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

Merica, 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 Merica surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Merica in America

Merica is the 33121st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Merica surname appeared 691 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 Merica.

We can also compare 2010 data for Merica 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 Merica

The surname Merica has its origins in Italy, where it first emerged during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Latin word 'merces,' which means 'merchandise' or 'goods.' This suggests that the name may have been associated with those involved in trade or commerce.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Merica name can be found in the archives of the city of Genoa, dating back to the 13th century. A merchant named Guglielmo Merica is mentioned in a document from 1247, indicating that the name was already well-established in the region.

As the Merica family grew and members migrated to other parts of Italy, variations in spelling emerged, including Merrica, Merrica, and Merrica. These different spellings were often influenced by local dialects and the preferences of individual scribes.

During the Renaissance, several individuals bearing the Merica surname achieved notable prominence. Girolamo Merica (1453-1519), a scholar and humanist from Pavia, was renowned for his extensive knowledge of classical literature and his contributions to the revival of ancient Greek and Latin texts.

Another prominent figure was Antonio Merica (1590-1657), a celebrated architect from Rome who designed several churches and palaces in the city, including the Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Umiltà and the Palazzo Pamphilj.

In the 18th century, the Merica family established itself in the Kingdom of Naples, where they gained recognition as landowners and members of the local nobility. One notable member was Vincenzo Merica (1725-1798), a military officer who served in the Neapolitan army during the reign of King Ferdinand IV.

Outside of Italy, the Merica name also found its way to other parts of Europe through migration and trade. In Spain, for instance, there are records of a merchant named Juan Merica who was active in the city of Seville during the 16th century.

As the centuries passed, the Merica surname continued to be carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, and professionals. Notable examples include the Italian painter Giovan Battista Merica (1619-1683), known for his religious works, and the French composer Émile Merica (1870-1937), who contributed to the development of modern classical music.

While the Merica name may not be as widely recognized as some other Italian surnames, it has a rich history that spans centuries and reflects the diverse contributions of those who have borne it across various fields and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Merica

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

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

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

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