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

Melendes, 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 Melendes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Melendes in America

Melendes is the 39052nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Melendes surname appeared 564 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 Melendes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Melendes 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 Melendes

The surname Melendes is of Spanish origin, first appearing in records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the region of Castile, specifically in the town of Melendez, located near the city of Burgos. The name is derived from the Latin word "militensis," which means "soldier" or "warrior," suggesting that the original bearers of this surname may have been men of military service or from a family of soldiers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Melendes surname can be found in the "Cantar de Mio Cid," a 12th-century Spanish epic poem that tells the story of the legendary hero El Cid. In the poem, a character named Melendez is mentioned as one of the knights in El Cid's army. This historical reference lends credibility to the military origins of the name.

During the 14th century, the Melendes family gained prominence in the region of Andalusia, particularly in the city of Seville. Juan Melendes, born in 1325, was a renowned scholar and poet who contributed significantly to the literary and cultural life of Seville during that time. His works, including a collection of love poems titled "El Cancionero de Juan Melendes," are considered important examples of early Spanish literature.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Melendes surname was Alonso Melendes, born in 1492. He was a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan on his famous voyage around the world. Alonso Melendes played a crucial role in the expedition, serving as one of Magellan's lieutenants and helping navigate the treacherous Strait of Magellan.

Another prominent individual with the Melendes surname was María Melendes, born in 1670 in Seville. She was a renowned artist and one of the few female painters of her time to achieve recognition. Her works, primarily religious paintings and portraits, can be found in several churches and museums in Spain.

In the 18th century, Pedro Melendes, born in 1712, was a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the governor of Spanish Florida from 1768 to 1781 and played a significant role in the defense of the territory against British and Native American forces during the American Revolutionary War.

These examples demonstrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals who have carried the Melendes surname throughout the centuries. From literary figures and artists to explorers and military leaders, the name has left an indelible mark on Spanish history and culture.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Melendes

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

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

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

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