Leon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Spain

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Early Origins of the Leon family

The surname Leon was first found in Leon, where the name originated in Visigothic times. One of the first records of the surname was Moses de León (c. 1250-1305), a Spanish rabbi and Kabbalist who is thought of as the composer or redactor of the Zohar. And much later, most people know of Juan Ponce de León (1474-1521), the Spanish explorer and conquistador and his association with the legend of the Fountain of Youth.

Early History of the Leon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leon research. Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1474, 1509, 1520, 1521, 1524, 1527, 1533, 1549, 1584, 1590, 1591, 1602, 1608, 1610, 1658, 1687, 1749 and 1830 are included under the topic Early Leon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leon Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Leon, Leoni, Leone, Leonelli, Leonetti, Leonie and many more.

Early Notables of the Leon family

Prominent among members of the family

was Pompeo Leoni of Madrid
Pedro Ponce de Leon (1520-1584) a Spanish Benedictine monk who is often credited as being "the 1st teacher for the deaf"
Rodrigo Ponce de Leon (1602-1658), 4th Duke of Arcos, a Grandee of Spain, a Kinght of the Order of the Golden Fleece

Leon Ranking

In the United States, the name Leon is the 670^th most popular surname with an estimated 44,766 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Leon is ranked the 493^rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,083 people with that name. 2

Leon migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Leon Settlers in United States in the 16th Century

Cristobal Leon, who arrived in Peru in 1537
Hernardo de Leon, his wife Maria Fernandez and their four children, who arrived in Peru in 1570
Francisco De Leon, his wife Ana Lopez and their two children, who arrived in New Spain in 1577
Bernardino Leon, who arrived in Chile in 1577

Leon Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Anthony Leon, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1649 3

Leon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Antonio Leon, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1803 3
Juan Leon, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1803
Patrick Leon, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1811 3
Pedro De Leon, who arrived in America in 1812 3
Alonso De Leon, who arrived in America in 1813 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Leon migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Leon Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. James Leon, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "James Moran" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 4

Leon 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:

Leon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Leon, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Earl Durham" arriving in Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand in 1841 5

Leon migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 6

Leon Settlers in West Indies in the 19th Century

Lazaro De Leon, who landed in Dominican Republic in 1834 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Leon (post 1700) +

John Paul Leon (1972-2021), American comic book artist, known for his work on the Milestone Comics series Static, and the Marvel Comics limited series Earth X
Captain Pierre Leon (1838-1915), American officer in the Union Navy and a Medal of Honor recipient
Adrianna Therese León (b. 1987), American singer-songwriter, chef, personal fitness trainer, model and actress
Jose Leon (b. 1976), American professional baseball player from Puerto Rico
Pamela Leon, American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1972 7
John F. Leon (1910-1987), American politician, Member of Illinois State House of Representatives, 1959-67; Delegate to Illinois State Constitutional Convention 14th District, 1969-70 7
Jason Leon, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Oregon, 2004 7
Gersam Leon, American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Bayonne, 1862-76 7
David Leon, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Curaçao, 1874 7
D. H. Leon, American politician, Socialist Workers Candidate for Presidential Elector for Iowa, 1972 7
... (Another 24 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)