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

Means, 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 Means surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Means in America

Means is the 2247th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Means surname appeared 16,203 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Means.

We can also compare 2010 data for Means 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 Means

The surname "MEANS" is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "mænan," which means "to intend" or "to signify." This name was initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone who was perceived as being intentional or purposeful in their actions.

The surname "MEANS" first appeared in historical records in the late 13th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of this name was in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1273, which mentioned a person named Robert Mennes. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 14th century, the surname "MEANS" was documented in various locations across England, including in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1310, which recorded a John Menes, and in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, which listed a William Menne.

The name "MEANS" has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such person was John Means (1583-1644), an English clergyman who served as the rector of St. Andrew's Church in Cambridgeshire. Another was Thomas Means (1718-1799), a Scottish-born merchant and plantation owner who settled in Virginia, USA, and played a role in the American Revolutionary War.

In the literary realm, Robert Means (1808-1888), an American educator and writer, published several works on grammar and language. Additionally, David Means (born 1961) is a contemporary American author known for his short stories and novels.

Historically, the surname "MEANS" has also been linked to various place names, such as Meanwood in Leeds, England, and Meansteed in Suffolk, England. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname or vice versa, reflecting the close relationship between surnames and geographical locations.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname "MEANS," including Robert Means (1808-1891), a Scottish-born American businessman and philanthropist; James Means (1853-1920), an American sculptor and educator; and Gardner Means (1896-1988), an American economist and author.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Means

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

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

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

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