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

Meiners, 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 Meiners surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meiners in America

Meiners is the 14025th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meiners surname appeared 2,148 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Meiners.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meiners 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 Meiners

The surname MEINERS originated in Germany and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Middle Low German word "menere," meaning a commoner or peasant. This occupation-based surname was likely bestowed upon an individual who worked as a commoner or held a lower social status.

The name MEINERS is predominantly found in northern Germany, particularly in the regions of Lower Saxony and Westphalia. Early records from the 14th century mention the name in various spellings, such as Menere, Menre, and Meynere, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time.

One of the earliest documented instances of the surname MEINERS can be found in the Bremisches Urkundenbuch, a collection of historical records from the city of Bremen, dating back to the year 1330. The entry mentions a certain "Henricus Menere," suggesting that the name was already in use during that period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname MEINERS. One such figure was Christoph Meiners (1747-1810), a German philosopher and historian who wrote extensively on topics such as anthropology, ethics, and the philosophy of history. He was a professor at the University of Göttingen and gained recognition for his works on the history of human civilization.

Another prominent individual with the surname MEINERS was Ernst Meiners (1834-1912), a German architect and civil engineer. He is renowned for his architectural designs, including the Elberfeld Town Hall and the Wuppertal Suspension Railway, both located in the city of Wuppertal, Germany.

In the field of literature, Johann Meiners (1778-1858), a German writer and poet, made notable contributions. Born in Hanover, he wrote several works of poetry and prose, often exploring themes of nature and rural life.

The name MEINERS can also be found in historical records related to place names. For instance, the village of Meinersen in Lower Saxony, Germany, is believed to have derived its name from individuals bearing the surname MEINERS who resided in the area during the Middle Ages.

Another example is the town of Meinertshagen, located in the district of Märkischer Kreis, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The name is thought to have originated from a combination of the surname MEINERS and the German word "Hagen," meaning a fenced area or a hedge.

It is worth noting that while the surname MEINERS has a long and varied history, the specific origins and meanings can vary depending on the individual family lineages and regional contexts. This overview provides a general understanding of the name's evolution and significance within the German cultural and historical landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meiners

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

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

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

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