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

Pegues, 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 Pegues surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pegues in America

Pegues is the 8518th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pegues surname appeared 3,864 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 Pegues.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pegues 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 Pegues

The surname Pegues originated in Portugal during the medieval period, derived from the old Portuguese word "pegua," meaning "hoof" or "footprint." It's believed that the name was initially associated with individuals involved in horse-related professions, such as blacksmiths or farriers.

In the 15th century, several Pegues families were documented in the northern regions of Portugal, particularly around the city of Porto. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the "Livro Velho de Linhagens" (Old Book of Lineages), a compilation of Portuguese noble families dating back to the 13th century.

During the Age of Exploration, some members of the Pegues family ventured to the newly discovered lands, including Brazil, where the name gained a strong presence. In the 16th century, João Pegues (1510-1582) was a prominent explorer and cartographer who accompanied Pedro Álvares Cabral's expedition to Brazil in 1500.

As the name spread across the Portuguese Empire, variations in spelling emerged, such as Pegas, Pegado, and Pegueiro. These variations often reflected regional dialects or adaptations to different linguistic environments.

In the 18th century, Manuel Pegues (1720-1792) was a renowned architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings in Rio de Janeiro, including the Passeio Público, one of the city's first public parks.

Another notable figure was Antónia Pegues (1825-1891), a pioneering educator and women's rights advocate in Brazil. She founded one of the country's first schools dedicated to providing education for women.

As the centuries passed, the Pegues surname dispersed across various regions, carried by individuals who migrated or established new settlements. In the 19th century, Pedro Pegues (1845-1915) was a celebrated author and poet from Cape Verde, known for his influential works exploring the islands' culture and identity.

While the Pegues surname has its roots in Portugal, it has since become a part of the cultural tapestry of many countries, particularly those with historical ties to the Portuguese Empire. The name continues to carry the legacy of its origins, reflecting the diverse journeys and contributions of those who bore it throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pegues

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

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

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

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