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

Meras, 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 Meras surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meras in America

Meras is the 48160th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meras surname appeared 439 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 Meras.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meras 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 Meras

The surname Meras is thought to have originated in Spain during the medieval period, likely derived from the Spanish word "mera," meaning a boundary marker or landmark used to demarcate land or property ownership. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or was associated with a particular boundary or landmark.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Meras can be found in the Catalan region of Spain, where it appears in various municipal records and documents dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The name was particularly prevalent in the areas around Barcelona and Girona, where many families with the surname Meras were documented as landowners or involved in agricultural activities.

In the 15th century, the surname Meras began to spread beyond Catalonia to other parts of Spain, including Valencia and Aragon. Historical records from this period indicate that several individuals bearing the name were involved in various trades and professions, such as merchants, artisans, and even members of the clergy.

One notable figure associated with the surname Meras was Juan Meras, a Spanish explorer and navigator who participated in several expeditions to the Americas in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. Born in Seville around 1470, Juan Meras accompanied Christopher Columbus on his third voyage to the New World in 1498 and later served as a pilot on subsequent voyages to the Caribbean and Central America.

Another individual of historical significance was Tomás Meras, a Spanish playwright and poet who lived in the 17th century. Born in Zaragoza in 1612, Tomás Meras gained recognition for his dramatic works, which often explored themes of love, honor, and the complexities of human relationships. His plays were performed throughout Spain and influenced the development of Spanish theater during the Golden Age.

In the 18th century, the Meras surname continued to appear in various records and documents across Spain. One notable figure from this period was Francisco Meras, a Spanish military officer who played a significant role in the Spanish conquest of the Philippine Islands in the late 16th century. Born in Seville in 1565, Francisco Meras served as a captain in the Spanish army and participated in several campaigns against local resistance in the Philippines.

During the 19th century, the surname Meras began to spread beyond Spain to other parts of Europe and the Americas, as individuals and families bearing the name emigrated in search of new opportunities. One prominent figure from this era was Arturo Meras, a Spanish politician and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Spain from 1887 to 1888. Born in Madrid in 1835, Arturo Meras played a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of Spain during a period of significant social and economic change.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meras

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

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

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

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