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

Pelish, 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 Pelish surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pelish in America

Pelish is the 142108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pelish surname appeared 117 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 Pelish.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pelish 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 Pelish

The surname Pelish is believed to have originated in Poland. It likely evolved from the Polish word "pielić," which means "to weed" or "to cultivate." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who worked in agriculture or gardening.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pelish can be found in the 16th century parish records of the town of Krakow, where a family by the name of Pelisch was documented. It's possible that the name underwent slight variations in spelling over time, with alternative forms such as Pelisz or Peliszcz being used.

In the 18th century, a notable figure named Jan Pelish (1725-1801) was a prominent landowner and businessman in the region of Galicia, which was then part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. His estate and business dealings were well-documented, providing valuable insights into the history of the name during that period.

Another historical reference to the name Pelish can be found in the archives of the city of Lviv (formerly known as Lemberg), where a merchant family by the name of Pelisch was recorded in the late 19th century. This indicates that the name had spread to other parts of what is now western Ukraine.

In the early 20th century, a Polish-American author named Stanislaw Pelish (1888-1962) gained recognition for his works exploring the immigrant experience and the struggles of working-class families. His writings shed light on the cultural heritage and challenges faced by those bearing the Pelish name who had emigrated to the United States.

During the same period, a renowned Polish philosopher and logician named Kazimierz Pelish (1901-1978) made significant contributions to the field of mathematical logic and the foundations of mathematics. His work helped shape modern logical and philosophical thought, further elevating the recognition of the Pelish name in academic circles.

While the surname Pelish may not be as well-known as some other Polish names, its origins and historical references showcase its deep roots in the region and its connection to various aspects of Polish culture, from agriculture and business to literature and academia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pelish

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

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

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

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