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

Metts, 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 Metts surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Metts in America

Metts is the 8473rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Metts surname appeared 3,896 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 Metts.

We can also compare 2010 data for Metts 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 Metts

The surname METTS has its origins in England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "mete," which means food or provisions. Some linguists believe the name could also be related to the Old English word "metan," meaning to measure or estimate.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname METTS can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named Richard Metts is listed as a landowner. The name is also found in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1202, where a William Metts is mentioned.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there is a record of a place called "Metestun" in Warwickshire, which could be linked to the origins of the surname. This place name may have derived from a combination of the Old English words "mete" and "tun," meaning a settlement or farmstead where provisions were stored.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname METTS appeared in various records across England, with different spellings such as Mettes, Mettys, and Metys. One notable example is John Metts, a merchant from Bristol who was involved in trade with France in the late 13th century.

In the 15th century, a branch of the METTS family settled in the county of Somerset, where they became landowners and established themselves as minor gentry. Thomas Metts (c. 1425 - 1498) was a prominent figure in this family, serving as a Justice of the Peace and Sheriff of Somerset.

The surname METTS continued to be found in various parts of England throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. One notable bearer of the name was Robert Metts (c. 1580 - 1645), a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London.

In the 18th century, the METTS family had branches in various counties, including Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire. William Metts (1712 - 1784) was a successful farmer and landowner in Oxfordshire, while James Metts (1745 - 1822) was a prominent figure in the city of Bristol, serving as a magistrate and alderman.

Other notable individuals with the surname METTS include Sir Charles Metts (1825 - 1901), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy, and Mary Metts (1868 - 1943), an English novelist and playwright.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Metts

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

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

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

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