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

Melese, 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 Melese surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Melese in America

Melese is the 126018th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Melese surname appeared 136 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 Melese.

The history of the last name Melese

The surname MELESE originated in Italy. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "mellis," meaning "honey." The name likely emerged in the 13th century, referring to someone involved in the production or trade of honey.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MELESE surname can be found in a document from the town of Siena, dated 1287. This document mentions a family by the name "Melese" who owned a honey farm in the region.

In the 14th century, the name MELESE appeared in several historical records from the city of Florence. A notable figure was Giovanni Melese, a merchant and banker who lived from 1321 to 1389. He was a prominent figure in the city's financial affairs and is mentioned in several chronicles of the time.

During the Renaissance period, the MELESE surname gained prominence among Italian noble families. One notable figure was Antonio Melese, born in 1492, who was a renowned artist and sculptor. His works can be found in various churches and palaces throughout Italy.

In the 17th century, the MELESE family established itself in the region of Calabria, where they owned land and vineyards. A prominent member of this branch was Girolamo Melese, born in 1623, who served as a diplomat for the Kingdom of Naples.

Another notable figure was Francesca Melese, born in 1678, who was a renowned poet and writer. Her collection of sonnets and poems, published in 1712, earned her widespread acclaim in literary circles of the time.

As the MELESE surname spread throughout Italy, it also found its way to other parts of Europe. In the 18th century, a branch of the family settled in Spain, where they adopted the spelling "Melesa." One notable member was Diego Melesa, born in 1742, who served as a military officer in the Spanish army.

While the MELESE surname has its roots in Italy, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with families carrying this name found in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Melese

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

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 Melese 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.

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

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

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