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

Meles, 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 Meles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meles in America

Meles is the 104156th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meles surname appeared 172 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 Meles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meles 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 Meles

The surname MELES has its origins in the Mediterranean region, specifically in modern-day Italy and Greece. It is believed to have derived from the Greek word "meles," which means "badger." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone with badger-like characteristics or perhaps someone who worked with or hunted badgers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname MELES dates back to the 13th century in the Republic of Venice, where it appeared in various documents and records. During this time, the name was often spelled as "Melese" or "Melesi," reflecting the influence of the Venetian dialect.

In the 14th century, the MELES surname can be found in several historical documents from the Kingdom of Naples, which was then part of the Crown of Aragon. This indicates that the name had spread to other parts of the Italian peninsula and may have been associated with individuals who migrated or had connections to the region.

The MELES surname has also been documented in medieval Greek manuscripts, particularly those from the Byzantine Empire. This lends further credence to the theory that the name has Greek origins and may have been carried by individuals of Greek descent or those with ties to the Greek-speaking world.

One notable figure from history bearing the MELES surname was Giovanni Battista Meles (1570-1638), an Italian painter and architect from Bologna. He is known for his works in various churches and palaces throughout Italy, including the Palazzo del Podestà in Bologna.

Another individual of note was Gian Pietro Meles (1662-1743), a Sardinian philosopher and theologian who served as a professor at the University of Cagliari. He is recognized for his contributions to the fields of metaphysics and natural philosophy.

In the 18th century, the MELES surname can be found in records from the Ionian Islands, which were then under Venetian rule. One such individual was Demetrio Meles (1738-1804), a Greek scholar and writer from Zante (Zakynthos) who played a significant role in the Greek Enlightenment movement.

The surname MELES also has connections to various place names in Italy and Greece. For instance, the village of Meles in the province of Brescia, Italy, and the Meles River in ancient Ionia (modern-day Turkey) were both named after the Greek word for "badger."

Another notable figure was Theodoros Meles (1824-1897), a Greek politician and journalist who served as the Mayor of Athens from 1885 to 1887. He was a prominent figure in the Greek independence movement and played a crucial role in the development of modern Athens.

Overall, the surname MELES has a rich history that can be traced back to its Mediterranean origins, with strong ties to both Italian and Greek cultures. Its connection to the word "badger" and its presence in various historical records and manuscripts highlight its enduring legacy across different regions and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meles

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

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

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

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