Explore the Family Name Merida
The meaning of Merida
Spanish (Mérida): habitational name from the city of Mérida in Badajoz province. One of the most important Roman cities of the Iberian peninsula, it was named Augusta Emerita, and established as a colonia of retired soldiers. Latin emerita is the past participle of emerere ‘earn out’, ‘merit’, i.e. ‘complete one’s term of military service’ (from e, ex ‘out of’ + merere ‘to deserve’). Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Luis, Juan, Cesar, Jose, Angel, Jorge, Rafael, Arturo, Manuel, Mario, Octavio, Pedro.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Merida in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Merida has significantly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Merida was ranked 10,831 in popularity, but by 2010, it had jumped to rank 7,536, marking a substantial 30.42% increase. The count of individuals with this surname also grew from 2,701 in 2000 to 4,411 in 2010, demonstrating a whopping 63.31% rise. As a result, the proportion per 100,000 people increased by 50%, going from 1.0 to 1.5.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,831 | #7,536 | 30.42% |
| Count | 2,701 | 4,411 | 63.31% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1 | 1.5 | 50% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Merida
When we turn to ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census provides some interesting insights into shifts over the same period. In 2000, 69.97% of those with the Merida surname identified as Hispanic; this number rose to 79.23% by 2010, an increase of 13.23%. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as White saw a decline from 22.36% to 15.10%. Similarly, there were decreases in the percentages identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander (from 1.26% to 0.95%) and Black (from 5.55% to 3.92%). Interestingly, the proportion identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native saw a slight increase, from 0.19% to 0.23%. Those claiming two or more ethnic identities dipped slightly from 0.67% to 0.57%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hispanic | 69.97% | 79.23% | 13.23% |
| White | 22.36% | 15.1% | -32.47% |
| Black | 5.55% | 3.92% | -29.37% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 1.26% | 0.95% | -24.6% |
| Two or More Races | 0.67% | 0.57% | -14.93% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.19% | 0.23% | 21.05% |