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

Mekus, 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 Mekus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mekus in America

Mekus is the 86981st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mekus surname appeared 214 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 Mekus.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mekus 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 Mekus

The surname Mekus has its origins in the Baltic region, specifically Lithuania and Latvia. It is believed to have derived from the Lithuanian word "mekas," which means "wood" or "forest." This suggests that the name likely originated from individuals who lived in or near forested areas or worked with wood.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mekus can be found in the 16th century Lithuanian chronicles, which mention a family with this surname residing in the Samogitian region. The name also appears in various historical documents from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, indicating its presence among the Lithuanian nobility during the medieval period.

In the 17th century, the Mekus name gained prominence with the birth of Jonas Mekus (1616-1687), a renowned Lithuanian poet and translator. His works played a significant role in the development of Lithuanian literature and the preservation of the Lithuanian language during a time of cultural oppression.

Another notable figure bearing the Mekus surname was Martynas Mekus (1789-1853), a Lithuanian educator and author who wrote extensively on topics related to agriculture and forestry. His contributions to the advancement of rural education and sustainable farming practices earned him recognition throughout the Lithuanian territories.

The Mekus surname also found its way into the Latvian regions, where it was sometimes spelled as "Mekuss" or "Mekuš." One prominent Latvian individual with this name was Jānis Mekuš (1901-1983), a distinguished architect known for his work on several iconic buildings in Riga, including the Latvian Academy of Sciences.

In the 20th century, Antanas Mekus (1920-2003) gained prominence as a Lithuanian-American artist and sculptor. His works were exhibited in galleries across the United States and Europe, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of his Lithuanian roots.

While the Mekus surname may have evolved over time and across different regions, its roots remain firmly anchored in the Baltic traditions, reflecting a connection to the natural environment and the historic lands of Lithuania and Latvia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mekus

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

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

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

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