De Leon
A Spanish surname meaning “of Leon,” originally marking someone from the city or region of León in Spain.
The #359 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 3,532 Americans shares it.
Etymology
De Leon is a Spanish surname built from de, meaning “of” or “from,” and León, the name of the historic Spanish city and kingdom. Literally, it means “from León” or “of León.” The place-name itself goes back to Latin Leo, “lion,” which is why the spelling is often connected with the lion symbol in Spanish history.
History
The surname was used in Spain to identify people who came from, or were associated with, the city or kingdom of León. It later spread widely through the Spanish-speaking world, including Latin America and the Caribbean, through migration and colonial-era movement. In some cases the name was also adopted or retained by Jewish, converso, or later immigrant families in Spanish-speaking communities.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
León became such an important medieval kingdom that surnames based on it can be found far beyond northern Spain.