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

Melikian, 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 Melikian surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Melikian in America

Melikian is the 39052nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Melikian surname appeared 564 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 Melikian.

We can also compare 2010 data for Melikian 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 Melikian

The surname Melikian has its origins in Armenia, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Armenian word "melik," which means "prince" or "ruler." The name likely originated as a title or designation for those who held positions of authority or nobility within Armenian society during that time.

In the historical records of Armenia, the name Melikian can be found in various manuscripts and documents from the 13th to the 18th centuries. These include chronicles, legal documents, and royal decrees. One of the earliest known references to the name is in the "Ganj Shararits," a 13th-century Armenian manuscript that details the genealogy of noble families.

The Melikian family was particularly prominent in the regions of Syunik and Artsakh (present-day Nagorno-Karabakh) during the medieval period. These areas were known for their strong Armenian presence and resistance against foreign invasions. Some notable figures bearing the Melikian surname from this era include Melick Hasan Melikian (1345-1425), a military leader and melik (prince) of Khachen, and Melick Grigor Melikian (1590-1670), a prince of Artsakh who played a crucial role in defending the region against Ottoman and Persian invasions.

As the Armenian diaspora spread throughout the world, the Melikian surname traveled with them. In the 19th century, one of the most famous Melikians was Hovhannes Melikian (1820-1895), an Armenian merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of education and cultural institutions in the Ottoman Empire.

Another notable figure was Sedrak Melikian (1857-1935), an Armenian writer, journalist, and public figure who was actively involved in the Armenian national liberation movement. He published several works advocating for Armenian rights and independence.

In the 20th century, Sergei Melikian (1915-2007) was a renowned Armenian-Russian art historian and curator. He specialized in Byzantine and Armenian art and served as the director of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg for over two decades.

While the Melikian surname has its roots in Armenia's medieval history, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by Armenian communities and individuals. However, its origins remain deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage and struggle for independence of the Armenian people.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Melikian

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

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

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

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