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

Meléndrez, 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 Meléndrez surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meléndrez in America

Meléndrez is the 7113th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meléndrez surname appeared 4,703 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 Meléndrez.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meléndrez 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 Meléndrez

The surname MELENDREZ originated in Spain during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Spanish word "melendroso," which means "timid" or "shy." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname or descriptive name for someone with a timid or reserved demeanor.

MELENDREZ is thought to have originated in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura in southern Spain. Some early variations of the spelling include Melendres, Melendres, and Melendriz. The name may also have connections to the town of Melendriz, located in the province of Zamora in northwestern Spain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MELENDREZ surname can be found in the "Libro de las Behetrías" (Book of Bequests), a 14th-century document that recorded landholdings and vassals in the regions of Castile and León. This suggests that individuals bearing the MELENDREZ name held some degree of prominence or landholdings during that time period.

In the 16th century, notable individuals with the MELENDREZ surname included Juan Melendrez (1490-1562), a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico under Hernán Cortés. Another figure was Diego Melendrez (1520-1588), a Spanish explorer and navigator who conducted expeditions along the Pacific coast of North America.

During the 17th century, María Melendrez (1615-1692) was a renowned Spanish poet and writer who published several works of religious poetry and devotional literature. Her work was highly regarded during the Spanish Golden Age of literature.

In the 18th century, Francisco Melendrez (1745-1821) was a Spanish military officer who served in the Spanish Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He achieved the rank of brigadier general and played a significant role in the defense of Spain against French invasion.

Another notable figure was Pedro Melendrez (1770-1848), a Spanish-born merchant and landowner who settled in the Spanish colony of Florida in the early 19th century. He was a prominent figure in the early development of St. Augustine and held significant landholdings in the region.

These examples illustrate the historical presence of the MELENDREZ surname across various regions of Spain and Spanish territories, as well as individuals who achieved notable positions and accomplishments throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meléndrez

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

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

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

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