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

Pendleton, 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 Pendleton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pendleton in America

Pendleton is the 2168th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pendleton surname appeared 16,751 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Pendleton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pendleton 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 Pendleton

The surname Pendleton is of English origin, with roots that can be traced back to the early Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old English words "penda" and "tun," meaning "valley" and "enclosure" or "settlement," respectively. It is believed to have originated as a place name referring to a settlement or village located in a valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pendleton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Pendelton." This seminal record of landholdings in England at the time of the Norman Conquest provides evidence that the name was already well-established in certain parts of the country by the late 11th century.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, such as Pendilton, Pendeltun, and Pendelton, reflecting the evolving nature of language and regional dialects. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the place names from which the surname originated, such as the village of Pendleton in Lancashire or the town of Pendleton in Staffordshire.

One notable figure bearing the Pendleton surname was Sir George Pendleton (1539-1613), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament and held several important positions during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent individual was Nathaniel Pendleton (1756-1820), an American lawyer and politician who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later became a judge in New York.

In the realm of literature, Pendleton Murrah (1834-1905) was an American novelist and poet known for his works that explored themes of Southern life and culture. Edmund Pendleton (1721-1803), a prominent Virginian statesman and judge, played a significant role in the American Revolution and the formation of the United States Constitution.

The name Pendleton has also been associated with various place names, such as Pendleton County in West Virginia and the city of Pendleton in Oregon, both of which were likely named after individuals bearing this surname.

Throughout history, the Pendleton surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the rich tapestry of human experience and the enduring legacy of names that have spanned generations and continents.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pendleton

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

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

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

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