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

Pelis, 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 Pelis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pelis in America

Pelis is the 99378th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pelis surname appeared 182 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 Pelis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pelis 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 Pelis

The surname "PELIS" is believed to have originated in the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the region of Catalonia, Spain, during the late Middle Ages. It is derived from the Catalan word "pelís," which means "hairy" or "furry." This surname was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone with an abundance of body hair or a particularly hairy appearance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "PELIS" can be found in the archives of the Monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès, located near Barcelona, dating back to the 14th century. The document mentions a certain "Joan Pelis," who was a farmer in the nearby village of Rubí.

In the 15th century, the "PELIS" surname appeared in various municipal records throughout Catalonia, such as tax rolls and land deeds. Notable bearers of the name during this period include Bernat Pelis, a merchant from Tortosa, and Francesc Pelis, a notary from Girona.

The name "PELIS" also has connections to several place names in Catalonia. For example, the village of Pelissencs, located in the province of Tarragona, is believed to have derived its name from the Catalan word "pelís," potentially indicating a connection to early settlers with the "PELIS" surname.

As the centuries passed, the "PELIS" surname spread beyond Catalonia to other parts of Spain and even to Latin America. One notable bearer of the name was Juana Pelis (1587-1653), a Spanish nun and mystic who established several convents in Mexico during the Spanish colonization of the Americas.

Another notable figure with the "PELIS" surname was Josep Pelis (1773-1845), a Catalan writer and historian who authored several works on the history and culture of Catalonia. His most famous work, "Historia de Catalunya," published in 1832, is considered a seminal text in the study of Catalan history.

In the 19th century, the "PELIS" surname also appeared in various parts of Europe, likely due to migration and intermarriage. One such example is Friedrich Pelis (1814-1892), a German philosopher and academic who taught at the University of Leipzig.

Although the surname "PELIS" is not among the most common surnames in the world, it has a rich history that can be traced back to its origins in medieval Catalonia. From humble beginnings as a descriptive nickname, it has been borne by notable figures across various fields, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those who carry this distinctive surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pelis

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

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

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

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