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

Melián, 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 Melián surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Melián in America

Melián is the 62531st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Melián surname appeared 320 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 Melián.

We can also compare 2010 data for Melián 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 Melián

The surname Melian is believed to have originated in Armenia, dating back to the medieval period around the 11th or 12th century. It is derived from the Armenian word "melian," which means "apricot," suggesting that the name may have been initially associated with apricot cultivation or trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Melian can be found in a 13th-century Armenian manuscript, where a certain Vahram Melian was mentioned as a scribe or copyist. This document provides evidence of the name's existence during that time period.

In the 14th century, there are records of a prominent Armenian family called the Melians, who were active in the region of Cilicia, which was then a part of the Armenian Kingdom. This family played a significant role in the political and cultural life of the region, and their name was well-known.

During the 16th century, the Melian surname appears in various historical documents related to the Armenian diaspora, as many Armenians fled their homeland due to invasions and persecution. The name can be found in records from communities in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), Aleppo, and other cities where Armenian refugees settled.

One notable figure with the surname Melian was Khachatur Melian (1631-1690), an Armenian poet and scholar who lived in Lviv, Poland. He authored several works, including a dictionary and a grammar book, and contributed to the preservation of Armenian literature and culture.

Another prominent individual was Astvatsatur Melian (1770-1840), an Armenian Catholic priest and scholar who was born in Constantinople. He established schools and played a crucial role in promoting education among the Armenian community in the Ottoman Empire.

In the 19th century, the Melian surname was carried by several artists and intellectuals, such as Harutyun Melian (1820-1892), an Armenian painter and teacher from Constantinople, and Yeghishe Melian (1835-1892), a writer and educator from the same city.

The name Melian has also been associated with various place names and geographical locations in Armenia, such as the village of Melian in the Aragatsotn Province, which may have been named after a person or family with this surname.

It is important to note that the information provided here is based on historical records and sources, and the origin and evolution of surnames can be complex and multi-faceted. The details presented should be considered as a general overview of the Melian surname's history and may be subject to further research and verification.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Melián

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

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

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

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