Explore the Family Name Meath
The meaning of Meath
Irish: although this might appear to be from Midhe, the name of the Irish County (English name Meath), Irish habitational names are rare and this name is more probably a shortened form of Mac Conmidhe (see McNamee). According to MacLysaght, the name was also adopted in Monaghan for Mac Matha (see McMath). Some characteristic forenames: Irish William Kevin.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Meath in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname 'Meath' saw a decline in popularity between 2000 and 2010. It dropped from the 40,335th most popular name to the 44,109th, marking a decrease of 9.36%. Similarly, the count of individuals with this surname also dipped from 511 to 488, reflecting a 4.5% fall. The proportion per 100,000 people dropped by 10.53%, from 0.19 to 0.17.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #40,335 | #44,109 | -9.36% |
| Count | 511 | 488 | -4.5% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.19 | 0.17 | -10.53% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Meath
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals an interesting trend among those with the 'Meath' surname. The largest portion, nearly 95.29%, identified as White in 2010, a slight decrease from 95.89% in 2000. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander decreased from 1.37% to 1.02%. Meanwhile, the number of Hispanics increased by 19.71%, reaching 1.64% in 2010. Interestingly, in 2010, 1.64% of 'Meaths' reported belonging to two or more ethnic identities, a category that didn't exist in the 2000 data. No 'Meaths' identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in 2010, compared to 1.17% who identified as Black in 2000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.89% | 95.29% | -0.63% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.64% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 1.37% | 1.64% | 19.71% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.37% | 1.02% | -25.55% |
| Black | 1.17% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |