Surname Alex - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Unfolding Journey into My Lineage: A DNA Analysis Experience with iGENEA
Delving into my family's genetic history with an iGENEA DNA test has expanded my understanding of my family name, Alex. Surprisingly tracing its roots back to ancient Greek society and aligning me with a lineage of warriors, this journey of discovery revealed the historical significance and valiant ethos behind my surname.
J. Alex
read moreAlex: What does the surname Alex mean?
The last name Alex is derived from the Ancient Greek name Alexandros, which in turn is derived from the Greek words alexein (“to defend”) and anēr (“man”). The name is most closely associated with Alexander the Great, the most renowned of all Macedonian warriors and conquerors.
The name Alexander has been borne by numerous kings across many countries and continents, representing a symbol of strength and honor in their respective nations. The name has been popularized and given as a first name long before it started to used as a last name in the United States.
The name has strong religious connotations as well, and many of the kings who carried it were widely viewed as divinely appointed. For example, the Old Testament of the Bible includes a story about the prophet Daniel interpreting a dream in which an angelic figure proclaimed, “The great Alexander is the Lord of kings.”
The name Alex also has a wider application, referring to any person who exhibits strength in characters or strong leadership qualities. It is a widely used name, and is commonly shortened to “Lex” or “Lexi”. Thus, the name Alex also serves as the embodiment of a leader, strong-willed individual, and champion.
Order DNA origin analysisAlex: Where does the name Alex come from?
The last name Alex is most notably common in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. It’s also found frequently throughout the United States. In 2020, it was the 670th most common surname in the United States with an estimated 26,000 people having the family name.
In England and Wales, Alex was the fifth most popular surname in 1999, with 63,523 bearers. It was the third most common name in Scotland in the same year, with 8101 occurrences. In Australia, the last name is the 169th most common with 11,922 people using it.
Interestingly, the name is more frequently found in northern Canada than in southern Canada. In 2020, it was the 53rd most common surname in Quebec, 171st in Ontario, and 80th in Alberta.
Alex is an Ancient Greek and Latin name in origin that means "defender of men". It is likely that it was a describing nickname first before it became a surname. It appears likely to have originally referred to a person who was brave or offered great protection to people. The first recorded use of it as a surname was in 1782 in Scotland.
Overall, the last name Alex is a fairly common one and is likely to have evolved since it was first used to describe bravery or great protection.
Variations of the surname Alex
The surname Alex can have many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The root of the surname is the Greek name "Alexandros," which means "defender of the people" or "protector of the people."
Variants of this name include: Alexis, Aleksi, Aleks, Aleksander, Aleksio, Allen, Al, Ally, Alf, Alik, Alexia, Oleksandr, Alejandro, Alessandro, Alessandros, Saandros, Aleksandar, Alan, Alexander, Aleksandr, and Alcander.
The Alex surname is most commonly found in Romania, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Croatia. It is often found in Germany and Austria in the form of "Alexander." In Russia, it is often seen as "Aleksandrov," while in countries like Czech Republic it appears as "Alex".
Surnames related to Alex include: Alix, Alixandri, Ales, Alexakis, Alixandre, Alessi, Alecida, Alexis, Alexisde, Aleski, Alecu, Alexander, Alexandre, Alleks, Alexandrovski, Aleksii, Alekseev, Alexei, Kaleksa, and Alescou.
In conclusion, there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the Alex surname. Its roots are from the Greek name "Alexandros," which means "defender of the people" or "protector of the people." Variants of this name can be found in countries across Europe. Additionally, surnames related to Alex include Alix, Alixandri, Ales, Alexakis, Alixandre, Alessi, Alecida, Alexis, Alexisde, Aleski, Alecu, Alexander, Alexandre, Alleks, Alexandrovski, Aleksii, Alekseev, Alexei, Kaleksa, and Alescou.
Famous people with the name Alex
- Alex Jones: American radio host and conspiracy theorist.
- Alex Trebek: Canadian-born American television host and game show producer.
- Alex Rodriguez: American former professional baseball shortstop and third baseman.
- Alex Morgan: American soccer player.
- Alex Jones: English musician, singer, and frontman for the band Good Charlotte.
- Alex Wassabi: Filipino-American actor, director, and producer.
- Alex Ferguson: legendary Scottish professional football manager and player and the most successful manager of Manchester United.
- Alex Ovechkin: Russian professional ice hockey player.
- Alex Michaeletos: Australian actor and singer.
- Alex Sink: American businesswoman and politician who served as the Florida Chief Financial Officer.
- Alex Trebek: Canadian-born American television host and game show producer.
- Alex Grey: Artist, author, teacher and Vajrayana practitioner.
- Alex Honnold: American rock climber best known for his free solo ascents of big walls.
- Alex Drastal: Swiss fashion designer and former collegiate basketball player.
- Alex Pall: American DJ and producer, and one half of The Chainsmokers.