Find out how popular the last name Meneses is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Meneses.
A Spanish surname derived from the given name "Menés" and likely referring to a locational origin.
Meneses, 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 Meneses surname is from the 2010 census data.
Meneses is the 125282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Meneses surname appeared 137 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 Meneses.
We can also compare 2010 data for Meneses 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 | 125282 | 130443 | -4.04% |
| Count | 137 | 120 | 13.23% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.05 | 0.04 | 22.22% |
The surname MENESSES has its origins in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in Spain and Portugal, and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "mensis," meaning "month," which points to a possible connection with an occupation or duty related to timekeeping or calendar-related tasks.
One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname appears in the 13th-century manuscript "Libro de la Montería" (Book of the Hunt), which was commissioned by King Alfonso XI of Castile. This document lists various individuals with the surname MENESSES, suggesting that the name was already well-established in the region during that time.
In the 15th century, Pedro de MENESSES, a Portuguese nobleman, played a significant role in the exploration and colonization of the Atlantic Ocean. He was appointed the first captain-major of the Portuguese island of São Tomé and Príncipe in 1485.
The MENESSES surname is also associated with several noble families in Spain and Portugal. One notable example is the House of MENESSES, a prominent noble lineage in Portugal that held significant influence during the 15th and 16th centuries. Several members of this family held important positions in the Portuguese court and played a role in the country's history.
Another prominent figure bearing the MENESSES surname was Alonso de MENESSES, a Spanish conquistador and explorer who participated in the conquest of Peru in the 16th century. He served under Francisco Pizarro and played a crucial role in the subjugation of the Inca Empire.
During the 17th century, Jerónimo de MENESSES was a Spanish military officer and diplomat who served as the governor of various Spanish territories, including Panama and Chile. He was known for his efforts in defending Spanish colonies against pirate attacks and indigenous uprisings.
Throughout history, the MENESSES surname has been associated with various notable individuals, including writers, artists, and military figures. Some examples include the 19th-century Portuguese writer Almeida MENESSES, the 20th-century Spanish painter José MENESSES, and the 21st-century Colombian actress and model Paola Rey de MENESSES.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Meneses.
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 Meneses was:
| Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Hispanic White Only | 62.77% | 86 |
| Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
| Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0 |
| Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | (S)% | (S) |
| Hispanic Origin | 36.50% | 50 |
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 Meneses has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
| 2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 62.77% | 72.50% | -14.39% |
| Black | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 0.00% | (S)% | (S)% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Two or More Races | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
| Hispanic | 36.50% | 25.83% | 34.24% |
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 Meneses was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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