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

Pett, 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 Pett surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pett in America

Pett is the 23750th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pett surname appeared 1,065 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 Pett.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pett 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 Pett

The surname Pett has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pet," meaning a small piece of ground or a compact area. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive term for someone who lived on a small plot of land or a compact settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pett can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land holdings and property across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Petta," referring to a place or settlement in Sussex.

During the Middle Ages, various spellings of the name appeared in historical records, including Pette, Pette, and Pett. These variations were likely due to the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common during that period.

In the 13th century, the name Pett was associated with a village in Sussex, known as Pett Level. This village was situated near the coast and was known for its fertile land and agricultural activities. It is possible that some individuals adopted the surname Pett as a reference to their place of origin or residence.

Notable individuals with the surname Pett throughout history include:

1. Sir William Pett (1580-1637), an English shipbuilder and naval administrator who served as the Commissioner of the Navy during the reign of King Charles I.

2. Phineas Pett (1570-1647), an English shipwright and naval administrator who worked alongside his brother, Sir William Pett, and contributed significantly to the development of the English Navy.

3. Peter Pett (1610-1672), an English shipbuilder and son of Phineas Pett, who was appointed as the Master Shipwright at Deptford Dockyard in 1648.

4. Sir Samuel Pett (1599-1665), an English shipbuilder and naval administrator who served as the Commissioner of the Navy during the English Civil War and the Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell.

5. Thomas Pett (1633-1701), an English shipbuilder and son of Peter Pett, who worked as the Master Shipwright at Deptford Dockyard and contributed to the construction of several notable ships for the Royal Navy.

Throughout its history, the surname Pett has maintained a strong association with maritime activities and shipbuilding, particularly in the coastal regions of England. While its origins may have been humble, referring to a small plot of land, the name has gained prominence through the contributions of individuals in the field of naval architecture and administration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pett

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

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

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

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