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

Meléndres, 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 Meléndres surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meléndres in America

Meléndres is the 48800th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meléndres surname appeared 432 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 Meléndres.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meléndres 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 Meléndres

The surname MELENDRES originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "melindre," which means "delicate" or "frail." The name may have been initially used as a nickname for someone who was perceived as physically weak or sickly.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MELENDRES surname can be found in the Catalonian region of Spain, where it appears in various historical documents dating back to the 13th century. Some of these records include legal contracts, property deeds, and church registries.

During the 15th century, the MELENDRES surname began to spread beyond Catalonia to other parts of Spain, such as Aragon and Castile. This dispersal was likely due to factors like migration, intermarriage, and the expansion of Spanish influence across the Iberian Peninsula.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the MELENDRES surname was Juan de Melendres, a Spanish explorer and navigator who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in 1519. Juan de Melendres played a crucial role in the conquest of the Aztec Empire and is mentioned in several accounts of the time.

Another significant individual with the MELENDRES surname was Diego de Melendres, a 17th-century Spanish military officer who served as the governor of the province of Nueva Vizcaya (now part of modern-day Mexico) from 1648 to 1653. He is credited with establishing several settlements and fortifications in the region.

During the 18th century, the MELENDRES surname gained prominence in the Spanish colonies of the Americas. One notable figure was Pedro Melendres, a Spanish colonial administrator who served as the governor of the Captaincy General of Guatemala from 1779 to 1787.

In the 19th century, a notable bearer of the MELENDRES surname was José María Melendres, a Mexican politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Mexican Congress and played a significant role in the country's political affairs during the 1840s and 1850s.

As the MELENDRES surname spread across different regions and countries, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Melendrez, Melendrez, and Melendrez. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and linguistic adaptations.

Overall, the surname MELENDRES has a rich history rooted in medieval Spain, with its origins likely stemming from a descriptive nickname. Over the centuries, individuals bearing this surname have made notable contributions in various fields, including exploration, military service, colonial administration, and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meléndres

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

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

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

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