Explore the Family Name Metellus

The meaning of Metellus

French and Haitian (also Métellus and Météllus): from the Latin personal name Metellus, borne by the Caecilii Metelli, one of the most important families in the Roman Republic. This surname is very rare in France. It was brought to the US from Haiti. Some characteristic forenames: French/Haitian Antoine, Dominique, Philomene, Andree, Brunel, Ernst, Fabienne, Franck, Fritz, Georges, Luc, Lucien, Lucner, Marise.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Metellus in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Metellus" has markedly increased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Metellus was ranked 31,592 in popularity, but by 2010 this ranking had improved to 21,868 – a positive change of 30.78%. The count of people with the Metellus surname also rose significantly during that decade, from 692 individuals in 2000 to 1,188 in 2010, an impressive increase of 71.68%. Consequently, the proportion of people named Metellus per 100,000 also grew by 53.85% during this period.

20002010Change
Rank#31,592#21,86830.78%
Count6921,18871.68%
Proportion per 100k0.260.453.85%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Metellus

Regarding the ethnic identity associated with the Metellus surname, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census reveals some interesting shifts between 2000 and 2010. During this decade, individuals identifying as Black made up the majority of those with the Metellus surname, increasing from 84.25% to 94.11%. Meanwhile, the percentage of those identifying as White saw a small increase of 10%, moving from 1.3% to 1.43%. Conversely, those reporting their ethnicity as two or more races dropped dramatically from 11.56% to 1.68%, a decrease of 85.47%. The proportion of those identifying as Hispanic also reduced slightly, from 2.46% to 2.19%. There were no reported instances of the Metellus surname among Asian/Pacific Islanders or American Indian and Alaskan Natives in either year.

20002010Change
Black84.25%94.11%11.7%
Hispanic2.46%2.19%-10.98%
Two or More Races11.56%1.68%-85.47%
White1.3%1.43%10%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%