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

Pelkey, 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 Pelkey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pelkey in America

Pelkey is the 7279th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pelkey surname appeared 4,579 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Pelkey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pelkey 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 Pelkey

The surname Pelkey is believed to have originated in the region of Normandy, France, during the Middle Ages. It is a locational surname derived from the place name "Pelkey," which likely referred to a small village or hamlet in that area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Pelkey surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This document mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Pelkey, indicating that the name existed in Normandy prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

As the Normans expanded their influence across Europe, the Pelkey name spread to various regions, including England and Scotland. In the 13th century, records show a John de Pelkey residing in the county of Essex, England. The spelling variations during this period included Pelkey, Pelkie, and Pelky.

One notable historical figure with the Pelkey surname was Sir William Pelkey (1412-1487), a knight and landowner in the county of Gloucestershire, England. He served as a member of parliament and was known for his military exploits during the Wars of the Roses.

Another individual of note was Robert Pelkey (1570-1641), a merchant and explorer from Scotland. He is credited with establishing trade routes between Scotland and the Netherlands, contributing to the economic growth of his homeland.

In the 17th century, the Pelkey name crossed the Atlantic as some members of the family immigrated to the American colonies. One of the earliest arrivals was John Pelkey, who settled in Virginia in 1635.

As the name spread across North America, it underwent further variations in spelling, including Pelky, Pelkie, and Pelkee. One notable American with the Pelkey surname was William Pelkey (1821-1895), a lawyer and politician from Massachusetts who served as a state senator and judge.

Throughout its history, the Pelkey surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, authors, and military personnel. Some notable examples include the French painter Henri Pelkey (1836-1918), the American author Elizabeth Pelkey (1896-1968), and Major General Robert Pelkey (1902-1984), a decorated officer in the United States Army.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pelkey

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

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

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

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