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

Pass, 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 Pass surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pass in America

Pass is the 7272nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pass surname appeared 4,583 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 Pass.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pass 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 Pass

The surname PASS is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "paes", meaning a pass or passage, particularly through a mountainous region or a narrow path. This connection suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone who lived near a mountain pass or traveled frequently through such passages.

The earliest recorded instances of the name PASS can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is John le Pass, mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297. Another early reference is to a Robert atte Passe, found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327.

In the 15th century, the name began to appear in various spellings, such as Passe, Passe, and Passe. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. One notable individual from this period was William Passe, a renowned English engraver and printer who lived from 1544 to 1622.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name PASS became more widely distributed throughout England. In 1586, a Thomas Passe was recorded in the Parish Registers of Wrington, Somerset. Another individual of note was Simon Pass, a prominent English cartographer who lived from 1632 to 1701 and is best known for his maps of England and Wales.

As the name spread, it also became associated with various place names, such as Pass Vale in Derbyshire and Pass Hill in Yorkshire. These locations may have contributed to the adoption of the surname by individuals living in or near those areas.

In the 18th century, the name PASS continued to be found in various regions of England. One notable figure was John Pass, a renowned sculptor and carver who lived from 1724 to 1807 and was responsible for much of the ornamental woodwork in the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

Throughout the 19th century, the PASS surname continued to be well-represented in England, with individuals bearing the name appearing in various professions and walks of life. One notable example was Alfred William Pass, an English landscape painter who lived from 1838 to 1915 and was known for his depictions of rural scenes.

While the surname PASS has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and migration patterns. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "paes" and its association with mountain passes and narrow passages in the medieval period.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pass

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

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 Pass 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 Pass 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 Pass was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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