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

Pe, 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 Pe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pe in America

Pe is the 38103rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pe surname appeared 582 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Pe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pe 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 Pe

The surname "Pe" has its origins in the Portuguese language and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Portuguese word "pé," which means "foot" or "base." The name was likely given to someone who lived near a foothill or the base of a mountain.

In the early days, the name was primarily found in the northern regions of Portugal, particularly in the areas around Porto and Braga. Historical records show that the name appeared in various forms, such as "Pee," "Pey," and "Pees," before settling on the spelling "Pe."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Pe" can be found in the "Livro Velho de Linhagens" (Old Book of Lineages), a Portuguese genealogical manuscript from the 14th century. This document mentions a nobleman named Fernão Pe, who was a member of the Portuguese nobility during the reign of King Afonso IV (1325-1357).

Another notable figure from history who bore the surname "Pe" was Álvaro Pe, a renowned Portuguese explorer and navigator who participated in the early voyages of discovery along the West African coast in the 15th century. Álvaro Pe played a crucial role in the Portuguese exploration of the Atlantic Ocean and the development of maritime trade routes.

During the 16th century, the name "Pe" gained prominence in the Azores Islands, where several families with this surname settled and established themselves. One of the most famous individuals from this region was Gonçalo Pe, a celebrated poet and playwright born in Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island, in 1542. His works, which included plays and sonnets, significantly contributed to the cultural heritage of the Azores.

In the 17th century, the name "Pe" made its way to Brazil, where many Portuguese settlers established colonies and brought their family names with them. One notable figure was João Pe, a Brazilian landowner and cattle rancher who owned vast territories in the state of Minas Gerais. His descendants played an essential role in the development of the region's agricultural industry.

As the centuries passed, the surname "Pe" continued to spread throughout Portugal, its territories, and beyond. Prominent individuals with this name include Manuel Pe (1818-1892), a Portuguese politician and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 1886 to 1892, and Rui Pe (1887-1942), a renowned Brazilian poet and literary critic who was a leading figure in the Brazilian Modernist movement.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pe

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

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

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

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