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

Pettyjohn, 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 Pettyjohn surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pettyjohn in America

Pettyjohn is the 13165th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pettyjohn surname appeared 2,323 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 Pettyjohn.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pettyjohn 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 Pettyjohn

The surname Pettyjohn has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place called Petty or Petit in the counties of Shropshire or Staffordshire. The name is thought to be derived from the Old French word "petit," meaning small or little.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Walter le Petyt." This spelling variation suggests that the name was originally a descriptive nickname before becoming a hereditary surname.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, where it is spelled "Petyjohn." This spelling indicates that the name had evolved to incorporate the personal name "John" by that time.

One notable early bearer of the name was John Pettyjohn, who was listed in the Register of the Gild of the Holy Cross in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1392. This record provides evidence of the surname's presence in the West Midlands region of England during the late medieval period.

In the 16th century, the name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1524, where it appears as "Pettyjohn." This spelling remained consistent throughout the following centuries.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Pettyjohn is Sir John Pettyjohn (1590-1667), a prominent English merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London during the reign of Charles I. He played a significant role in the English Civil War and was a staunch supporter of the Parliamentary cause.

Another notable figure was William Pettyjohn (1701-1778), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the 18th century. He participated in several important battles, including the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759.

In the 19th century, the name is associated with Reverend Thomas Pettyjohn (1815-1892), an influential Methodist minister in the United States. He played a crucial role in the establishment of several churches and educational institutions in the state of Ohio.

Elizabeth Pettyjohn (1867-1951) was a notable American educator and social reformer. She dedicated her life to improving educational opportunities for underprivileged children and advocating for women's rights.

Another prominent figure was Sir William Pettyjohn (1921-2003), a British military officer and diplomat. He served in various capacities, including as the Governor of the Falkland Islands from 1977 to 1980.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pettyjohn

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

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

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

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