Explore the Family Name Meese
The meaning of Meese
1. English (Staffordshire and Worcestershire): habitational name from Coldmeece and Millmeece (Staffordshire) or from the nearby river, Meece Brook (which is probably named with Old English mēos ‘moss, marsh, bog’), from which the settlements are probably named. 2. North German and Dutch: patronymic from a short form of the personal name German Bartholomäus, Dutch Bartholomeus (see Bartholomew). 3. Dutch: nickname from the bird name mees ‘titmouse’, or a metonymic occupational name for a bird-catcher. 4. Probably also an Americanized form of German Mies or of its variant Miess. Compare Mease 2.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Meese in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Meese" has experienced a slight decrease in rank from 2000 to 2010, moving from the 14,680th most popular name to the 15,409th. Despite this drop in rank, the number of people with the surname "Meese" increased by approximately 2.37%, from 1,857 in 2000 to 1,901 in 2010. However, when considering proportion per 100k people, there was a decline of 7.25%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #14,680 | #15,409 | -4.97% |
| Count | 1,857 | 1,901 | 2.37% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.69 | 0.64 | -7.25% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Meese
Looking at ethnicity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows a shifting ethnic identity among those with the surname "Meese". In 2000, the majority identified as White (95.32%). By 2010, this percentage dropped to 90.16%. Notably, the Hispanic population within this surname group saw a significant increase, rising from 1.88% to 5.58%. There were also increases among those identifying as Black and those identifying as belonging to two or more races. Interestingly, no individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in 2000; however, by 2010 these groups began to appear, although they still represented less than 1% of the total.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.32% | 90.16% | -5.41% |
| Hispanic | 1.88% | 5.58% | 196.81% |
| Two or More Races | 1.35% | 1.68% | 24.44% |
| Black | 0.81% | 1.21% | 49.38% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0.84% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.53% | 0% |