2010
#138,304
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 121
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Mesinovic
A surname derived from the Slavic root "meso" meaning meat or flesh, likely referring to a butcher or meatworker.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 138 Americans carry the last name Mesinovic. That puts it at #142,049 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,483,727 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mesinovic surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
138
1 in 2,483,727
Census rank
#142,049
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
120
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 120 bearers of the surname Mesinovic in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 142049th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mesinovic, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mesinovic
The surname Mesinovic has its origins in the Balkans, specifically in the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is believed to have emerged in the late 15th century, during the Ottoman rule over the area. The name is derived from the Turkish word "mesin," which means "copper" or "brass," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have been involved in metalworking or related trades.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mesinovic can be found in the Ottoman tax registers from the 16th century, where it appears as "Mesinović." This document provides valuable insights into the lives and occupations of people living in the region during that time. The name is also found in various historical records and manuscripts from the Ottoman era, further solidifying its roots in the Balkans.
In the late 17th century, Hasan Mesinovic, a prominent merchant and trader, is mentioned in the annals of the city of Sarajevo. His business ventures and influence played a significant role in the economic development of the region during that period. Another notable figure was Mustafa Mesinovic, a renowned calligrapher and scholar who lived in the mid-18th century. His works and teachings contributed to the preservation of the rich cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During the 19th century, the Mesinovic family gained prominence in the town of Mostar, known for its iconic bridge, the Stari Most. Ibrahim Mesinovic, born in 1825, was a respected leader and philanthropist who played a pivotal role in the construction of several mosques and schools in the area. His son, Ahmed Mesinovic (1858-1932), followed in his footsteps, becoming a prominent figure in the local community and advocating for education and social reform.
In more recent history, Alija Mesinovic (1920-2007) was a renowned writer and poet from Bosnia and Herzegovina. His works, which often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, earned him widespread acclaim and several literary awards. Mesinovic's poetry has been translated into numerous languages, allowing his words to resonate with readers across the globe.
The surname Mesinovic continues to be prevalent in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as other parts of the Balkans, carrying with it a rich cultural heritage and a legacy of contributions to various fields, from trade and craftsmanship to literature and education.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mesinovic
Among Census respondents with the surname Mesinovic, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%.
The bar chart below shows how Mesinovic bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Mesinovic surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White100.0% · 120
Timeline
Historical Census data for Mesinovic
Mesinovic appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#142,049
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 120
-1 bearers (-0.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 3,745 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #138,304 | 121 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #142,049 | 120 | 0.04 | -1 bearers (-0.8%) | Down 3,745 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Mesinovic surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #138,304 | #142,049 | -2.7% |
| Count | 121 | 120 | -0.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.4% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Mesinovic bearers went from 121 to 120 (-0.8% change). The surname moved down 3,745 positions in the national ranking, going from #138,304 to #142,049.
FAQ
Mesinovic surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Mesinovic?
Name Census estimates that about 138 living Americans carry the surname Mesinovic. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,483,727 residents.
How common is Mesinovic?
Mesinovic ranks #142,049 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 120 people with the surname Mesinovic. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (138), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Mesinovic.
Has Mesinovic become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Mesinovic went from 121 recorded bearers to 120. That is a decrease of 1 (-0.8%). In the national ranking it fell from #138,304 to #142,049.
What does the Census say about the background of Mesinovic?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mesinovic, the largest self-reported group is White at 100.0%. These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Mesinovic in the 2020 Census, accounting for 100.0% (120 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Mesinovic appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (100.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Mesinovic (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Mesinovic mean?
A surname derived from the Slavic root "meso" meaning meat or flesh, likely referring to a butcher or meatworker. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Mesinovic (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Mesinovic?
For a quick modern take, check how many Americans have the surname Mesinovic on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.