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

Petrus, 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 Petrus surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Petrus in America

Petrus is the 14267th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Petrus surname appeared 2,100 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 Petrus.

We can also compare 2010 data for Petrus 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 Petrus

The surname PETRUS originates from Latin and has its roots in the early Christian era. It is derived from the Latin word 'petrus', meaning 'rock' or 'stone'. The name is closely associated with Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, whose original name was Simon but was later called Petrus by Jesus.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname PETRUS can be traced back to the Medieval period in various parts of Europe, particularly in regions with strong Roman Catholic influence. In Italy, the name PETRUS was commonly used as a given name, and over time, it transitioned into a surname for families associated with the Church or those who revered Saint Peter.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname PETRUS was Johannes Petrus, a German scholar and theologian who lived in the late 15th century (c. 1440-1508). He was a prominent figure in the Renaissance humanist movement and authored several works on theology and philosophy.

In the 16th century, the name PETRUS appeared in various historical records across Europe. For instance, in England, the Domesday Book of 1086 mentions a landowner named Petrus de Monteforti, indicating the presence of the surname in the region during the Norman conquest.

Another notable figure with the surname PETRUS was Theodorus Petrus, a Dutch cartographer and engraver who lived in the early 17th century (c. 1570-1625). He is renowned for his detailed maps and illustrations of various regions, including the Netherlands and parts of Europe.

In the realm of art, the name PETRUS is associated with the French painter and sculptor, Jean-Baptiste Petrus (1766-1844), known for his neoclassical works and portraits of notable figures during the French Revolution and Napoleonic era.

Moving into the 19th century, a prominent individual with the surname PETRUS was Carl Petrus (1818-1888), a German-American architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings in St. Louis, Missouri, including the Old Cathedral and the Old Courthouse.

Throughout history, the surname PETRUS has been found in various regions, including Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and parts of England and the United States. While the name has evolved and taken on different spellings over time, its origins can be traced back to the Latin word 'petrus' and its association with Saint Peter and the early Christian tradition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Petrus

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

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

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

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