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

Merced, 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 Merced surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Merced in America

Merced is the 9978th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Merced surname appeared 3,233 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 Merced.

We can also compare 2010 data for Merced 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 Merced

The surname Merced has its origins in Spain, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "merced," which means "mercy" or "grace." The name is thought to have been initially bestowed upon individuals who displayed exceptional kindness, generosity, or compassion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Merced can be found in the Libro de las Behetrías, a medieval document compiled in the 14th century that recorded the names of landowners and their properties in Castile, Spain. This suggests that the name was already in use during that time.

In the 15th century, the surname Merced appears in various historical records, such as the Padrón de Cuenca, a census-like document from the city of Cuenca, Spain. This indicates that individuals bearing the name were present in different regions of the country.

The surname Merced is also associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such individual was Juan de Merced, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico alongside Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century. Another notable bearer of the name was María de Merced, a Spanish nun and mystic who lived in the 17th century and was known for her spiritual writings.

In the 18th century, the surname Merced gained prominence in the Americas, as Spanish colonists and settlers brought the name with them to the New World. One prominent figure from this era was Gaspar de la Merced, a Spanish missionary and explorer who traveled extensively throughout California and the American Southwest in the late 1700s.

During the 19th century, the surname Merced was found in various parts of Latin America, particularly in Mexico and Central America. One notable individual was Manuel Merced, a Mexican military officer and politician who played a role in the Mexican-American War and later served as the governor of Baja California in the 1860s.

Throughout history, the surname Merced has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including religious figures, military leaders, explorers, and politicians. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval Spain, it has since spread across the globe, carried by those who bear it as a testament to their heritage and the values it represents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Merced

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

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

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

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