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

Mendenhall, 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 Mendenhall surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mendenhall in America

Mendenhall is the 3499th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mendenhall surname appeared 10,213 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Mendenhall.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mendenhall 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 Mendenhall

The surname Mendenhall has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "menden" meaning a valley or enclosure, and "halh" meaning a nook or corner. This combination suggests that the name may have originated as a place name, referring to a location situated in a secluded valley or corner.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Mendenhall can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, England, from 1275, where the name is spelled as "Mendenhale." This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence and its connection to the English county of Worcestershire.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as "Mendenhall," "Mendenhale," and "Mendenhall," reflecting the evolving nature of surnames and the lack of standardized spelling during that time period. The name's association with specific locations is further reinforced by references to places like Mendenhall in Bedfordshire and Mendenhall in Suffolk, both of which may have contributed to the surname's development.

One notable individual bearing the surname Mendenhall was Thomas Mendenhall, an English Quaker born in 1616 in Mildenhall, Suffolk. He was among the early settlers in Pennsylvania, arriving in 1686 and establishing a homestead in present-day Delaware County. This migration played a significant role in the spread of the Mendenhall name across the American colonies.

Another prominent figure with this surname was John Mendenhall, born in 1688 in Wiltshire, England. He immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1710 and became a successful merchant and landowner in the region. His descendants went on to establish themselves in various parts of the United States, contributing to the further dissemination of the Mendenhall name.

During the American Revolutionary War, Benjamin Mendenhall, born in 1718 in Pennsylvania, served as a member of the Committee of Safety for Chester County and played an active role in supporting the patriot cause. His involvement in this pivotal historical event highlights the Mendenhall family's deep roots in the early days of the United States.

In the realm of academia, Thomas Corwin Mendenhall, born in 1841 in Ohio, made significant contributions as a physicist and meteorologist. He served as the first president of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and later became the president of the Rose Polytechnic Institute, now known as Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Finally, Walter Curran Mendenhall, born in 1871 in Ohio, was a distinguished geologist and educator. He served as the director of the United States Geological Survey from 1924 to 1928 and played a crucial role in advancing the field of geology during his time.

These examples illustrate the rich history and widespread presence of the Mendenhall surname across various fields and regions, with its origins tracing back to the valleys and nooks of medieval England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mendenhall

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

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

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

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