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

Meris, 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 Meris surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Meris in America

Meris is the 110825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Meris surname appeared 159 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 Meris.

We can also compare 2010 data for Meris 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 Meris

The surname Meris has its origins in the region of Calabria, located in southern Italy. It is believed to have emerged around the 12th century, derived from the Latin word "maris," meaning "of the sea." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who lived near or worked in maritime professions.

During the medieval period, the name Meris appeared in various historical records and documents, including the Codex Diplomaticus Regni Siciliae, a collection of charters and diplomas from the Kingdom of Sicily. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to 1235, when a certain Pietro Meris was mentioned as a landowner in the town of Reggio Calabria.

In the 15th century, the name Meris was found in the notarial records of the city of Catanzaro, where a family with this surname resided. These records provide valuable insights into the daily lives and occupations of individuals bearing the name Meris during that time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the surname Meris. One such figure was Girolamo Meris (1550-1635), a renowned Italian architect and engineer who contributed to the design and construction of several important buildings in Naples and its surrounding areas.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Antonio Meris (1680-1742), a celebrated painter from Reggio Calabria. His works, which included religious paintings and portraiture, adorned many churches and noble residences in southern Italy.

In the field of literature, Giuseppe Meris (1815-1892) was a renowned poet and playwright from Catanzaro. His works, which often explored themes of love, nature, and the Calabrian countryside, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

The name Meris has also been associated with several geographical locations in Italy. For instance, there is a small village called Meris located in the province of Reggio Calabria, which may have been named after an early settler or landowner with this surname.

While the surname Meris is relatively uncommon today, it continues to be part of the rich tapestry of Italian surnames, carrying with it a connection to the coastal regions of southern Italy and the maritime heritage of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Meris

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

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

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

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