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

Peele, 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 Peele surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peele in America

Peele is the 7600th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peele surname appeared 4,373 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 Peele.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peele 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 Peele

The surname Peele has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "pele," which referred to a stockaded place or a small fort. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify someone who lived near or worked at such a fortified location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Peele can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Pela." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of landholdings across England, providing valuable insights into the distribution and variations of surnames during that era.

In the 13th century, the name was often spelled as "Peele" or "Pele," and it was commonly found in areas such as Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Northumberland. These regions were known for their defensive structures, which may have contributed to the name's prevalence there.

One notable figure who bore the name Peele was George Peele, an English playwright and poet who lived from around 1556 to 1596. He was a contemporary of William Shakespeare and is best known for his works "The Arraignment of Paris" and "The Old Wives' Tale."

Another prominent individual with this surname was Sir Robert Peele, an English politician and landowner who lived from 1585 to 1638. He served as a member of Parliament and played a significant role in the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown.

In the 17th century, the name Peele was also found in various historical records, including parish registers and court documents. For instance, the baptismal record of John Peele in Betchworth, Surrey, dates back to 1652.

Moving forward to the 18th century, Edward Peele, born in 1721, was a notable English engraver and cartographer. He is particularly renowned for his intricate and detailed maps of various counties in England.

During the 19th century, the name Peele gained further recognition through individuals such as Jonathan Peele, an American inventor born in 1790. He is credited with developing the first practical wood-planing machine, which revolutionized the woodworking industry.

Throughout history, the surname Peele has been associated with various professions, from the military and politics to the arts and sciences. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has since spread across the globe, carried by individuals of diverse backgrounds and achievements.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peele

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

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

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

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