Surname Mease - Meaning and Origin

Mease: What does the surname Mease mean?

The last name Mease is of English origin and is thought to have been derived from the Old English surname Macheese or Maccease, both of which are derived from the Old Saxon word 'Maesa', meaning son or descendant. The origin of the name likely dates back to the Middle Ages, when many families began taking on locative surnames based on where they lived. Over time, the spelling of the name may have changed, resulting in Mease.

The name likely was used to identify a family or clan living near a moor or meadow, as the word 'mease' is derived from the Middle English term 'meis', meaning meadow or abounding in marshes or meadows. The crossing of the English Channel by William the Conqueror in 1066 triggered a wave of migration from the continent to the British Isles which greatly intensified the process of name adoption and change.

The Mease family were known to be a prominent family in numerous counties in both England and Ireland. In the late 1800s, many families bearing the name Mease left Europe and immigrated to the United States. The Mease clan can now be found in various states across the country, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, and Florida.

The vibrant history of the Mease family has left a legacy of hard work, ingenuity, and devotion to their communities and traditions. A Mease is a proud descendant of a family line which has weathered many generations, leaving a proud heritage to look back on.

Mease: Where does the name Mease come from?

The last name Mease is common mainly in the United States. There are also a few records of the family name in Canada, Mexico, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

US Census records show that the largest concentration of Mease families is in Pennsylvania. According to Ancestry.com, about 0.04 percent of Americans have the last name Mease—that’s about 13,400 people. The most populous states are Pennsylvania, Texas, Maryland, Virginia, and New York, in that order.

The origin of the Mease family remains a mystery. Pennsylvania’s Mennonite community is a possible source, as is England or perhaps Germany.

The Mease family does have strong roots in the United States, however. During the Revolutionary War, many family members took part in the fight for independence.

Today, if you come across someone with the last name Mease, the chances are that they are the descendant of a proud American family. They can trace their roots back to the Revolutionary War, or quite possibly even further back in time.

Variations of the surname Mease

The surname Mease has its origins in Germany and the Netherlands, and there are a few variations of the spelling. In Germany it is usually spelled Measser, Meis or Meisz. In Holland it is sometimes spelled Maas or Maass. Variations of the name in the United States include Mease, Meese and Measey.

In the United States, the name is generally pronounced "meese" or "meece." The Mease spelling likely came about as an Americanization of the original form, Maas or Maasz. It's also possible that it came about by corruption of the original name, when immigrants could not read or write it correctly.

The name can be found in various forms in Dutch-German and Swiss records. It is popular in Pennsylvania and is also seen in the Midwest and North East United States.

The name can be found in records as early as 1298 in the Netherlands, and can be traced back to the agent of the Duke of Bavaria, Matthias Mece. His surname was later changed to Meese.

Variant spellings of the name include Measse, Meass, Meiser, Meiser, and Meiser. Variations of this name have been used all over the world, including in Europe, India, and the United States.

All of these variations of the Mease surname have the same origin, and all derivatives are interrelated. The origin of the name likely comes from the Dutch-German word “meece” which roughly translates to “one of the people” or “member of the people”. Whether they emigrated from Germany, the Netherlands or Switzerland, or the combination of all three, it is clear that these variations of the Mease surname are all connected in some way.

Famous people with the name Mease

• Nicole Mease: She is a singer-songwriter known for her debut album, Slow Dance.
• William E. Mease: He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania from 1803 to 1807.
• Timothy L. Mease: He is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 86th District.
• Robert Mease: He is an entrepreneur and a digital marketing expert who runs a websites review and ranking service.
• John W. Mease: He was an American architect and cabinetmaker active in western Pennsylvania in the early 19th century.
• Christopher W. Mease: He is an American actor and producer known for his work on The 8000 Mile Journey (2015).
• Jeffrey Mease: He is a professional baseball scout for the Atlanta Braves.
• Richard C. Mease: He was the head coach of men's basketball at the University of Notre Dame from 1947 to 1951.
• Brendan Mease: He is a stand up comedian and filmmaker whose comedy specials include "tiny little lies" (2014) and "joke the planet" (2018).
• Michael Mease: He is a country music singer-songwriter and a two time Grammy Award Nominee.

Other surnames

Meason