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

Meersman, 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 Meersman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meersman in America

Meersman is the 75317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meersman surname appeared 256 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 Meersman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meersman 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 Meersman

The surname MEERSMAN originated in the Low Countries, which today comprise Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Dutch word "meersman," meaning "seaman" or "sailor." This indicates that the name likely arose among those who worked on the sea, either as fishermen, merchants, or sailors.

The earliest recorded instances of the MEERSMAN surname can be found in Dutch and Flemish records from the 14th and 15th centuries, often appearing in various spellings such as Meersman, Meerman, Meirsman, and Meirman. These variations reflect the fluidity of spelling and pronunciation during that time period.

One notable historical reference to the MEERSMAN name is found in the archives of the city of Ghent, Belgium, where a Pieter Meersman is mentioned as a member of the local guild of sailors in the year 1478. This provides evidence of the name's connection to maritime professions in the region.

Over the centuries, several individuals bearing the MEERSMAN surname have achieved distinction in various fields. One such figure was Jan Meersman (1535-1604), a Flemish painter known for his religious works and portraits. Another was Pieter Meersman (1780-1857), a Belgian lawyer and politician who served as a member of the National Congress in the early years of Belgium's independence.

In the field of literature, the MEERSMAN name is represented by Gilles Meersman (1889-1962), a Belgian writer and poet who was a leading figure in the Flemish literary movement of the early 20th century. His works explored themes of Flemish identity and the rural landscape of his native region.

Moving into more recent history, Elie Meersman (1907-1987) was a Belgian cyclist who competed in the Tour de France and won several prestigious races in the 1930s. In the realm of academia, Roger Meersman (born 1946) is a Belgian computer scientist and professor emeritus at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, known for his contributions to database management and information systems.

While the MEERSMAN surname has its roots in the Low Countries, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, its origins remain firmly rooted in the maritime traditions of the region, reflecting the occupations and lifestyles of its earliest bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meersman

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

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

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

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