Explore the Family Name Algeo
The meaning of Algeo
1. Scottish: probably a nickname, originally spelled Al(d)jo, from an expression of affection, consisting of Scots auld ‘old’ + joy, jo ‘joy, sweetheart, darling’ (Old French joi Older Scots joi, jo, which can also signify ‘good fortune’ and ‘mirth, music, laughter’). Alternatively, it may be from the phrase ‘all joy, all good fortune’, used as a farewell on parting. 2. Italian (Veneto): probably from the personal name Algeo, a variant of Alceo from Latin Alcaeus, Greek Alkaios, derived from alkē ‘strength’. History: In Scotland the name has been traced genealogically to Peter Algeo, a burgess of Paisley in 1550, whose family was associated with the estate of Inchinnan near Paisley. According to Nesbit’s System of Heraldry (1722) ‘the first of this name is said to have come from Italy, with one of the Abbots of Paisley’, but there seems to be no documentary evidence to support the story. It is probably a piece of antiquarian speculation based on the similarity of the name’s spelling with the typically Italian name ending -eo (compare the name in 2). Nesbit spells the name not as Algeo but as Aljoy and describes the family’s heraldic device as containing ‘three Hearts conjoined in triangle’. The oldest occurrence of the surname in Scotland may be that of William Awldioy of Edinburgh in 1518, where a Peter Algeo is recorded in 1610.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Algeo in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Algeo saw a decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, Algeo was ranked 45,403rd in terms of frequency and decreased to 51,176th by 2010, a drop of approximately 12.72%. The total number of individuals bearing this surname also fell from 444 in 2000 to 407 in 2010, a decline of about 8.33%. The proportion of Algeos per 100,000 people similarly decreased by 12.5% during this period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #45,403 | #51,176 | -12.72% |
| Count | 444 | 407 | -8.33% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.16 | 0.14 | -12.5% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Algeo
The Decennial U.S. Census data reveals interesting insights into the ethnic identity associated with the Algeo surname. In 2000, nearly all individuals with this surname identified as White, at 95.95%, which slightly decreased to 95.33% by 2010. The percentage of people identifying as having two or more ethnic identities rose significantly from 1.13% to 2.46%. It's noteworthy that there were no individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year. However, there was a small representation of Hispanics in 2000, but that dropped off entirely by 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.95% | 95.33% | -0.65% |
| Two or More Races | 1.13% | 2.46% | 117.7% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 1.35% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |