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

People, 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 People surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of People in America

People is the 43285th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The People surname appeared 499 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 People.

We can also compare 2010 data for People 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 People

The surname "People" is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "people," which referred to a group or community of individuals. This name has its roots in the early medieval period, when surnames were first adopted in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "People" can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1194, which mention a William People. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a Walter le People. The use of the prefix "le" in this case indicates that the name was likely occupational, referring to someone who worked with or represented a group of people.

By the 14th century, the name had spread to other parts of England, as evidenced by entries in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a John People and a Robert People.

One notable individual with the surname "People" was Sir John People (c. 1550-1618), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Ludgershall in Wiltshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was Sir Edward People (1616-1699), an English merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Bristol, including funding the construction of a hospital and almshouses.

In the 18th century, the surname gained recognition through the work of Alexander People (1718-1790), a Scottish poet and playwright known for his satirical works, including the play "The Fair Penitent."

The 19th century saw the rise of William People (1815-1888), a British engineer and inventor who patented several significant improvements to steam engines and other industrial machinery.

Finally, one cannot overlook the accomplishments of Mary People (1862-1932), an English suffragette and activist who played a crucial role in the women's suffrage movement, campaigning tirelessly for women's right to vote.

While the surname "People" may have originated from a humble occupational designation, it has been carried by numerous individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields throughout history, solidifying its place in the annals of English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name People

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

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

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

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