Explore the Family Name Apostolos
The meaning of Apostolos
Greek: shortened form of patronymics such as Apostolakis, Apostolides, and Apostolopoulos, derived from the personal name Apostolos, from apostolos ‘apostle’. The term apostolos was adopted by early Christians in honor of Christ’s twelve apostles and as a symbol of their own commitment to spreading the Christian message. The original meaning of the Greek word apostolos is ‘messenger, one sent with a message’, from apostellein ‘to send’. The word was used in the Septuagint as a translation of Hebrew saleh ‘messenger, apostle’. Compare Apostle and Apostol. Some characteristic forenames: Greek Aphrodite, Despina.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Apostolos in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Apostolos has seen a slight uptick in popularity from 2000 to 2010. Ranked 73,931st in 2000, it moved up to the 73,215th position by the end of the decade, marking a 0.97% change. In terms of counts, the number of people bearing this surname increased by 8.61%, from 244 in 2000 to 265 in 2010. However, when adjusted for population growth, the proportion of individuals with the Apostolos surname per 100k remained steady at 0.09.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #73,931 | #73,215 | 0.97% |
| Count | 244 | 265 | 8.61% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Apostolos
The ethnicity distribution attached to the surname Apostolos also experienced some changes according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. While the majority identified as White (91.70% in 2010, down from 93.03% in 2000), there was also a notable decrease in those identifying as Hispanic, from 4.10% to 2.64%. Simultaneously, previously nonexistent categories emerged: 1.89% identified as Asian/Pacific Islander and 3.02% identified belonging to two or more races. No individuals with the Apostolos surname identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 93.03% | 91.7% | -1.43% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 3.02% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 4.1% | 2.64% | -35.61% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.89% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |