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

Pence, 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 Pence surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pence in America

Pence is the 2965th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pence surname appeared 12,101 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Pence.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pence 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 Pence

The surname Pence is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "pens," meaning "thought" or "reflection." It is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century and was likely an occupational name for a scholar or someone engaged in intellectual pursuits.

During the Middle Ages, the name was found in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Pense."

In the 14th century, the name was also documented in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, where it was spelled "Pence." This variation in spelling was common during that time, as standardized spelling had not yet been established.

The Pence surname can be traced back to various place names in England, such as Penshurst in Kent and Pensax in Worcestershire. These place names likely derived from the Old English words "pens" and "hyrst," meaning "wooded hill," or "pens" and "ac," meaning "oak tree."

One notable historical figure with the surname Pence was Thomas Pence (c. 1608-1673), an English Puritan minister who emigrated to America and became one of the founders of the town of Newark, New Jersey.

Another prominent individual was John Pence (1718-1795), a surveyor and early settler in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. He played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of the region during the 18th century.

In the literary world, the name Pence is associated with James Pence (1912-1996), an American novelist and short story writer known for his works set in the American West.

The Pence surname has also been linked to notable figures in the field of science. Albert Pence (1921-2005) was an American physicist and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of radar technology during World War II.

Elizabeth Pence (1856-1936) was a pioneering American educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded the first training school for kindergarten teachers in the United States and played a crucial role in promoting early childhood education.

While the surname Pence has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, thanks to migration and immigration patterns over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pence

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

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

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

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