Explore the Family Name Meter
The meaning of Meter
1. Dutch: occupational name, literally ‘measurer’, denoting an official responsible for dispensing grain from a central warehouse, from an agent derivative of Middle Dutch meten ‘measure out’. 2. German: from French Lemaître ‘the master’ (see Lemaitre). 3. German: from a short form of the personal name Demetrius (see Dimitris). 4. Croatian: occupational name for a bandsman, derived from Turkish mehter ‘military band’, by extension also ‘bandsman’. 5. Jewish (eastern Ashkenazic): nickname from Yiddish meter ‘meter’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Meter in the United States?
According to the data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Meter saw a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked 44,192nd most common name, but by 2010 it had slipped to 46,902nd, representing a change of -6.13%. Similarly, the count of people with this surname dropped from 459 in 2000 to 453 in 2010, marking a decrease of -1.31%. In terms of proportion per 100,000 people, the surname Meter also fell from 0.17 to 0.15, translating to -11.76% change over the decade.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #44,192 | #46,902 | -6.13% |
| Count | 459 | 453 | -1.31% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.17 | 0.15 | -11.76% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Meter
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of individuals with the surname Meter identify as White, although this percentage slightly decreased from 91.72% in 2000 to 89.18% in 2010. The Hispanic representation within this surname category saw a significant increase, rising from 3.70% to 6.62%. Those who identified as Black or having two or more races also saw slight increases, with changes of 12.76% and -20.92% respectively. There were no individuals with the Meter surname who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either 2000 or 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 91.72% | 89.18% | -2.77% |
| Hispanic | 3.7% | 6.62% | 78.92% |
| Black | 1.96% | 2.21% | 12.76% |
| Two or More Races | 1.96% | 1.55% | -20.92% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |