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

Melke, 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 Melke surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Melke in America

Melke is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Melke surname appeared 122 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 Melke.

We can also compare 2010 data for Melke 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 Melke

The surname MELKE is of German origin, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It likely originated from the Low German word "melk," which means "milk." This suggests that the name may have been initially applied to individuals involved in dairy farming or the production of milk-related products.

The earliest known record of the MELKE surname can be found in the tax rolls of the city of Hamburg, Germany, dating back to the early 15th century. These records mention a certain "Hans Melke," who was a prosperous merchant dealing in dairy goods.

In the later part of the 15th century, the MELKE name appeared in various church records and legal documents across northern Germany, particularly in the regions of Saxony and Mecklenburg. This indicates that the family had established itself as a prominent one in these areas.

One notable figure bearing the MELKE surname was Johann Melke, a respected theologian and author who lived from 1545 to 1621. He was a prominent figure in the Lutheran Church and wrote several influential texts on religious doctrine and philosophy.

Another individual of note was Gerhard Melke, a master woodcarver who lived in the city of Lübeck during the 17th century. His intricate carvings adorned many churches and public buildings throughout northern Germany, and his work is still celebrated today.

In the 18th century, the MELKE name gained recognition in the field of agriculture and land management. Heinrich Melke, born in 1712, was a pioneering farmer who introduced innovative methods of crop rotation and soil conservation to his region, helping to improve yields and sustainability.

The 19th century saw the MELKE name spread beyond Germany, as members of the family emigrated to other parts of Europe and the Americas. One such individual was Wilhelm Melke, who settled in Pennsylvania, United States, in the mid-1800s and became a successful businessman and landowner.

It is worth noting that variations in spelling, such as "Melken" and "Melker," have also been observed throughout the history of this surname, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic changes over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Melke

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

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

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

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