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

Meka, 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 Meka surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meka in America

Meka is the 39837th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meka surname appeared 551 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 Meka.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meka 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 Meka

The surname MEKA is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages in the region of modern-day Croatia. It is thought to be derived from the Old Croatian word "mekah," which translates to "soft" or "gentle." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was perceived as having a mild or gentle demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MEKA surname can be found in a 14th-century census record from the town of Šibenik, located on the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia. This document lists a man named Ivan Meka, who was a local farmer and landowner.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various ecclesiastical records from the Diocese of Zagreb, indicating that some bearers of the MEKA surname were members of the clergy or involved in religious communities. One notable figure from this time was Juraj Meka (c. 1420-1490), a Franciscan friar and scholar who authored several theological treatises.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the MEKA surname spread across the broader Balkan region, particularly in areas that were part of the Ottoman Empire. In Ottoman tax records from the 1500s, there are references to individuals with the surname Meka residing in the regions of modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as parts of Serbia and Montenegro.

One notable bearer of the MEKA surname from this period was Petar Meka (c. 1570-1640), a merchant and trader from the city of Dubrovnik (then known as Ragusa). He was involved in the lucrative trade of salt and spices between the Adriatic coast and the Ottoman interior.

In the 18th century, the MEKA surname began to appear in records from other parts of Europe, likely due to migration and trade. For instance, there are records of a family named Meka living in the city of Trieste, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

A prominent figure from this era was Marko Meka (1725-1802), a Croatian-born military officer who served in the Austrian Army and participated in various campaigns against the Ottoman Empire. He is said to have distinguished himself in the Austro-Turkish War of 1788-1791.

As the 19th century dawned, the MEKA surname continued to be found in various parts of the Balkans and Central Europe. One notable individual from this time was Nikola Meka (1810-1878), a Serbian writer and journalist who played a significant role in the literary and cultural movements of the Serbian Revival.

Throughout its history, the MEKA surname has been associated with various professions and occupations, including farmers, merchants, clergy, soldiers, and intellectuals. While the name originated in the Balkan region, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meka

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

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

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

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