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

Meide, 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 Meide surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Meide in America

Meide is the 118954th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meide surname appeared 135 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Meide.

The history of the last name Meide

The surname Meide can be traced back to medieval Europe, with its origins most likely in Germany or the Netherlands. The name is believed to derive from Middle Low German or Dutch, with the term "meide" or "meid" originally meaning "meadow" or "maid." This suggests that early bearers of the name might have either lived near a meadow or worked as maids or maidservants.

Historical references to the surname Meide appear in various medieval records, as surnames became more common in the 13th and 14th centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in a 14th-century German manuscript, where a Hans Meide is mentioned as a landholder in the region of Saxony around the year 1375. This early record suggests that the name was established well before many surnames became widespread.

In the Dutch region, the name can also be found in 15th-century records, such as a legal document from 1458 that mentions a Pieter Meide, a merchant in Amsterdam. This period saw the flourishing of trade in the Low Countries, and merchants like Pieter Meide played significant roles in regional economics and community life.

A notable figure bearing the surname Meide was Jürgen Meide, an esteemed scholar born around 1580 in what is now Northern Germany. He made significant contributions to early modern botanical studies and was also an important figure in the academic circles of his time. His work attracted attention across various learned societies in Europe, and records indicate he passed away in 1645.

By the 17th century, the surname had spread further, appearing in various documents across Northern Europe. For instance, Anna Meide, born in 1623 in what is today’s Belgium, was known for her extensive travels and her detailed diaries which provided valuable insights into daily life in the 17th century. Her writings have been preserved in local archives and remain a subject of study for historians.

The spelling of surnames, including Meide, often varied in historical documents. Names could be written as Meide, Meideh, or Meyde depending on local dialects and the scribe’s preferences. In 1699, a court document from Hamburg referred to a Johann Meyde in one place and Johann Meide in another, illustrating the fluidity of medieval and early modern orthography.

In conclusion, the surname Meide has a rich history rooted in medieval Europe, with early associations to both Germany and the Netherlands. The name has appeared in various historical records and been borne by individuals who contributed to their societies in meaningful ways. Through centuries, this surname reflects a vivid tapestry of linguistic, cultural, and social evolution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meide

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Meide 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.

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

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

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