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

Mecca, 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 Mecca surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mecca in America

Mecca is the 16349th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mecca surname appeared 1,762 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Mecca.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mecca 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 Mecca

The surname Mecca is believed to have originated in Italy during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a topographic name, derived from the Italian word "mecca," meaning a heap or pile, likely referring to someone who lived near a prominent mound or hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Mecca surname can be found in a document from the city of Genoa, dated around 1300. This document mentions a certain "Giovanni de Mecca," suggesting that the name was already in use at that time.

In the 14th century, the Mecca family appears to have been well-established in the region of Tuscany. Historical records from this period mention several individuals bearing this surname, including a certain "Guido Mecca," who was a prominent merchant in the city of Florence.

During the Renaissance period, the Mecca name gained further prominence. One notable figure was Antonio Mecca (1465-1528), a renowned architect from the city of Siena. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Palazzo Piccolomini and the Basilica of San Domenico.

Another distinguished individual with the Mecca surname was Girolamo Mecca (1516-1599), a Sicilian-born scholar and humanist. He was a respected author and translator, known for his work on ancient Greek and Roman texts.

In the 17th century, the Mecca family seems to have expanded their presence across various regions of Italy. One notable figure from this period was Pietro Mecca (1612-1678), a Neapolitan painter who specialized in still-life and genre scenes.

As the centuries progressed, the Mecca surname continued to be associated with individuals of notable achievement. For example, in the 19th century, there was Giuseppe Mecca (1810-1885), an Italian sculptor and medallist, born in the town of Castellamonte.

Another prominent figure with the Mecca surname was Vincenzo Mecca (1891-1979), an Italian politician and journalist who served as a member of the Italian Senate during the post-World War II period.

While the surname Mecca is most commonly found in Italy, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the origin and early history of this name remain firmly rooted in the regions of Italy, particularly Tuscany and Sicily.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mecca

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

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

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

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