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

Mean, 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 Mean surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mean in America

Mean is the 55619th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mean surname appeared 369 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 Mean.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mean 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 Mean

The surname MEAN is believed to have its origins in the Scottish Highlands, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word 'mèinn', which means 'a kid' or 'a young goat'. This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive nickname for someone who had some resemblance or association with these animals.

In the early 13th century, there are records of the name appearing in the form 'Mene' in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. This is considered one of the earliest written references to the surname. Over time, the spelling evolved to its current form, 'MEAN'.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John MEAN, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the late 14th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Robert III and was granted lands in Argyll for his loyal service.

Another notable individual was William MEAN, a scholar and theologian who was born in Aberdeen in 1512. He studied at the University of Paris and later became a professor of divinity at the University of Glasgow.

In the 16th century, the name MEAN was found in various parts of Scotland, including the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, and the Borders region. It is believed that the name may have originated in the area around Loch Lomond, where the village of Rowardennan was once known as 'Meanok' or 'Meanach'.

During the 17th century, the MEAN family established themselves as landowners in Aberdeenshire. One member of this family, Alexander MEAN, was a prominent figure in the Scottish Covenanting movement and was imprisoned for his religious beliefs.

In the 19th century, James MEAN (1801-1879) was a notable Scottish painter and engraver, known for his landscapes and portraits. He was a member of the Royal Scottish Academy and his works can be found in several museums and galleries across Scotland.

Throughout history, the surname MEAN has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, scholars, soldiers, and artists. While it may have originated as a descriptive nickname, the name has endured and continues to be a part of Scotland's rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mean

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

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

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

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