Explore the Family Name Melka
The meaning of Melka
1. Polish and Czech: from the vocabulary word melka ‘half-ground grain’, hence a metonymic occupational name for a miller or a nickname from the same word in Polish dialect denoting a kind of flour soup. 2. Jewish (from North Africa): variant of Malka 1. 3. Ethiopian: from the personal name Melka, meaning ‘ford (of a river)’ in the Amharic language. — Note: Since Ethiopians do not have hereditary surnames, this name was registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to US. Some characteristic forenames: French Gabrielle, Philippe.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Melka in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Melka has seen a modest increase from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked 48,963rd in terms of popularity, but by 2010, it moved up to the 46,487th spot, marking a change of 5.06%. The census also shows an increase in the number of people with this surname. In 2000, there were 404 individuals with the name Melka, and this count increased by 13.37% to 458 by 2010. The proportion per 100k also saw a slight increase from 0.15 to 0.16 over the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #48,963 | #46,487 | 5.06% |
| Count | 404 | 458 | 13.37% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.15 | 0.16 | 6.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Melka
The ethnicity distribution among individuals with the Melka surname also shifted notably between 2000 and 2010, as per the Decennial U.S. Census data. Those identifying as White decreased from 91.58% to 83.19%, still maintaining the majority. Interestingly, those identifying as Black increased dramatically from 4.21% to 14.63%, reflecting a substantial change of 247.51%. While there were no individuals who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native, the appearance of 1.75% identifying as Hispanic in 2010 is noteworthy. Also notable is the drop to zero of people identifying as two or more races, down from 2.72% in 2000.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.58% | 83.19% | -9.16% |
| Black | 4.21% | 14.63% | 247.51% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.75% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 2.72% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |