Leon Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Leon Origin:

France, Spain, Greece, Italy

Origins of Name:

The surname of Leon is of a Spanish origin, but also possibly has Roman origins. This surname is locational, meaning that it was given to the Lord or the owner of a plot of land, and the people who worked on this land. Other people who receive a locational surname are those who hailed from the area, but have migrated to some other land, looking for work. Strangers, in this case the new workers, were most easily identified by the name of their birthplace. This surname is locational for the area of Leon in North West Spain, which was named after a “legion.” This place was the headquarters of Roman Legio Gemina during the Roman occupation of Spain. In other cases, this surname may be locational for the French city of Lyon, which was also occupied at one point by the Roman army.

Variations:

More common variations are:

Leone, Leoni, Leyon, Leeon, Leony, Leona, Leono, Leeoon, Leoon, Leion, Leaon

History:

Spain:

The first recorded spelling of the surname of Leon was found in the country of Spain, in the year of 1580. This person, who was recorded as being named one Pedro de Leon, was mentioned and recorded at Santa Maria Magdalena, in Valladolid, Spain. Pedro de Leon was recorded in this church under the reign of King Philip II of Spain, who was also the Emperor of Mexico, and ruled from the year 1556 to the year 1598.

England:

There is a small population of those who bear the surname of Leon in the country of England. These people who bear the surname of Leon can be found in the areas of Lancashire and Middlesex counties, as well as the city of London. Those in England who bear this surname have most likely migrated from France, which has a sizeable population of those who bear the surname of Leon, or from Spain, which has the 5th largest population of those who carry the surname of Leon in the world.

United States of America:

During the 17th and 18th Centuries, settlers from Spain, and France began to migrate to the United States of America and Canada. France spearheaded much of the exploration of South America, and North America during this time. The first settler to bear the surname of Leon in the New World was one Anthony Leon, who at twenty-six years of age, settled in New York in the year 1649. In the year 1803, Antonio Leon and Juan Leon arrived on the territory of Puerto Rico, while Patrick Leon arrived in the city of Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania in the year 1811. Pedro De Leon arrived in the United States of America in the year 1812, and Alonso Leon arrived in the United States of America in the year 1813. Those who bear the surname of Leon in the United States of America are found throughout the country, even though many people with this surname of Leon did not migrate to the United States until later centuries. Those states with high percentages of those who carry the surname of Leon are Texas, California, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Louisiana, Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Leon Today:

Mexico 259,246

Colombia 117,672

Venezuela 110,130

Peru 109,810

Spain 69,424

Ecuador 65,427

United States 65,276

Guatemala 42,251

Cuba 36,301

Chile 29,383

Notable People:

William L. Leon, who was a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Ohio in the 1972, who was a Democratic politician from America

Pilar Leon Jr. who was a Candidate for the Michigan State House of Representatives in the 40th District in the 1976, was a Democratic politician from America

Pamela Leon, who was the Candidate for the Presidential Elector for Michigan in the year 1972, was a politician from America

Paul S. Leon, who was the year Mayor of Ontario who was elected in the year 2010, was a politician from America

John F. Leon (1910-1987) who was a Member of the Illinois State House of Representatives from the year 1959 to the year 1967, who was a Delegate to the Illinois State Constitutional Convention in the 14th District from 1969 t0 1970, was a politician from America

Jason Leon, who was a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Oregon in the year 2004, was a Democratic politician from America

Gersam Leon, who was a U.S. Consular Agent in Bayonne from the year 1862 to the ear 1876, was a politician from America

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (co. Norfolk). Or, a saltire engr. vert.
2) (arms in Dedington Church, co. Oxford. Visit. Oxon, 1566). Ar. a lion ramp. sa.