Surname Meo - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
Meo: What does the surname Meo mean?
The last name Meo is of Italian origin and is derived from the Italian word "meo," meaning "beloved." Its use as a surname is most likely derived from an ancient Italian tradition to refer to family members within a family as "mi Meo," or "my beloved." This is especially common among families living in small traditional mountain villages in southern Italy, where the Meo surname is most commonly found.
In medieval Italy, the Meo family name was associated with the division of labor among the different clans in the Italian peninsula. It was passed down through families, with the name used to identify various artisans, craftsmen, merchants, and farmers. The Meo family had a reputation for expertise in farming and food production, as well as for their skill in timber-working and other building projects.
The Meo family today is found primarily in Italian cities such as Lecce and Catanzaro in the southern Apulia region of Italy. Common Meo occupations are found in carpentry and the building trades, government service, commerce, and agriculture. Many members of the Meo family have emigrated to other countries, particularly the United States and Canada, where the name is still widely used.
The surname Meo, much like a lot of traditional Italian last names, are steeped in history and tradition, and has a strong symbolism of loyalty and honor associated with it. It serves as a reminder of the strong ties many Italian families have to their heritage, and of the importance of family values in Italian culture.
Order DNA origin analysisMeo: Where does the name Meo come from?
The surname Meo is thought to be most commonly found in southern Italy, particularly in the regions of Campania, Abruzzo, and Molise. It is one of the oldest surnames in Italy, dating back centuries, and is believed to come from a Latin word meaning “mine” or “resource.”
However, the widespread emigration of Italians over the last two centuries has meant that the surname is now found in many other countries. The United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom are now home to many people who carry the surname Meo.
In the United States, the surname can be found concentrated in areas such as New York City, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Milwaukee, where there were historically large Italian-American populations. Meanwhile, in the UK, the surname is generally found in urban centres with large Italian and Italian-American communities, such as London and other large English cities.
In recent years, the surname Meo has become somewhat more common in the United States, particularly in California, with some Meo families tracing their ancestry back to the Late Middle Ages in Italy.
Variations of the surname Meo
Meo is an Italian surname, which is typically an abbreviation for "di Meo," meaning "of Meo," signifying that the bearer of this family name originated from Meo, an Italian municipality in the province of Sondrio. The Meo family can also be found in other parts of Italy, as well as in the United States and Brazil.
The international variants of the Meo surname include: Di Meo, Des Meo, Deo Meo, De Meo, De Meos, De Meis, Di Meis, Di Meys, De Meys, De Meus, De Meu, De Meux, De Meys, Meos, Meoio, Mey, Meyo, Meyou, Meys, Meyos, Meyd, and Meys.
In addition, the Meo surname appears in other variants with completely different spellings and origins from the initial Italian. Such variants include the Spanish Maes and Mexican Maez, as well as the Arabic Maalech and the Dutch Meeuwis.
Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Meo represent a wide variety of international families with the same origin. Despite the fact that the different names and spellings can provide insight into the origin and variations of the Meo family, the root of it all can ultimately be traced back to the Italian municipality of Meo.
Famous people with the name Meo
- Soraya Meo, singer-songwriter and visual artist from the United States.
- Chris Meo, award-winning drummer from the United Kingdom.
- Davide Meo, professional motocross rider from Italy.
- Mark Meo, actor and comedian from the United States.
- Tullio Meo, composer and conductor from Italy.
- Luca Meo, professional basketball player from Spain.
- Claudio Meo, sculptor and painter from Italy.
- Sophia Meo, figure skater from the United States.
- Maria Meo, Olympic fencer from Italy.
- Michele Meo, Rally world champion from Italy.
- Raffaele Meo, singer and songwriter from Italy.
- Kim Meo, singer and dancer from the United States.
- Tim Meo, guitarist from the United Kingdom.
- Ciro Meo, professional soccer player from Italy.
- Gianni Meo, jazz musician from Italy.
- Pietro Meo, Olympic cyclist from Italy.
- Sebastiano Meo, professional cyclist from Italy.
- Salvatore Meo, actor and artist from Italy.
- Angelo Meo, professional poker player from Italy.
- Francesco Meo, prominent Italian banker.