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

Mesen, 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 Mesen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mesen in America

Mesen is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mesen surname appeared 109 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 Mesen.

The history of the last name Mesen

The surname MESEN is of German origin, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Middle High German word "mese," meaning "meadow" or "pasture." The earliest records of this surname are found in the southern regions of Germany, particularly in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

The name MESEN is thought to have been initially used as a descriptive name, referring to individuals who lived or worked near meadows or pastures. It was common practice during that time for people to adopt surnames based on their occupation, location, or a distinguishing physical characteristic.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname MESEN can be found in the Codex Diplomatus, a collection of historical documents from the Duchy of Bavaria, dated around 1275. This document references a landowner named Konrad Mesen, who held property near the town of Augsburg.

In the 14th century, the name MESEN appeared in various municipal records and tax rolls across southern Germany. Notable individuals bearing this surname during this period include Hans Mesen (1325-1387), a wealthy merchant from Nuremberg, and Margarethe Mesen (1348-1412), a landowner and benefactor from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the MESEN surname spread to other parts of Europe as a result of migration and trade. One notable figure from this era was Johann Mesen (1558-1623), a German theologian and professor at the University of Heidelberg.

In the 18th century, the name MESEN was found in various church records and legal documents across Germany and neighboring countries. One example is Wilhelm Mesen (1712-1786), a respected physician from the city of Frankfurt.

As the centuries passed, the surname MESEN continued to be well-represented in various fields, including academia, arts, and politics. Some notable individuals include:

1. Friedrich Mesen (1821-1897), a German painter and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life.
2. Helene Mesen (1856-1932), a German women's rights activist and writer.
3. Karl Mesen (1878-1954), a German politician and member of the Reichstag during the Weimar Republic.
4. Hans Mesen (1901-1987), a German architect and urban planner responsible for the reconstruction of several cities after World War II.
5. Ingrid Mesen (1938-2022), a German actress and television personality, known for her role in the popular series "Derrick."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mesen

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

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 Mesen 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!