Leoni is an Italian surname, literally meaning "lions". Notable people with this surname include: People Pier Leoni (died 1128), son of the Jewish convert Leo de Benedicto and founder of the Roman family of the Pierleoni Jacob Jehudah Leoni (1603-1675), Jewish Dutch scholar, translator of the Psalms, and expert on heraldry, of Sephardic descent Adolfo Leoni (1917—1970), Italian professional road bicycle racer Anilza Leoni (1933–2009), Brazilian actress, singer, ballerina and painter, of Italian descent Atossa Leoni (born 1977), German actress Bruno Leoni (1913–1967), Italian political philosopher (classical liberalism) and lawyer Carlo Leoni (historian) (1812–1872), Italian historian and epigraphist Carlos Leoni, founder and former member of the Brazilian pop-rock band Kid Abelha Carlo Leoni (politician) (born 1955), Italian politician David Leoni (born 1982), English Olympic Games biathlete Demetris Leoni (born 1977), Cypriot retired goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach Dindigul I. Leoni (born 1954), Indian school teacher, orator, social debates anchor Domenico Leoni, magister militum of Venice in 737, of Byzantine origin Elio Leoni Sceti (born 1966), Italian businessman and an investor in early-stage companies Endrio Leoni (born 1968), Italian road bicycle racer Ezio Leoni (1927-2015), "Maestro", Italian composer, arranger, orchestra conductor, producer and A&R Executive Franco Leoni (1864–1949), Italian opera composer (L'Oracolo) Frank Leoni (born 1968), American college baseball coach Giacomo Leoni (1686–1746), Italian architect, also known as James Leoni Gianni Leoni, Italian motorcycle racer Giorgio Leoni (born 1950), Sammarinese professional football manager Giovanni Antonio Leoni (17th century), Roman violinist and composer . Guido Leoni (1915-1951), Italian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer Guglielmo da Leoni (1664–c. 1740), Italian painter and engraver Johnny Leoni (born 1984), Swiss goalkeeper football player Lamberto Leoni (born 1953), former racing driver from Italy Leone Leoni (1509–1590), Italian Renaissance sculptor and medallist (or his son Pompeo) Leone Leoni (composer) (c. 1560 – 1627), Italian composer and Maestro di cappella Lodovico Leoni (1531–1606), Italian painter, mainly active in Rome Matheus Leoni (born 1991), Brazilian defender football player Michael Leoni, (c. 1750–1797) stage name of Myer Lyon, English-German-Jewish tenor singer Lodovico Leoni (1531–1606), Italian painter, father of Ottavio Leoni (1578–1630), Italian painter, son of Lodovico Nestore Leoni (1862–1947), Italian painter and illuminator of manuscripts (miniatore) Paolo Leoni (died 1590), Roman Catholic Bishop of Ferrara Pier Leoni, Medieval Roman consul Pietro Leoni (1909–1995), Jesuit priest from Italy who later worked in the Soviet Union Pietro Leoni (bishop) (1637–1697). Roman Catholic Bishop of Ceneda (1667–1691) and Bishop of Verona Raúl Leoni (1905–1972),