Explore the Family Name Mejia
The meaning of Mejia
Spanish (Mejía): 1. perhaps from a vernacular form of the personal name Matías (see Matias), an equivalent of Matthew. 2. alternatively, perhaps a Christian religious byname from a vernacular form of Latin and Greek Messias ‘Messiah’, from Hebrew mashiaḥ ‘Messiah’, literally ‘the anointed’ (see Christ). Compare Megia and Mexia. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Juan, Carlos, Luis, Manuel, Francisco, Miguel, Mario, Jesus, Jorge, Pedro, Rafael. Portuguese Adauto, Anabela, Batista, Catarina, Lidio, Marcio, Wenceslao.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Mejia in the United States?
The surname Mejia has seen a significant rise in popularity according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, Mejia was ranked as the 448th most popular surname, but by 2010, it had risen to the 300th spot, marking a 33.04 percent increase in rank. The total count of individuals with this surname also expanded from 66,534 to 104,057, marking a 56.4 percent jump within the same time frame. This surge is reflected in the proportion per 100k people, which grew by 43.07 percent from 24.66 in 2000 to 35.28 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #448 | #300 | 33.04% |
| Count | 66,534 | 104,057 | 56.4% |
| Proportion per 100k | 24.66 | 35.28 | 43.07% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Mejia
Regarding ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of individuals with the Mejia surname identify as Hispanic. In 2000, 93.25 percent identified as Hispanic, and this number increased slightly to 94.51 percent in 2010. The data also reveals a decrease in other ethnic identities associated with the surname. The percentage of Mejias identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander, White, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased by 7.64, 15.54, 8.16, and 50 percent respectively. The most notable change occurred among those identifying with two or more races, dropping from 0.55 percent in 2000 to 0.20 percent in 2010, a decline of 63.64 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 93.25% | 94.51% | 1.35% |
| White | 3.99% | 3.37% | -15.54% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.44% | 1.33% | -7.64% |
| Black | 0.49% | 0.45% | -8.16% |
| Two or More Races | 0.55% | 0.2% | -63.64% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.28% | 0.14% | -50% |
Mejia 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 Mejia is Spanish & Portuguese, which comprises 41.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Indigenous American (34.2%) and British & Irish (5.7%). Additional ancestries include French & German, Senegambian & Guinean, Filipino & Austronesian, Angolan & Congolese, and Nigerian.
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 |
|---|---|
| Spanish & Portuguese | 41.1% |
| Indigenous American | 34.2% |
| British & Irish | 5.7% |
| Other | 19.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Mejia
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 Mejia have recent ancestry locations all within Mexico.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Mexico City, Mexico | 57.00% |
| Michoacan, Mexico | 57.00% |
| Puebla, Mexico | 56.90% |
| Coahuila, Mexico | 56.90% |
| Veracruz, Mexico | 56.90% |
What Mejia 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 Mejia is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include Q-M3 and Q-M971, which are predominantly found among people with East Asian & Indigenous American and East Asian & Indigenous American ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Moreno, Sanchez, Rojas, Morales, Rodriguez, Garcia, Ramos, Herrera, Guerrero, Delgado.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Mejia surname are: B2, D1, A2. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to some of the first Americans
Though the Ice Age was beginning to retreat when your A2 ancestors first entered North America, there were still massive barriers blocking their way. Glaciers and inhospitable climate covered much of the continent, blocking entry into the interior. Nonetheless, researchers have found evidence that a wave of American founders migrated over 13,000 kilometers to reach southern Chile in only 2,000 years, a blink of an eye in the story of human migration! Their highway to the south was the coast of the Pacific, stocked with fish, diverse marine mammals, and other valuable resources in the rich kelp forests of the upper latitudes and in the abundant fresh-water rivers near the equator. Because of this rapid movement south, the A2 haplogroup and its diverse branches are found throughout North and South America.
What do people with the surname Mejia 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.
"Mejia" Surname 35.8%
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.
"Mejia" Surname 39.3%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Mejia" Surname 19.7%
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.
"Mejia" Surname 13.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Mejia?
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 Mejia are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition