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

Peou, 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 Peou surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Peou in America

Peou is the 71265th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Peou surname appeared 274 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 Peou.

We can also compare 2010 data for Peou 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 Peou

The surname PEOU has its origins in the Khmer language spoken in Cambodia. The name is believed to have derived from an old Khmer word "peau" which translates to "forest" or "jungle". This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have lived in or near forested areas in Cambodia.

One of the earliest recorded references to the PEOU surname can be found in a 16th-century manuscript detailing the lineage of Cambodian nobility. This document mentions a prominent family with the surname PEOU who held significant land holdings in the Kampong Thom province of Cambodia.

During the Angkor Empire period (9th to 15th centuries), the PEOU name was associated with individuals who served as advisors and courtiers to the Khmer kings. A notable figure from this era was Preah Peou Ream (1415-1477), a high-ranking official and diplomat who played a crucial role in maintaining diplomatic relations between the Khmer kingdom and neighboring states.

As the Khmer people migrated and settled in different regions, the PEOU surname spread to other parts of Southeast Asia. In the 17th century, records show a PEOU family residing in the Siam (present-day Thailand) region, where they were involved in trade and commerce.

Another notable individual with the PEOU surname was Peou Nhean (1840-1912), a revered Cambodian Buddhist monk and scholar who authored several influential texts on Buddhist teachings and philosophy. His works are still widely studied and revered in Cambodia today.

In the 19th century, a prominent PEOU family established themselves in the city of Battambang, Cambodia. This family was known for their agricultural holdings and philanthropic endeavors, contributing significantly to the development of the local community.

It's worth noting that the PEOU surname has undergone various spelling variations over time, such as Peau, Pew, and Peu, due to the influence of different languages and transcription methods. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in the Khmer language and Cambodia's rich cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Peou

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

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

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

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