Where Does the Di Leo Surname Come From?

Looking for a Di Leo coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours.

Family name meaning

In census returns, Di Leo often stands in for De Leo. The name is usually explained as “Son of Leo / lion”.

Only a small detail separates the spellings: Di Leo has “i” where De Leo has “e”. Before spelling was standardised, one family could appear under several forms. The Census Bureau's 2010 surname file lists Di Leo with 2,535 bearers, at rank 12,269. From 1891 to 2000, 150 births in France were registered under Di Leo.

Want more than a summary? See the Di Leo family name pack.