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

Meglio, 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 Meglio surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meglio in America

Meglio is the 54752nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meglio surname appeared 376 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 Meglio.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meglio 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 Meglio

The surname Meglio originated in Italy, specifically in the regions of Campania and Basilicata, during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "meglio," meaning "better" or "superior," which may have been used as a nickname or descriptive name for someone who excelled in a particular field or exhibited exceptional qualities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Meglio can be found in the Codice Diplomatico Barese, a collection of medieval documents from the city of Bari, dating back to the 11th century. The name appears in various forms, such as "Meglio," "Melio," and "Mellio," suggesting a possible evolution or regional variations in spelling.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the surname Meglio was Giovanni Meglio, a merchant from Naples who was involved in trading activities with other Mediterranean cities. His name is mentioned in several commercial records and contracts from that period.

During the Renaissance, the Meglio family gained prominence in the city of Salerno, where they were known for their contributions to the arts and literature. One of the most renowned members was Antonio Meglio (1492-1568), a poet and humanist who wrote several works celebrating the beauty and culture of his native city.

In the 17th century, the Meglio surname appeared in the records of the Archivio di Stato di Napoli (State Archives of Naples), where various members of the family held influential positions within the local administration and judiciary.

Another prominent figure from this period was Niccolò Meglio (1625-1698), a renowned architect who designed several churches and palaces in Naples and its surrounding areas, including the Chiesa di San Gregorio Armeno and the Palazzo Roccella.

As the surname spread throughout Italy, it also found its way to other parts of the world, carried by emigrants and travelers. In the late 19th century, Giuseppe Meglio (1856-1932), a successful businessman from Calabria, established trade connections with South America and eventually settled in Argentina, where his descendants continued to bear the family name.

Throughout its history, the surname Meglio has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, merchants, and professionals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meglio

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

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

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

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