Surname Meaks - Meaning and Origin

Meaks: What does the surname Meaks mean?

The origin of the surname Meaks is believed to come from the Middle English spelling of the Old English word meca, which means "son of". It is a patronymic surname, which is derived from the given name of the father of the original bearer of the name. This type of surname is common throughout Europe and was used both to identify a person by their father's name and to indicate a family relationship.

The first known bearers of the name are thought to have been from England. In the 13th century, once family surnames emerged as a way to differentiate between different families, Meaks became popular as a name in its own right.

Within England, the Meaks surname is fairly uncommon and is most commonly found in the counties of Oxfordshire, Suffolk and Bristol.

The Meaks surname has been used for centuries and is still encountered today. Those who bear this name can be proud of their ancestral history and link to the Middle Ages. The many variations of this surname, including Meak, Meeks, Mekes and Meecke, are indicative of its longevity and importance in British genealogical records.

Meaks: Where does the name Meaks come from?

The last name Meaks is most common today in the United States. According to the US Census data, there were 4,100 people with the last name Meaks living in the US in 2019. That makes it the 4,871st most common last name in the US.

In terms of geography, Meaks is most common in the South region of the US, where it is ranked 2,201st most common. This region includes Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Arkansas.

Meaks is also very common in the Midwestern states. Specifically, in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, and South and North Dakota, Meaks is the 2,426th most common last name.

In the Northeast part of the US, Meaks is the 4,766th most common last name according to the US Census data. This region includes states like New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine, Delaware and Maryland.

In the West, Meaks is most concentrated in Arizona, where it is the 4,012th most common last name. Other western states where Meaks is present include California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii.

Variations of the surname Meaks

The surname Meaks has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

The most common variant of the surname Meaks is Meak. This variant is synonymous with the original surname. Other variants include Meake, Meakes, Mekes, Meakes, and Mykes. These variants are all derived from the Middle English term "meacle," which means "ambush" or "attack."

The surname Meake is an English variant of the same name. It is derived from the Old English word meca, which means an oar or paddle. This variant has been found in various forms throughout England since the 12th century.

The surname Meakes is an anglicised form of the Irish surname Ó Meachair ("of the Meakes"), which was common in both Ireland and Scotland. This variant is derived from the Old Gaelic word meic, which means mayfly.

The surname Mekes is derived from the Old Norse mikil, which means great or mighty. This variant has been found in Norwegian records since the 12th century.

The surname Mykes is a variant of the Middle English term mychel, which means "small" or "little." This variant has been found in various forms throughout England since the 12th century.

In conclusion, the surname Meaks has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant is Meak, however other variants include Meake, Meakes, Mekes, Meakes, and Mykes. Each of these variants has a different origin, with the most common being the Middle English term "meacle," which means "ambush" or "attack."

Famous people with the name Meaks

• Barrett Meaks: A former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers.
• Myron Meaks: A retired American professional basketball player who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
• Susan Meaks: An English actress known for her performances in the BBC productions of The Forsyte Saga and Jane Eyre.
• Marshall Meaks: An American comedian, actor, and musician, known for his appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman.
• Chris Meaks: An American author, speaker, and marketing consultant who specializes in health and wellness.
• Mark Meaks: A professional photographer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California, best known for his work in advertising and music.
• Lance Meaks: An American actor, known for his work in films such as Tesla, Celeste and Jesse Forever, and They Came Together.
• Derek Meaks: An American professional wrestler and trainer, best known as the former head trainer of Xtreme Pro Wrestling and currently wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment on the NXT roster.
• Larry Meaks: A retired professional basketball player who did stints with the Phoenix Suns and the Washington Bullets in the NBA.
• Andrea Meaks: An Australian journalist and news anchor for A Current Affair on Network Ten.
• Scott Meaks: A retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Hartford Whalers.
• Sebastian Meaks: A British actor and musical theatre performer known for his performances in the West End production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
• Kim Meaks: An American model and actress known for her work in television and films such as The Sopranos, Entourage, and Law & Order.
• Jake Meaks: An American film and television writer, best known for his work as a staff writer on the hit Fox comedy It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
• Lauryn Meaks: An American actress known for her roles in the Nickelodeon show As Told By Ginger, as well as in films such as Step Up 2: The Streets and Love and Death on Long Island.

Other surnames

MeakerMeakesMeakinMeakins