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

Mele, 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 Mele surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mele in America

Mele is the 7944th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mele surname appeared 4,165 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 Mele.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mele 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 Mele

The surname Mele has its origins in Italy, specifically in the Calabrian region of southern Italy. It likely emerged in the late Middle Ages or early Renaissance period, around the 13th to 15th centuries.

The name Mele is believed to be derived from the Latin word "melis," meaning "honey." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to beekeepers or honey merchants in the region. Alternatively, it could also be linked to the Italian word "mela," meaning "apple," potentially indicating a connection to apple growers or traders.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mele can be found in a document from the town of Cosenza, dated to the year 1428, which mentions a certain Antonello Mele. This suggests that the name was already established in the area by the early 15th century.

In the 16th century, there are records of a noble family named Mele residing in the town of Rende, near Cosenza. The family was notable for their involvement in local politics and landholdings. A prominent member of this family was Girolamo Mele, who served as a magistrate in the late 1500s.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Mele was Domenico Mele, a Baroque painter active in Naples during the 17th century. He was known for his religious works and was commissioned by several churches and patrons in the region.

Moving forward to the 18th century, there is mention of a philosopher and theologian named Giovanni Battista Mele, who was born in Castrovillari in 1701. He wrote extensively on metaphysics and ethics and was highly regarded in his time.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure with the surname Mele was Vincenzo Mele, an Italian politician and patriot who played a role in the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification. He was born in Catanzaro in 1808 and served as a deputy in the newly formed Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy.

These examples illustrate the long history and presence of the surname Mele in various parts of southern Italy, particularly in the Calabrian region. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings related to honey or apple cultivation, it has also been borne by notable individuals in various fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mele

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

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

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

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