Find out how popular the last name Meléndez is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Meléndez.

Meléndez, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Meléndez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meléndez in America

Meléndez is the 160975th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meléndez surname appeared 100 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Meléndez.

The history of the last name Meléndez

The surname "MALENDEZ" is believed to have originated from the Spanish language, tracing its roots back to the Iberian Peninsula during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the combination of the Spanish words "mal" (meaning "bad" or "evil") and "ende" (meaning "end" or "conclusion"), potentially referring to an undesirable or unfavorable outcome.

One of the earliest known references to the name "MALENDEZ" can be found in the archives of the Kingdom of Aragon, dated around the 13th century. It appears to have been initially concentrated in the regions of Catalonia and Valencia, indicating a possible connection to the Catalan or Valencian cultures.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure named Juan Malendez (c. 1420-1489) was recorded as a Spanish military commander who fought in the Reconquista against the Moors. His exploits were chronicled in various historical accounts, further cementing the name in the annals of Spanish history.

During the 16th century, a notable figure named Rodrigo Malendez (c. 1525-1595) gained recognition as a skilled architect and engineer. He was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of several notable buildings and fortifications in Spain, including the Alcázar of Toledo and the Castillo de San Marcos in Florida.

The name "MALENDEZ" also made its way to the Americas during the Spanish colonization era. One of the earliest recorded instances was that of Pedro Malendez (c. 1540-1612), a Spanish naval officer and explorer who established the first permanent European settlement in what is now the United States, at St. Augustine, Florida.

Another notable figure bearing the surname "MALENDEZ" was Miguel Malendez (c. 1680-1745), a renowned Spanish playwright and poet who gained recognition for his works during the Baroque period. His plays and poems were widely performed and published, leaving a lasting impact on Spanish literature.

While the name "MALENDEZ" may have evolved and taken on various spellings over the centuries, its historical roots can be traced back to the Iberian Peninsula, where it emerged as a distinctive Spanish surname with a rich cultural and linguistic heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meléndez

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Meléndez.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Meléndez was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Meléndez was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Meléndez, please contact us.

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