Explore the Family Name Mead
The meaning of Mead
English: 1. topographic name for someone who lived by a meadow, from Middle English mede ‘meadow’ (Old English mǣd), or a habitational name from one or more of the many places so named, such as Meads in Harford (Devon). 2. perhaps from Middle English mede ‘mead, alcoholic drink of fermented honey and water’, possibly denoting one who was fond of the drink or who made or sold mead. Compare Meader.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Mead in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname "Mead" saw a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Mead ranked as the 1494th most popular surname in the United States, but by 2010, it had slipped to 1578th place, a decrease of 5.62%. However, despite this drop in rank, the actual number of people with the surname Mead increased from 21,919 in 2000 to 22,727 in 2010, an increase of 3.69%. The proportion of Meads per 100k individuals also decreased slightly, from 8.13 to 7.7.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,494 | #1,578 | -5.62% |
| Count | 21,919 | 22,727 | 3.69% |
| Proportion per 100k | 8.13 | 7.7 | -5.29% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Mead
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of individuals with the surname Mead identified as White, making up 92.94% in 2000 and 91.36% in 2010. However, there have been notable increases in the percentages of Meads identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander (from 0.63% to 0.99%), Two or more races (from 1.47% to 1.74%), Hispanic (from 1.91% to 2.63%), and Black (from 2.32% to 2.58%). Conversely, the percentage of Meads identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased slightly from 0.74% in 2000 to 0.70% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 92.94% | 91.36% | -1.7% |
| Hispanic | 1.91% | 2.63% | 37.7% |
| Black | 2.32% | 2.58% | 11.21% |
| Two or More Races | 1.47% | 1.74% | 18.37% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.63% | 0.99% | 57.14% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.74% | 0.7% | -5.41% |
Mead ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Mead is British & Irish, which comprises 52.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (25.6%) and Eastern European (4.9%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, Ashkenazi Jewish, and Indigenous American.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 52.2% |
| French & German | 25.6% |
| Eastern European | 4.9% |
| Other | 17.4% |
Possible origins of the surname Mead
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Mead have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 88.90% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 88.90% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 88.90% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 88.70% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 88.40% |
What Mead haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Mead is I-L233, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup I-L233 is descended from haplogroup I-M170. Other common haplogroups include R-P311 and R-M167, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Barney, Gilman, Huntley, Hilton, Criswell, Lindsay, Terry, Gilpin, Pearsall, Caron.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Mead surname are: H1, H, V. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins I-M170Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Mead have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Mead" Surname 40.3%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Mead" Surname 20.9%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Mead" Surname 19.2%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Mead" Surname 19.4%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Mead?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Mead are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition