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

Mecham, 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 Mecham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mecham in America

Mecham is the 8356th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mecham surname appeared 3,962 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 Mecham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mecham 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 Mecham

The surname Mecham has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period, specifically the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from an Old English word "mece," which meant a sword or a weapon. This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with a swordsmith or someone skilled in the art of weaponry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical document mentions a landowner named Mecham residing in the county of Gloucestershire.

As the name spread across England, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Mecham, Mechambe, and Mechamps. These variations were common during the Middle Ages due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions and the influence of regional dialects.

In the 13th century, records indicate a Sir William Mecham, a knight who fought alongside King Edward I in the Scottish Wars of Independence. He was born around 1260 and gained recognition for his military prowess and loyalty to the crown.

The Mecham family established roots in various regions of England, including Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Shropshire. Place names like Mecham's Farm and Mecham's Manor can still be found in these areas, reflecting the historical presence of the surname.

Another notable figure was John Mecham, born in 1548 in Staffordshire. He was a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London during the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Mecham family settled in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Thomas Mecham, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and became a prominent landowner and farmer.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Mecham surname continued to spread across the United States, with several individuals achieving prominence in various fields. For instance, William Mecham (1789-1864) was a successful businessman and politician who served as a member of the Ohio State Legislature.

It is worth noting that the surname Mecham has also been associated with influential figures in more recent history, though the focus of this report remains on the historical origins and early records of the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mecham

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

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

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

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