2000
#9,859
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,024
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.12
Rare Last name
Meece
Derived from the Middle English word "mece," referring to a person who was meek, gentle, or mild-mannered.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 3,283 Americans carry the last name Meece. That puts it at #10,656 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.96 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 104,403 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Meece surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
3.3K
1 in 104,403
Census rank
#10,656
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,863 bearers of the surname Meece in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.96 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 10656th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Meece, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Meece
The surname MEECE has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "mæce," meaning a kinsman or relative. This name was initially used as a nickname to identify someone who was considered a close companion or friend.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like survey conducted in 1273. The entry mentions a certain "William le Mece," indicating the presence of the name in that region during that time period.
In the 14th century, variations of the name began to appear, such as "Mece," "Meece," and "Mees." These spellings were likely influenced by regional dialects and the evolving nature of the English language during that era.
The MEECE surname has its roots in several counties across England, including Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire. It is believed that some of the earliest bearers of this name may have been from the village of Meece, located in Staffordshire.
One notable historical figure with the surname MEECE was John Meece, a Member of Parliament for Taunton in Somerset during the late 16th century (1589-1593). He played a role in the English Reformation and was known for his support of Protestant causes.
Another individual of note was Sir Robert Meece, a landowner and prominent figure in Warwickshire during the 17th century. He was actively involved in local politics and served as a Justice of the Peace for the county.
In the 18th century, a certain Thomas Meece (1715-1788) was a renowned clockmaker from Gloucestershire, known for his intricate and beautifully crafted timepieces.
The 19th century saw the rise of William Meece (1825-1892), a successful businessman and industrialist from Staffordshire. He established a successful pottery and ceramics company, contributing to the region's economic growth during the Industrial Revolution.
Lastly, one cannot overlook the contribution of Sir Edward Meece (1870-1946), a distinguished British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Japan in the early 20th century. His diplomatic efforts played a vital role in fostering positive relations between the two nations during a crucial period in history.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Meece
Among Census respondents with the surname Meece, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Meece bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Meece surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.2% · 2,639
- Two or more races3.5% · 100
- Hispanic or Latino2.6% · 75
- Black or African American0.8% · 24
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5% · 14
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 11
Timeline
Historical Census data for Meece
Meece appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#10,615
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,016
-8 bearers (-0.3%)
Per 100,000 1.02
Rank movement Down 756 places
2020
#10,656
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 2,863
-153 bearers (-5.1%)
Per 100,000 0.96
Rank movement Down 41 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #9,859 | 3,024 | 1.12 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #10,615 | 3,016 | 1.02 | -8 bearers (-0.3%) | Down 756 places |
| 2020 | #10,656 | 2,863 | 0.96 | -153 bearers (-5.1%) | Down 41 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Meece surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,615 | #10,656 | -0.4% |
| Count | 3,016 | 2,863 | -5.1% |
| Per 100K | 1.02 | 0.96 | -6.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Meece bearers went from 3,016 to 2,863 (-5.1% change). The surname moved down 41 positions in the national ranking, going from #10,615 to #10,656.
FAQ
Meece surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Meece?
Name Census estimates that about 3,283 living Americans carry the surname Meece. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 104,403 residents.
How common is Meece?
Meece ranks #10,656 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.96 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 2,863 people with the surname Meece. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (3,283), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.96 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.96 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Meece.
Has Meece become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Meece went from 3,016 recorded bearers to 2,863. That is a decrease of 153 (-5.1%). In the national ranking it fell from #10,615 to #10,656.
What does the Census say about the background of Meece?
Among Census respondents with the surname Meece, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.2%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (2.6%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Meece in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.2% (2,639 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Meece appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.2%), Two or More Races (3.5%), Hispanic (2.6%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Meece (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Meece mean?
Derived from the Middle English word "mece," referring to a person who was meek, gentle, or mild-mannered. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Meece (0.96 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Meece?
For a quick modern take, check how common the surname Meece is on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.