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

Mether, 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 Mether surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mether in America

Mether is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mether surname appeared 105 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 Mether.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mether 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 Mether

The surname Mether originated in Germany during the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Middle Low German word "meter" or "meder", which means a mower or one who cuts grass. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely involved in agricultural work, particularly the maintenance of grassy areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Mether name can be found in the Alsatian town records of Strasbourg from the late 1200s. These records mention a farmer named Hans Mether who resided in the outskirts of the town. Additionally, the name is mentioned in the Bavarian town chronicles of Augsburg, where a family with the surname Mether is documented as living in the late 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Mether name appeared in various German parish records, indicating its spread across different regions. Notably, a Johann Mether, born in 1523, was a prominent figure in the town of Nuremberg, where he served as a respected member of the local guild of weavers.

As people began to migrate and settle in new areas, the Mether surname also found its way to other parts of Europe. In the 17th century, records show a Peter Mether, born in 1642, who immigrated to the Netherlands and established himself as a successful merchant in Amsterdam.

One of the most notable figures bearing the Mether name was Johann Friedrich Mether, a German composer and organist born in 1688 in Leipzig. He was widely celebrated for his contributions to church music and his compositions for organ and choir.

During the 19th century, the Mether surname can be found in various historical records across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. For instance, a Karl Mether, born in 1822 in Baden-Württemberg, was a prominent lawyer and politician who served as a member of the German Reichstag from 1871 to 1874.

While the Mether name may not be as widely recognized as some other surnames, it has a rich history and can be traced back to its agricultural roots in medieval Germany. Over the centuries, individuals with this surname have made their mark in various fields, from music and politics to trade and craftsmanship.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mether

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

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

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

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