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

Meraz, 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 Meraz surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meraz in America

Meraz is the 4119th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meraz surname appeared 8,616 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 Meraz.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meraz 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 Meraz

The surname Meraz is of Spanish origin, originating from the northern regions of Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old Spanish word "meraz," meaning "a small patch of land used for growing fruit trees or vineyards." The earliest recorded instance of this surname dates back to the 13th century, found in records from the Kingdom of Aragon.

One of the earliest documented individuals with this surname was Sancho Meraz, a landowner and viticulturist who lived in the village of Ainsa, in the province of Huesca, during the late 13th century. His name appears in several property deeds and records from that time, indicating the Meraz family's involvement in agriculture and winemaking.

In the 14th century, the Meraz surname began to spread beyond the northern regions of Spain, with records showing individuals bearing this name in cities like Valencia and Barcelona. During this period, some variations in spelling emerged, such as Meratz and Merás, likely due to regional dialects and scribal errors.

A notable figure in the history of the Meraz surname was Juan Meraz, a respected scholar and theologian who lived in Zaragoza in the late 15th century. He authored several influential works on religious philosophy and was a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of his time. Another individual of historical significance was Rodrigo Meraz, a skilled navigator and explorer who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493.

As the Meraz family continued to expand and migrate within Spain, their presence was documented in various regions throughout the centuries. In the 16th century, records show a Meraz family residing in the town of Quintanar de la Orden, in the province of Toledo. One of their descendants, Alonso Meraz, was a renowned architect who contributed to the construction of several notable churches and buildings in the region.

Another prominent figure with the Meraz surname was María Meraz, a brave and influential figure during the Spanish War of Independence against the French in the early 19th century. She played a crucial role in organizing resistance efforts and is remembered as a symbol of courage and patriotism.

Throughout the centuries, the Meraz surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, musicians, writers, and scholars. While the name may have originated from a humble agricultural background, it has since become a part of Spain's rich cultural and historical tapestry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meraz

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

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

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

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