Mewes
A surname derived from a place name, likely relating to a clearing or meadow.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 583 Americans carry the last name Mewes. That puts it at #43,732 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 587,915 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Mewes surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, 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
583
1 in 587,915
Census rank
#43,732
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
493
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 493 bearers of the surname Mewes in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 43732nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Mewes, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.4%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Mewes
The surname Mewes has its origins in Germany and is believed to have derived from the old German word "müde," which means "tired" or "weary." This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who appeared exhausted or fatigued.
In the early medieval period, the use of surnames was not common, and people were typically identified by their given names or by descriptive nicknames. As the population grew and the need for more specific identification arose, these nicknames often became hereditary surnames passed down through families.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mewes can be found in the historical records of the city of Nuremberg, Germany, dating back to the 14th century. It is mentioned in a document from 1397, which references a certain "Hans Mewes" residing in the city.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the surname appears to have spread to other regions of Germany, as well as neighboring areas such as Austria and Switzerland. Variations in spelling, including Mewes, Mewis, and Meuwes, were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.
Notable individuals who bore the surname Mewes include Johann Mewes (1615-1680), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Elector of Brandenburg. Another notable figure was Karl Mewes (1876-1958), a German architect who designed several prominent buildings in Berlin during the early 20th century.
In the Netherlands, the name Mewes is also found, possibly as a result of migration from Germany. One example is the Dutch painter Marten Mewes (1603-1662), who was active in the city of Haarlem during the Dutch Golden Age of painting.
The surname Mewes also made its way to other parts of Europe, including England and France, where it may have been anglicized or adapted to local spelling conventions. In France, for instance, the name appears as Meuwis or Meuwisse.
While the surname Mewes is not among the most common surnames globally, it has a rich history rooted in medieval Germany and has been borne by notable figures across various fields, from music and architecture to art.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Mewes
Among Census respondents with the surname Mewes, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.4%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Mewes bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 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.
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 Mewes surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.5%
- Two or more races2.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Unknown or suppressed1.0%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Mewes surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #41,859 | #43,732 | -4.5% |
| Count | 489 | 493 | 0.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.18 | 0.17 | -5.6% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Mewes bearers went from 489 to 493 (+0.8% change). The surname moved down 1,873 positions in the national ranking, going from #41,859 to #43,732.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Mewes
FAQ
Mewes surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Mewes?
The surname Mewes holds position #43,732 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 583 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Mewes surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Mewes, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.5%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.4%) and Hispanic (2.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.