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

Pell, 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 Pell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pell in America

Pell is the 7520th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pell surname appeared 4,424 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 Pell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pell 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 Pell

The surname Pell originated in England, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pyll," meaning a stream or creek, suggesting an association with someone who lived near a small body of water. Alternatively, it may have stemmed from the Old French word "pel," meaning a stake or a boundary marker, implying that the name was given to someone who resided near a boundary or landmark.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pell can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from 1176, where a person named Richard del Pell is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already in use during the 12th century. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also reference a Johannes del Pel in Oxfordshire, showcasing the variations in spelling that existed during that era.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the surname Pell. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Pelham, Pelhampton, and Peltenden.

Notable individuals with the surname Pell throughout history include:

1. Sir Walter Raleigh Pell (1775-1852), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy and was involved in the exploration of the Arctic regions.

2. John Pell (1611-1685), an English mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the development of calculus and number theory.

3. Albert Pell (1842-1901), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire in the late 19th century.

4. Herbert Clarence Pell (1884-1961), an American diplomat and politician who served as the United States Ambassador to Portugal and Hungary.

5. John Pell (1643-1718), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, and was known for his work in theology and classical literature.

The surname Pell has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Pell Green in Hertfordshire, Pell Lane in Staffordshire, and Pell House in Surrey. These place names may have originated from the same linguistic roots as the surname and could have influenced its development and distribution across different regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pell

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

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

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

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