Meloni
An Italian surname derived from the word "melone" meaning melon or watermelon.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 823 Americans carry the last name Meloni. That puts it at #32,865 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.24 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 416,469 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Meloni surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
823
1 in 416,469
Census rank
#32,865
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
698
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 698 bearers of the surname Meloni in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 32865th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Meloni, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Meloni
The surname Meloni is of Italian origin, derived from the Italian word "melone," meaning "melon." It is believed to have originated as a nickname or occupational name for someone who grew or sold melons.
The earliest recorded instances of the Meloni surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Italy, including Tuscany, Lazio, and Umbria. Historical records from this period often list individuals with the surname spelled as "Meloni," "Melloni," or "Mellone," reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation.
One of the earliest known mentions of the Meloni name can be found in a document from the city of Siena, dated 1286, which references a Giovanni Meloni. Additionally, records from the town of Viterbo in Lazio indicate the presence of a noble family bearing the Meloni surname in the 14th century.
In the 15th century, a notable figure named Battista Meloni (c. 1450-1510) was a renowned painter from the city of Perugia, known for his frescoes and religious works. His artistic contributions are still celebrated in various churches and museums throughout Umbria.
Fast forward to the 17th century, a prominent figure named Antonio Meloni (1623-1701) was a Sicilian jurist and author. He served as a judge in the Supreme Court of Palermo and wrote several legal treatises that were highly regarded during his time.
Another significant individual with the Meloni surname was Girolamo Meloni (1718-1802), a Sardinian priest and writer. He authored several works on the history and culture of Sardinia, including "Memoria sulla Sardegna" (Memoir on Sardinia), which is considered an important historical reference on the island.
In the 19th century, Giuseppe Meloni (1843-1912) was an Italian businessman and politician from Tuscany. He served as a member of the Italian Parliament and was actively involved in the development of the wine industry in his region.
The surname Meloni can also be linked to various place names across Italy, such as Meloni di Sardegna, a small town in the province of Sassari, Sardinia, and Meloni di Spoleto, a hamlet in the province of Perugia, Umbria. These place names likely originated from individuals with the Meloni surname who settled or held land in those areas.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Meloni
Among Census respondents with the surname Meloni, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and Two or More Races (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Meloni bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Meloni surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.1%
- Hispanic or Latino5.2%
- Two or more races1.3%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9%
- Unknown or suppressed0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Meloni surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #32,094 | #32,865 | -2.4% |
| Count | 678 | 698 | 2.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.25 | 0.24 | -4.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Meloni bearers went from 678 to 698 (+2.9% change). The surname moved down 771 positions in the national ranking, going from #32,094 to #32,865.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Meloni
FAQ
Meloni surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Meloni?
The surname Meloni holds position #32,865 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 823 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Meloni surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Meloni, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.2%) and Two or More Races (1.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.