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

Peeler, 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 Peeler surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peeler in America

Peeler is the 5901st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peeler surname appeared 5,848 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 Peeler.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peeler 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 Peeler

The surname Peeler originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "pilur," which means "stripper" or "peeler." This refers to someone who worked in the textile industry, stripping or peeling the outer layers of flax or hemp to prepare the fibers for spinning.

The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with early records showing variations such as Peler, Pelour, and Pilour. One of the earliest known references to the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a William le Pelour.

In the 14th century, the surname began to appear in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire, where the textile industry was thriving. The Peeler family was well-established in these regions, with several members recorded in local records and tax rolls.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Peeler was Robert Peeler, a successful merchant and alderman in the city of York during the late 15th century. He was a prominent figure in the city's guild system and served as the Lord Mayor of York in 1485.

Another early recorded example of the name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Cheshire from 1545, which lists a John Peeler as a taxpayer in the village of Nantwich.

In the 17th century, the surname Peeler gained national recognition when Sir Robert Peeler (1588-1677) became a distinguished lawyer and judge. He served as the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1663 to 1677 and was knighted for his service.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Peeler was Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850), the British Prime Minister and founder of the modern police force. The term "peeler" became a slang term for a police officer, derived from his role in establishing the Metropolitan Police Service in London in 1829.

Other notable Peelers throughout history include:

1. William Peeler (c. 1540-1607), an English theologian and Dean of Worcester Cathedral.
2. John Peeler (1725-1798), a Revolutionary War soldier and early settler in Tennessee.
3. Mary Peeler (1853-1929), an American educator and advocate for women's rights.
4. Charles Peeler (1891-1958), an American baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox.
5. John Peeler (born 1948), an American political scientist and author.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peeler

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

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

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

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