Surname Mende - Meaning and Origin
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Venturing through Time and DNA: Unearthing the Mende Surname with iGENEA
Discovering one's ancestral heritage can be captivating. My personal journey with the iGENEA DNA test revealed the history behind the Mende surname, its Eastern European origins, and helped me connect with other members of the Mende clan globally.
Y. Mende
read moreMende: What does the surname Mende mean?
The last name Mende is derived from the Latin given name "Amandus," meaning "lovable" or "deserving of love." The name first appeared in records in 1086, when one Amandus de Midili was named in a record from the Monastery of Bury St. Edmunds in the United Kingdom. It's unclear where the name first originated, but it is likely to have evolved from two Germanic names, "amand," meaning "vigor" and "munt," meaning "protection."
Throughout history, the Mende surname has been connected with individuals of nobility and of particular importance to royalty, including members of the military, members of parliament, royal stewards, and those with deep religious connections. The Mende surname has been adopted by people from around the world, including Scotland, the United Kingdom, most of Europe, parts of Asia, and Central and South America.
Today, the Mende surname is most commonly associated with Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian cultures, as well as those of Latin American heritage. It is believed to be one of the oldest surviving surnames in the world and continues to thrive today. Throughout it all, the name Mende is a reminder of a family's long and storied past.
Order DNA origin analysisMende: Where does the name Mende come from?
The last name Mende is most commonly found today in parts of Western Africa, including Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Gambia. It is also found in the United States and other countries with African diaspora populations, especially the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and France.
The Mende people are an ethnic group of about three million people living in West Africa. They originate from the ancient West African kingdom of Fouta Djallon, located in the modern country of Guinea. The Mende language belongs to the West Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages, and is the largest ethnic group in Liberia. It is estimated that about 90% of the Mende people live in rural villages, while the remainder are mostly found in cities and towns.
Historically, the Mende were well known for their warrior culture and artistic traditions. The Mende culture is still heavily influenced by their traditions of music, dance, and art. Their pottery and sculpture is highly prized, and is integral to their artistic heritage.
In contemporary times, the Mende have been successful in business, government, and academia. In Liberia, many Mende are involved in business and politics, and the Mende make up the second largest ethnic group in the country.
The Mende have left a lasting legacy across the African diaspora and in West Africa. The Mende people continue to inspire and contribute to the understanding and appreciation of African culture and history.
Variations of the surname Mende
The surname Mende is believed to have originated in the Spanish language and its earliest known origin is in Spain. The surname is variously spelt as Mendez, Mendez, Mendoza, Mendiola, and Mendoza.
Mendez is one of the most popular variants, usually associated with Spanish-speaking culture. It is often a toponymic surname, deriving from the Spanish town of Mendez and several other places in Spain.
Mendez is also the original spelling of the name, and has been in use since medieval times in Spanish-speaking countries. Mendoza is a shortened version of Mendez, and is often associated with states of Mexico, Central and South America, and even some cities of the West Indies.
Mendoza is almost exclusively used by people who are natives of South and Central America. Mendiola is a Spanish name that originated in the province of Leon, Spain. It is the family name of the Mendiola Family.
Finally, Mendoza is the most common and prevalent variant. It's believed to be of Canary Islands origin, and is the family name of the Mendoza family.
Overall, although there are slight variations in the spellings and surnames of Mende, they all share the same Spanish origin.
Famous people with the name Mende
- Barbara Mendes: Brazilian artist and professor
- Dimitri Mende: German footballer
- Led Mende: Mozambican diplomat
- Nicholas Mende: Serbian composer and pianist
- Ovidiu Mende: Romanian volleyball player
- Pery Mende: Austrian football player
- Uli Mende: German politician
- Abraão de Moraes Mendes: Brazilian journalist
- Arlindo Mendes: Portuguese professional football player
- Armin Mende: German footballer
- Arnold Mende: German musicologist
- Augusto Mendes: Portuguese politician
- Bart Mende: Dutch portrait painter
- Clemente Mendes: Brazilian poet and journalist
- Dario Mendes: Brazilian paralympic shooter
- Heine Mende: German mathematician
- Jairo Mendes: Brazilian professional football player
- Joaquim Mendes: Portuguese physician, poet and playwright
- José Mendes: Portuguese professional football player
- Kit Mendes: English actor