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

Pauls, 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 Pauls surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pauls in America

Pauls is the 10782nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pauls surname appeared 2,958 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Pauls.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pauls 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 Pauls

The surname Pauls originated in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the given name Paul, which itself comes from the Latin name Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble." The name likely became a surname during the Middle Ages when it was common for people to adopt surnames based on their given names.

Pauls is believed to have first appeared in the county of Yorkshire, where it was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1176. These early records were primarily used for tax purposes, suggesting that the Pauls family had already established themselves in the region by that time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Pauls, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219. The Assize Rolls were legal records that documented court proceedings and disputes, indicating that John Pauls was likely a person of some significance or property owner.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Paulis, Paulys, and Pawles, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that period. The Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey conducted in England, lists a William Paulis residing in Oxfordshire.

One notable bearer of the Pauls surname was Sir George Pauls, a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for Yarmouth in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was born in 1554 and played a significant role in the maritime affairs of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Sir Robert Pauls, who lived in the 17th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Shropshire. He was born in 1612 and was known for his involvement in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 18th century, the Pauls surname was found in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire. One notable bearer from this period was John Pauls, a merchant and philanthropist born in 1720 in Bristol. He contributed to the construction of several churches and charitable institutions in the city.

The Pauls surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Paulers Pury in Northamptonshire and Paulerspury in Buckinghamshire. These place names likely derived from early settlers with the Pauls surname or variations thereof.

Throughout its history, the Pauls surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, politicians, and philanthropists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bear this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pauls

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

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

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

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