Leone History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

The distinguished surname Leone originated in an area of Italy, known as the Papal States. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adapt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. The most traditional type of family name found in the region of the Papal States is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name. During the Middle Ages, Italians adopted the patronymic system of name-making because it perfectly complemented the prevailing Feudal System. In Italy the popularity of patronymic type of surname is also due to the fact that during the Christian era, people often named their children after saints and biblical figures. The surname Leone came from the given name Leoni which comes from the Latin Leo or Leonios, which means lion-like.

Early Origins of the Leone family

The surname Leone was first found in 1130, when Giovanni-Antonio Leoncilli owned much land around Spoleto.

Early History of the Leone family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leone research. The years 1425, 1457, 1509, 1537, 1540, 1588, 1596 and 1675 are included under the topic Early Leone History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leone Spelling Variations

In comparison with other European surnames, Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms. They reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each with its own distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the typical Italian surname suffix is "i", whereas in Southern Italy it is "o". Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. The spelling variations in the name Leone include Leoni, Leone, Leon, Lioni, Lione, Lion, Liuni, Leo, Lio, De Leone, De Leonibus, De Leo, Di Leo, Leonelli, Leonello, Leoncilli, Lionelli, Lionello, Leonetti, Lionetti, Leoncini, Leoncino, Leonotti and many more.

Early Notables of the Leone family

Prominent among members of the family was

• Domenico Leonessa of Naples became the Archbishop of Rossano in 1457...
• Leone Leoni was a medalist and sculptor born in Como in 1509...
• Andrea di Leone (1596-1675), was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active in his native city of Naples...
• Leone Leoni was a 16th century composer of madrigals and motets and was maestro di cappella of the Duomo of Vicenza from 1588...
• Guglielmo Leone, Count of Zumaglia, was the first President of the Piedmontese Senate in the 18th century...

Leone Ranking

In the United States, the name Leone is the 2,575^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 1 However, in France, the name Leone is ranked the 3,596^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 2

Leone migration to the United States +

Contemporary Notables of the name Leone (post 1700) +

Historic Events for the Leone family +

Related Stories +