Pettet
A Huguenot surname derived from the French diminutive of Pierre (Peter).
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 823 Americans carry the last name Pettet. That puts it at #32,865 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.24 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 416,469 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Pettet surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
823
1 in 416,469
Census rank
#32,865
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
698
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 698 bearers of the surname Pettet in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 32865th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Pettet, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Black (1.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Pettet
The surname Pettet has its origins in France, specifically in the northern regions of the country. It is believed to have emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 11th or 12th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "petit," meaning "small" or "little," and was likely a descriptive surname initially given to someone of small stature or a younger sibling.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Pettet surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Petitt," which was a common spelling variation at the time.
During the 13th century, the Pettet surname was associated with several notable figures. One such individual was Robert Pettet, a merchant and landowner from the Normandy region of France, who was born around 1220. Another was Jehan Pettet, a French soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War between England and France, born in 1307.
As the surname spread across Europe, it also took on various spellings and forms based on local dialects and languages. In England, for example, the name was sometimes spelled as "Pettit" or "Pettitt," while in Scotland, it was often rendered as "Pettie."
One of the most famous bearers of the Pettet surname was Sir William Pettet, an English military officer and member of Parliament, who lived from 1623 to 1707. He played a significant role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which saw the overthrow of King James II and the establishment of the constitutional monarchy in England.
Another notable figure was Jean-Baptiste Pettet, a French philosopher and writer born in 1754. He is best known for his work "Essai sur la Nature Humaine" (Essay on Human Nature), which explored themes of ethics, morality, and the human condition.
In the 19th century, the Pettet surname was associated with several prominent individuals in various fields. One such person was James Pettet, a British artist and painter born in 1828, known for his landscapes and portraits. Another was Thomas Pettet, an English architect born in 1849, who designed several notable buildings in London and other parts of England.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Pettet
Among Census respondents with the surname Pettet, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Black (1.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Pettet bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Pettet surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.7%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Black or African American1.3%
- Two or more races1.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Pettet surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #32,865 | #32,865 | 0.0% |
| Count | 698 | 698 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.24 | 0.24 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Pettet bearers went from 698 to 698 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #32,865 to #32,865.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Pettet
FAQ
Pettet surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Pettet?
The surname Pettet holds position #32,865 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 823 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.24 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Pettet surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Pettet, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.6%) and Black (1.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.