2011 Academy Awards
  • Pasquale F. De Leo, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1980 6
  • William Leo, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 1996, 2000, 2004 (alternate); member, Credentials Committee, 2008 7
  • Terri Leo, American Republican politician, Member of Texas State Board of Education 6th District 7
  • Joseph Leo (b. 1938), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New Jersey, 2004, 2008 (alternate) 7
  • Gus Leo, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Dutchess County, 1956 7
  • Greg Leo, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oregon, 2008 7
  • Susan Leo (b. 1962), former Australian international tennis player
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Diamond
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CRESSY 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Cressy.htm
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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