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

Mestas, 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 Mestas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mestas in America

Mestas is the 12935th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mestas surname appeared 2,375 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 Mestas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mestas 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 Mestas

The surname Mestas originates from Spain, specifically the region of Galicia in the northwest part of the country. It is believed to have derived from the Latin word "mestas," meaning "harvest" or "crop." This suggests that the name may have been associated with agricultural activities or professions related to farming.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Mestas surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with references found in historical documents and records from the Galician region. It is possible that the name may have been influenced by the similar-sounding place name "Mestás," a small village located in the municipality of Valdés, Asturias.

During the Middle Ages, the Mestas name appeared in various manuscripts and records, including property deeds, tax rolls, and municipal archives. One notable figure from this period was Pedro Mestas, a landowner and merchant who lived in the city of Santiago de Compostela in the 15th century.

As the Mestas family spread throughout Spain and beyond, variations in the spelling of the name emerged, such as Mestás, Mestaz, and Mestaz. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the local dialects or regional pronunciations.

In the 16th century, Juan Mestas, a Spanish explorer and navigator, accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expeditions to the Americas. Juan Mestas played a significant role in the exploration and conquest of Mexico, and his name is mentioned in several historical accounts of that era.

Another notable figure was María Mestas, a 17th-century writer and poet from Seville, Spain. Her collection of poetry and literary works gained recognition during her lifetime and contributed to the cultural landscape of the Spanish Golden Age.

In the 18th century, Diego Mestas, a Spanish military officer, served in the Spanish colonies of the Americas. He participated in various campaigns and battles, earning recognition for his bravery and leadership.

The 19th century saw the rise of Francisco Mestas, a prominent political figure and advocate for social reforms in Spain. He actively campaigned for workers' rights and played a significant role in shaping the country's labor laws and policies.

As the Mestas surname spread across borders, it found its way into other Spanish-speaking regions, including Latin America and the Caribbean. One notable figure from this era was Miguel Mestas, a Cuban revolutionary and writer who fought against Spanish colonial rule in the late 19th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mestas

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

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

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

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