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

Meacham, 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 Meacham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meacham in America

Meacham is the 5615th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meacham surname appeared 6,190 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Meacham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meacham to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Meacham

The surname Meacham originated in England during the late medieval period, deriving from the Old English word 'mæce' meaning 'kinsman' or 'relative'. It was a common practice in those times to adopt surnames based on familial relationships or personal characteristics.

Meacham is believed to have been initially coined as a nickname for someone who was closely related to the head of a household or clan. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various English parish records and tax rolls from counties like Oxfordshire and Wiltshire.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Richard Meacham, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. Another notable individual was John Meacham, a landowner from Wiltshire, whose name appeared in the Feet of Fines records from 1389.

Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Meacham, Meachem, Meachim, and Meachin, reflecting the inconsistencies in written records and regional dialects of the time. These variations were often interchangeable and did not necessarily denote different branches of the family.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Meacham surname gained prominence in various parts of England. One notable bearer was Thomas Meacham (1589-1656), a English clergyman and writer who served as the Rector of Stanwick in Northamptonshire.

During the colonial era, several Meacham families emigrated from England to the American colonies, particularly to New England and Virginia. One of the earliest recorded settlers was Joseph Meacham, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1635.

Another prominent figure bearing the Meacham name was Colonel Sampson Sheafe Meacham (1735-1810), a New Hampshire-born soldier who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was recognized for his bravery and leadership in several key battles.

In the 19th century, Isaac Meacham (1789-1856), a Quaker minister and abolitionist from Ohio, gained recognition for his advocacy against slavery and his efforts in establishing the Quaker settlement of Queensville in Upper Canada (now Ontario, Canada).

As the Meacham family spread across various regions, they contributed to various fields, including literature, politics, and industry. One notable figure was James Meacham (1810-1856), an American writer and pioneer who documented his travels and adventures in the Pacific Northwest.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meacham

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

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 Meacham 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Meacham has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Meacham was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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