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

Peji, 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 Peji surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peji in America

Peji is the 151532nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peji surname appeared 108 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 Peji.

The history of the last name Peji

The surname PEJI is believed to have its origins in the Basque region of northern Spain and southwestern France. It is thought to be derived from the Basque word "peje," which means "fish" or "fisherman." This suggests that the name PEJI may have initially been an occupational surname for those involved in the fishing trade.

The earliest recorded instances of the name PEJI can be traced back to the 15th century in the Basque provinces of Spain. In 1487, a document from the village of Lekeitio mentions a Pedro de Peji, who was likely a fisherman or associated with the fishing industry in some capacity.

By the 16th century, the name PEJI had spread beyond the Basque region and can be found in various historical records across Spain. One notable individual from this period was Juan Peji, a navigator and explorer from Seville who participated in several expeditions to the Americas in the early 1500s.

In the 17th century, the name PEJI appeared in the town of Llodio in the Basque province of Álava. Records from this time mention a blacksmith named Martín Peji, indicating that the name had evolved beyond its initial association with fishing.

As the centuries progressed, the PEJI surname continued to disperse throughout Spain and eventually to other parts of the world through emigration. In the 19th century, a prominent figure was Pedro Peji, a Spanish military officer who fought in the Carlist Wars and later served as the Governor of Puerto Rico from 1877 to 1879.

Another notable individual with the surname PEJI was Ignacio Peji, a Spanish painter and artist who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was known for his landscapes and depictions of rural life in the Basque region.

While the name PEJI is not as common as some other Spanish surnames, it has maintained a presence throughout history, particularly in the Basque region where it originated. Its roots can be traced back to the fishing industry, but over time, the name has been adopted by individuals in various professions and walks of life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peji

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

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

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

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