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

Pegus, 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 Pegus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pegus in America

Pegus is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pegus surname appeared 107 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 Pegus.

The history of the last name Pegus

The surname "PEGUS" is of English origin, dating back to the medieval period in the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, where it was derived from the Old Norse word "peggi," meaning a young man or servant.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. The entry lists a "Robert Pegus" as a resident of the village of Helmsley. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.

Over the centuries, the name underwent various spelling variations, such as "Peggus," "Pegges," and "Pegge." These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the records of the nearby town of Whitby. A merchant named John Pegus (c. 1520-1587) is mentioned as a prominent figure in the town's trade with the Netherlands.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Pegus (c. 1580-1638), a clergyman and author who served as the rector of the parish of Orwell in Cambridgeshire. He published several religious works during his lifetime.

The Pegus name also has connections to various place names in Yorkshire. The village of Pegus Hill, near Helmsley, is thought to have derived its name from the family, suggesting they may have been landowners in the area.

During the 17th century, the Pegus family spread to other parts of England. Records show a Thomas Pegus (c. 1620-1688) as a successful merchant in the city of Bristol, while a branch of the family settled in the county of Lincolnshire.

Another notable figure was Sir Edward Pegus (1664-1736), a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry in Nottinghamshire. He served as the High Sheriff of the county and was knighted for his services.

As the Pegus surname continued to spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the British Empire, including North America and Australia, carried by emigrants seeking new opportunities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pegus

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

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 Pegus 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.

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

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

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