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

Pentecost, 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 Pentecost surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pentecost in America

Pentecost is the 12473rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pentecost surname appeared 2,489 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Pentecost.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pentecost 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 Pentecost

The surname Pentecost is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "Pentecost," which means "Whitsunday" or the Christian festival of Pentecost. This name was likely given to someone born or baptized during the Pentecost season, or perhaps someone who lived near a church dedicated to the Holy Ghost or Pentecost.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273, where a William Pentecost is mentioned. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, with a reference to a John Pentecost.

In the 14th century, the Pentecost family was well-established in the county of Worcestershire, with several members holding prominent positions in the local community. For instance, Richard Pentecost served as the Mayor of Worcester in 1367.

The Pentecost name is also linked to several place names across England, such as Pentecost Farm in Buckinghamshire and Pentecost Lane in Derbyshire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Pentecost surname who once owned or resided in those areas.

Notable individuals with the surname Pentecost include:

1. Dorothy Pentecost (1698-1778), an English writer and educator from Nottinghamshire.
2. Joseph Pentecost (1715-1773), a British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War.
3. Thomas Pentecost (1778-1856), a British architect responsible for designing several churches in London and Kent.
4. Charles Pentecost (1824-1897), a Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
5. John Pentecost (1877-1951), an American evangelist and author who founded the Pentecostal Holiness Church.

While the name Pentecost is not as common today as it once was, its historical significance and connection to the Christian festival of Pentecost make it a unique and intriguing surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pentecost

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

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

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

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