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

Peoples, 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 Peoples surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peoples in America

Peoples is the 1935th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peoples surname appeared 18,672 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 Peoples.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peoples 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 Peoples

The surname Peoples is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English word "peeple" or "people," which referred to a community or group of people. It is believed that the name may have originally been used as a descriptive term for someone who lived in a populated area or a town.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Peoples date back to the 13th century in various regions of England, such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Lincolnshire. Historical records show variations in the spelling, including Peoples, Peeples, and Peples.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Peoples can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a Walter Peeples is mentioned. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273 contain a reference to a Richard Peeple.

In the 16th century, the surname Peoples appears in various parish records and tax rolls across England. Notable individuals bearing this surname during this period include John Peoples, who was born in Leicester in 1542, and William Peoples, a landowner in Oxfordshire, born in 1567.

As the surname spread throughout the British Isles, it also found its way to Ireland, where it is believed to have been introduced during the Plantation of Ulster in the early 17th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in Ireland is that of Robert Peoples, who was born in County Antrim in 1625.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, several individuals with the surname Peoples made significant contributions to various fields. Thomas Peoples (1638-1697) was an English philosopher and author, known for his work on ethics and moral philosophy. Meanwhile, Mary Peoples (1712-1789) was a renowned Scottish painter, celebrated for her portraits and landscapes.

In the 19th century, the surname Peoples continued to gain prominence. John Peoples (1819-1876) was an American politician and lawyer, serving as a Senator from Montana. Another notable figure was James Peoples (1841-1917), an Irish-born architect who designed several notable buildings in New York City.

As the Peoples surname spread across the globe, it has been associated with various notable figures throughout history, including authors, scientists, artists, and political figures. However, the name's origins can be traced back to the early medieval period in England, where it was likely used to describe individuals living in populated areas or communities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peoples

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!