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

Melanson, 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 Melanson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Melanson in America

Melanson is the 7238th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Melanson surname appeared 4,608 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Melanson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Melanson 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 Melanson

The surname Melanson originated in France, specifically in the region of Poitou, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "melange," which means "mixture" or "blend." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who worked with blending or mixing different materials, possibly in a trade such as brewing or dyeing.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Melanson can be found in the records of the Abbey of Saint-Maixent in Poitou, dating back to the 13th century. The name appears in various spellings, including "Melanchon," "Melanchion," and "Melancon," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common in that era.

In the 17th century, during the French colonization of Acadia (present-day Maritime provinces of Canada), several families bearing the Melanson surname were among the early settlers. One notable figure was Pierre Melanson, born in 1662 in Port-Royal, Acadia (now Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia). He played a significant role in the development of the Acadian community and left a lasting impact on the region.

Another prominent individual with the Melanson surname was Jean-Baptiste Melanson, born in 1712 in Grand-Pré, Acadia (now Nova Scotia). He was a respected community leader and landowner, and his descendants continued to carry on the family name in various parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

During the Great Expulsion of the Acadians in the mid-18th century, many Melanson families were forcibly deported from their homeland. Some found refuge in Louisiana, where they became part of the Acadian diaspora and contributed to the distinct Cajun culture that emerged in the region.

In the 19th century, the name Melanson can be found in historical records from various parts of Canada and the United States, reflecting the spread of Acadian and French Canadian communities. One notable figure was Alexis Melanson, born in 1825 in Memramcook, New Brunswick, who became a prominent businessman and community leader.

Other individuals with the Melanson surname who left their mark on history include Amédée Melanson, born in 1856 in Memramcook, New Brunswick, who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, and Édouard Melanson, born in 1880 in Arichat, Nova Scotia, who was a respected educator and writer.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Melanson

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

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

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

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