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

Melecio, 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 Melecio surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Melecio in America

Melecio is the 22503rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Melecio surname appeared 1,143 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 Melecio.

We can also compare 2010 data for Melecio 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 Melecio

The surname Melecio originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Greek word 'melekios', meaning 'sweet' or 'honey-like'. The name was likely given to someone with a pleasant demeanor or a sweet nature.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records from the regions of Aragon and Valencia in eastern Spain. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Pedro Melecio, a merchant from the city of Zaragoza, who was mentioned in a trade document dated 1271.

Historical documents from the 15th century refer to a prominent family bearing the Melecio name in the town of Morella, located in the province of Castellón. This family is believed to have played a significant role in the local governance and economy of the region during that time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Juan Melecio was a renowned scholar and theologian from Seville. He was born in 1523 and was known for his expertise in Greek and Latin literature. Juan Melecio authored several works on religious and philosophical subjects, contributing to the intellectual discourse of his time.

Another individual of note was Catalina Melecio, a poet and writer from Valencia, who lived in the late 17th century. Her poetry collection, titled "Flores de Primavera" (Flowers of Spring), was widely acclaimed and celebrated for its lyrical beauty and vivid imagery.

During the 18th century, the Melecio surname was also found in the Canary Islands, where a family of that name owned a successful wine-making business. The Melecio vineyards were known for producing high-quality wines that were exported to various parts of Europe.

One of the most prominent figures bearing the Melecio name was Antonio Melecio, a military officer who served in the Spanish Army during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century. He was born in 1782 in Madrid and played a crucial role in several battles against the French forces, earning him various honors and distinctions.

While the Melecio surname is not as common today as it once was in Spain, it remains a reminder of the rich cultural heritage and historical significance of this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Melecio

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

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

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

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