Find out how popular the last name Mema is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Mema.
A surname of Middle Eastern origin, potentially derived from words meaning "noble" or "master".
Mema, 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 Mema surname is from the 2010 census data.
Mema is the 127494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Mema surname appeared 134 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 Mema.
We can also compare 2010 data for Mema 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.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Rank | 127494 | 141788 | -10.62% |
Count | 134 | 108 | 21.49% |
Proportion per 100k | 0.05 | 0.04 | 22.22% |
The surname MEMA has its origins in Italy, specifically in the northern regions of Lombardy and Veneto. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century. The name is derived from the Italian word "mema," which means "aunt" or "maternal aunt." This suggests that the surname may have been initially used to identify individuals in relation to their maternal aunt or to distinguish between different family branches.
In the early days, surnames were often derived from nicknames, occupations, or physical characteristics. The use of the word "mema" as a surname could indicate a familial connection or a reference to a maternal aunt who played a significant role in the family's history.
Historical records and documents from the time period provide glimpses into the presence of the MEMA surname. One notable mention can be found in the Codice Diplomatico Padovano, a collection of medieval documents from the city of Padua, dated around the 13th century. This document includes references to individuals with the surname MEMA, indicating their presence in the region during that time.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname MEMA was Giovanni MEMA, born in the late 13th century in the town of Vicenza, in the Veneto region. He was a prominent merchant and landowner, and his name appears in various local records and transactions from that era.
Another notable figure was Beatrice MEMA, born in the early 15th century in Milan, Lombardy. She was a noblewoman and patron of the arts, known for her patronage of renowned artists and her support of cultural endeavors in the city.
In the 16th century, the MEMA surname gained prominence with the birth of Antonio MEMA in Venice, Veneto, in 1542. He was a renowned scholar and philosopher, renowned for his works on ethics and moral philosophy. His writings and teachings influenced many intellectuals of the time.
During the Renaissance period, the MEMA surname was also associated with the arts. One such figure was Giulio MEMA, born in Verona, Veneto, in 1567. He was a celebrated painter and fresco artist, known for his intricate works adorning churches and palaces throughout northern Italy.
In the 18th century, the MEMA surname gained recognition in the field of music with the birth of Girolamo MEMA in Brescia, Lombardy, in 1712. He was a renowned composer and violinist, renowned for his contributions to the development of the concerto grosso and his innovative compositions for strings.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who carried the MEMA surname throughout history, highlighting its rich heritage and presence in various fields and regions of Italy.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Mema.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Mema was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 74.63% | 100 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | 4.48% | 6 |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 5.22% | 7 |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
Hispanic Origin | 13.43% | 18 |
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 Mema has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
White | 74.63% | 68.52% | 8.54% |
Black | 4.48% | (S)% | (S)% |
Asian and Pacific Islander | 5.22% | (S)% | (S)% |
American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
Two or More Races | (S)% | 7.41% | (S)% |
Hispanic | 13.43% | 19.44% | -36.57% |
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 Mema was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Mema, please contact us.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/mema-surname-popularity/">Mema last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Mema last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/mema-surname-popularity/.
"Mema last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/mema-surname-popularity/. Accessed 2 August, 2025
Mema last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/mema-surname-popularity/.
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