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

Mella, 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 Mella surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mella in America

Mella is the 31906th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mella surname appeared 723 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 Mella.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mella 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 Mella

The surname Mella originates from the Italian region of Piedmont, specifically in the provinces of Cuneo and Asti. It is derived from the Latin word 'mellum,' meaning 'honey.' This suggests that the name may have originated as a nickname for someone involved in beekeeping or honey production.

In the Middle Ages, the name Mella appeared in various historical documents and records from the Piedmont region. One notable mention is found in a 13th-century manuscript from the town of Alba, which references a landowner named Giovanni Mella.

The earliest recorded individual with the surname Mella is Guglielmo Mella, born in 1412 in the village of Monforte d'Alba. He was a respected winemaker and viticulturist, known for his contributions to the local wine industry.

Another prominent figure was Bartolomeo Mella (1524-1598), a scholar and theologian from Asti. He authored several works on religious topics and served as a counselor to the Archbishop of Milan.

In the 17th century, the Mella family gained prominence in the nearby city of Turin. Pietro Mella (1632-1701) was a successful merchant and banker, whose wealth and influence allowed him to become a influential figure in the city's economic and political affairs.

The name Mella is also associated with several place names in the Piedmont region. For example, the village of Melle, located near Cuneo, is believed to have derived its name from the Mella family, who were once landowners in the area.

Other notable individuals with the surname Mella include:

1. Giambattista Mella (1758-1836), a painter and sculptor from Asti, known for his religious works in churches throughout Piedmont.

2. Carlo Mella (1827-1901), a politician and lawyer from Cuneo, who served as a deputy in the Italian parliament.

3. Giuseppe Mella (1874-1927), a philosopher and sociologist from Turin, who wrote extensively on the concept of solidarity and its role in social progress.

4. Ettore Mella (1898-1974), a renowned architect from Asti, whose works include the Chiesa della Consolata in Turin and various residential and commercial buildings throughout Italy.

5. Aldo Mella (1927-2001), a renowned chef and restaurateur from Alba, who helped popularize the Piedmontese cuisine and wines around the world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mella

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

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

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

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