2010
#147,253
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Pendo
A surname originating from Poland and Lithuania meaning "slope" or "hill".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 128 Americans carry the last name Pendo. That puts it at #147,954 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,677,768 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Pendo surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
128
1 in 2,677,768
Census rank
#147,954
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
112
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 112 bearers of the surname Pendo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 147954th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Pendo, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.3%. The next largest groups are Black (10.7%) and Hispanic (5.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Pendo
The surname Pendo is believed to have originated in Italy, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to have derived from the Italian word "pendo," which means "hanging" or "suspended." This could suggest that the name may have initially referred to an occupation or trade related to hanging or suspending objects, such as a chandler or a rope maker.
One of the earliest documented instances of the name Pendo can be found in a 1568 census record from the city of Florence, where a family by the name of Pendo was listed as residents. In the following centuries, the name spread to other regions of Italy, with variations in spelling, including Pendoli and Pendola, emerging in different areas.
While no major historical figures or notable personalities with the surname Pendo have been widely documented, several individuals bearing this name have left their mark in various fields throughout history. For instance, Girolamo Pendo (1570-1642) was a renowned Italian architect who contributed to the design of several churches and palaces in Rome during the Renaissance period.
Another noteworthy individual was Vincenzo Pendo (1682-1759), a Neapolitan painter known for his religious works and portraits. His paintings can still be found adorning the walls of churches and galleries across southern Italy.
In the field of literature, Adriana Pendo (1798-1873) was a celebrated Italian poet and writer who gained recognition for her lyrical compositions and poetic works. Her poetry often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.
Moving forward in time, Giuseppe Pendo (1879-1945) was an Italian engineer and inventor who held several patents for innovative machinery and industrial processes. His contributions to the field of engineering were instrumental in advancing industrial technologies during the early 20th century.
Lastly, Marietta Pendo (1920-2008) was a renowned Italian opera singer who graced the stages of prestigious opera houses across Europe and the United States. Her powerful soprano voice and emotive performances earned her critical acclaim and a devoted following among opera enthusiasts.
While the surname Pendo may not be as widely recognized as some other Italian surnames, its history spans several centuries and has produced individuals who have left their mark in various disciplines, from architecture and art to literature and engineering.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Pendo
Among Census respondents with the surname Pendo, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.3%. The next largest groups are Black (10.7%) and Hispanic (5.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Pendo bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Pendo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White81.3% · 91
- Black or African American10.7% · 12
- Hispanic or Latino5.4% · 6
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.7% · 3
Timeline
Historical Census data for Pendo
Pendo appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#147,954
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 112
+0 bearers (+0.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 701 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #147,253 | 112 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #147,954 | 112 | 0.04 | +0 bearers (+0.0%) | Down 701 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Pendo surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #147,253 | #147,954 | -0.5% |
| Count | 112 | 112 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -6.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Pendo bearers went from 112 to 112 (+0.0% change). The surname moved down 701 positions in the national ranking, going from #147,253 to #147,954.
FAQ
Pendo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Pendo?
Name Census estimates that about 128 living Americans carry the surname Pendo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,677,768 residents.
How common is Pendo?
Pendo ranks #147,954 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 112 people with the surname Pendo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (128), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Pendo.
Has Pendo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Pendo went from 112 recorded bearers to 112. That is an increase of 0 (+0.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #147,253 to #147,954.
What does the Census say about the background of Pendo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Pendo, the largest self-reported group is White at 81.3%. The next largest groups are Black (10.7%) and Hispanic (5.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Pendo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 81.3% (91 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Pendo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (81.3%), Black (10.7%), Hispanic (5.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Pendo (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Pendo mean?
A surname originating from Poland and Lithuania meaning "slope" or "hill". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Pendo (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Pendo?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.