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

Pent, 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 Pent surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pent in America

Pent is the 68122nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pent surname appeared 289 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Pent.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pent 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 Pent

The surname "PENT" is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "pent," which referred to a small enclosure or a confined space. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived in a small dwelling or a cramped area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "PENT" can be found in the Feet of Fines records from Essex, England, dating back to 1285. These legal documents mention a person named William Pent, who was involved in a land transaction. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 13th century in that region.

In the 14th century, the surname "PENT" appeared in various manorial records and tax rolls across different counties in England. For example, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a person named John Pent, indicating the name's presence in the West Midlands region during that time.

One notable historical figure with the surname "PENT" was Sir Thomas Pent (c. 1485-1558), a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Henry VIII. He served as the Recorder of Norwich and was involved in various legal affairs of the Tudor court.

Another individual of note was Edward Pent (1553-1615), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Dean of Winchester Cathedral in the early 17th century. He was known for his religious works and sermons published during his lifetime.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, variations of the surname such as "Pente" and "Penty" can be found in parish records and historical documents from various parts of England. These spellings likely evolved from the original "PENT" form due to regional dialects and phonetic variations.

One interesting connection to place names can be found in the village of Penton Mewsey in Hampshire, England. The name "Penton" may have derived from the Old English words "pent" and "tun," meaning an enclosed or fenced-in settlement, potentially linking the surname "PENT" to this location.

Other notable individuals with the surname "PENT" include William Pent (1642-1701), an English merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire, and John Pent (1717-1789), a renowned clockmaker from Norfolk who crafted intricate timepieces during the 18th century.

While the surname "PENT" is not among the most common surnames in England, it has a rich history dating back to the medieval period, with various individuals bearing this name leaving their mark across different fields throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pent

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

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

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

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