Explore the Family Name Apollo
The meaning of Apollo
Italian, Filipino, and East African (Uganda, Kenya): from the Latin personal name Apollo. There are several saints Apollo in the Christian Church, including an Egyptian hermit and monastic leader who died in 395 AD. The personal name derives from the name in Greek and Roman mythology of the sun god, Apollo, an ancient Indo-European name, found for example in Hittite as Apulana ‘god of the gate’ (from pula ‘gate’, cognate with Greek pylē), therefore ‘protector, patron’. Some characteristic forenames: Italian Carmin, Sal, Salvatore. Spanish Benito, Carlos, Juanita.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Apollo in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Apollo has seen a slight decrease in popularity from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it ranked 48,665 and rose to 49,636 in 2010, indicating a 2% drop in rank. The count for this surname, however, increased from 407 to 423 within the same period, showing a minor growth of approximately 4%. The proportion per 100,000 people saw a small decline from 0.15 to 0.14.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #48,665 | #49,636 | -2% |
| Count | 407 | 423 | 3.93% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.15 | 0.14 | -6.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Apollo
The Decennial U.S. Census further reveals changes in the ethnic identity associated with the Apollo surname. From 2000 to 2010, the number of Asian/Pacific Islanders and Hispanics with this name increased by 40% and 60.3% respectively. There was also a new entry of individuals identifying as two or more races. On the other hand, the percentage of White individuals with the Apollo surname decreased by around 8.29%. The count of Black individuals slightly dropped by 1.13%, while there was no recorded change among American Indian and Alaskan Native populations.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 78.62% | 72.1% | -8.29% |
| Hispanic | 8.11% | 13% | 60.3% |
| Black | 8.85% | 8.75% | -1.13% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 2.7% | 3.78% | 40% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 2.36% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |