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

Meda, 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 Meda surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meda in America

Meda is the 25171st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meda surname appeared 985 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 Meda.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meda 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 Meda

The surname "MEDA" has its origins in the Italian region of Lombardy, where it can be traced back to the early 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word "meta," meaning "boundary" or "limit," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a boundary or worked as a boundary marker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a document from the town of Bergamo in 1245, where a certain Guglielmo Meda is mentioned. This indicates that the surname was already in use by that time in the region.

In the 14th century, the Meda family gained prominence in the city of Milan, where they were involved in various trades and professions. A notable member was Gian Pietro Meda, a merchant and banker who lived from 1390 to 1462.

During the Renaissance period, the Meda family produced several notable figures, including the architect and sculptor Gian Giacomo Meda (1495-1560), who worked on various projects in Milan and other parts of northern Italy.

In the 17th century, the name appears in records from the Veneto region, where a branch of the family had settled. One of the most famous individuals with this surname was the Venetian philosopher and mathematician Giovanni Battista Meda (1632-1702), who made significant contributions to the field of mathematics.

Another notable figure was the Italian nobleman and military commander Carlo Meda (1727-1804), who served in the armies of the Austrian Empire and later became a general in the Napoleonic Wars.

As the surname spread beyond its original region of origin, it also took on various spellings and variations, such as Medes, Medas, and Medda, particularly in areas like Spain and Portugal, where the name was introduced by Italian immigrants.

Throughout history, the Meda surname has been associated with various professions and fields, including architecture, art, philosophy, mathematics, and military service, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meda

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

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

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

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