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

Meola, 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 Meola surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meola in America

Meola is the 17159th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meola surname appeared 1,651 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Meola.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meola 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 Meola

The surname Meola is of Italian origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages in the regions of Campania and Basilicata. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "mela," meaning apple, possibly indicating an association with apple orchards or the trade of apples.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Meola dates back to the 13th century, when a certain Nicola Meola was mentioned in a historical document from the town of Avellino, located in the province of Campania. This region played a significant role in the development and spread of the surname.

During the 14th century, the surname Meola appeared in several municipal records and land registries in the town of Melfi, situated in the province of Basilicata. This suggests that the name had already established a presence in both Campania and Basilicata by that time.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Meola was Giovanni Meola, a renowned painter and sculptor who lived in Naples during the 16th century (c. 1520 - 1590). His works, primarily religious-themed paintings and intricate sculptures, can still be found adorning various churches and museums in the region.

Another prominent individual with the surname Meola was Giacomo Meola, a celebrated composer and lutist who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries (c. 1580 - 1644). He was highly regarded for his contributions to the development of early Baroque music and is considered one of the foremost Italian composers of his time.

In the 18th century, Antonio Meola (1720 - 1795) gained recognition as a skilled architect and engineer. He was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of several notable buildings and infrastructure projects in Naples and its surrounding areas.

Another figure of note was Vincenzo Meola (1801 - 1879), a renowned lawyer and statesman who played a crucial role in the Italian unification movement. He served as a member of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Italy and was highly respected for his legal expertise and political acumen.

During the 19th century, the name Meola also gained prominence in the literary world with the writer and poet Raffaele Meola (1825 - 1898). His works, which often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, were widely celebrated and influential during his lifetime.

While the surname Meola has its roots in the regions of Campania and Basilicata, it has since spread to various parts of Italy and beyond, carried by the descendants of those who bore the name throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meola

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

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

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

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