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

Midas, 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 Midas surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Midas in America

Midas is the 99378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Midas surname appeared 182 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 Midas.

We can also compare 2010 data for Midas 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 Midas

The surname MIDAS originates from ancient Greece, deriving from the legendary King Midas of Phrygia. According to Greek mythology, Midas was granted the ability to turn everything he touched into gold, reflecting the name's association with wealth and fortune.

MIDAS likely emerged as a surname in the late medieval period, particularly in regions with strong Greek cultural influences or among families tracing their lineage back to ancient Greece. Early records indicate the name's presence in areas such as the Byzantine Empire, parts of modern-day Greece, and regions of the eastern Mediterranean.

One of the earliest documented instances of the surname MIDAS can be found in the Venetian archives from the 13th century, where a merchant named Nicolo MIDAS is mentioned in trading records. This suggests the name's adoption by families engaged in commerce and trade, perhaps drawing upon the symbolic association with wealth and prosperity.

During the Renaissance period, the surname MIDAS gained further recognition through the works of renowned scholars and artists. One notable figure was the Italian humanist and philosopher Giovanni MIDAS (1463-1516), who contributed to the study of classical Greek literature and philosophy.

In the 18th century, the MIDAS surname appeared in the genealogical records of prominent French families, such as the MIDAS de Montpellier, who traced their ancestry to the city of Montpellier in southern France. This indicates the name's spread across Europe and its adoption by aristocratic lineages.

Another significant bearer of the MIDAS surname was the British explorer Sir John MIDAS (1786-1855), who led expeditions to the Arctic regions and contributed to the mapping of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. His exploits solidified the name's association with exploration and discovery.

In the realm of arts and culture, the Italian composer and conductor Pietro MIDAS (1818-1901) gained recognition for his operatic works and contributions to the development of Italian classical music. His legacy further enriched the cultural significance of the MIDAS surname.

Throughout history, the surname MIDAS has been carried by individuals across various fields, from scholars and explorers to artists and entrepreneurs, reflecting its enduring association with wealth, prosperity, and the pursuit of knowledge and discovery.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Midas

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

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

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

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