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

Pewitt, 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 Pewitt surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pewitt in America

Pewitt is the 20864th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pewitt surname appeared 1,264 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 Pewitt.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pewitt 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 Pewitt

The surname Pewitt has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "pytt," meaning a pit or small hollow, suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a pit or worked in a pit-related occupation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Peteuit." This ancient record provides valuable insights into the distribution and variations of surnames during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the surname was documented as "Peuet" and "Peuyt," reflecting the linguistic evolution and regional variations of the name's spelling over time. These variations highlight the influence of local dialects and scribal interpretations on surname development.

The surname Pewitt is also associated with various place names in England, such as Pewitt's Hole in Dorset and Pewitt's Hill in Wiltshire. These place names may have contributed to the adoption and spread of the surname in those regions.

Notable individuals with the surname Pewitt throughout history include:

1. William Pewitt (c. 1520-1585), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Westbury during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. John Pewitt (1640-1714), a prominent merchant and philanthropist in Bristol, known for his contributions to the city's economic development and charitable works.
3. Mary Pewitt (1745-1823), an English botanist and illustrator, recognized for her intricate botanical drawings and contributions to the study of plant life.
4. Thomas Pewitt (1810-1892), a British army officer who served in the Crimean War and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in battle.
5. Eleanor Pewitt (1875-1964), an American educator and suffragist, actively involved in the women's rights movement and advocating for equal educational opportunities.

Throughout its history, the surname Pewitt has maintained a presence in various parts of England, reflecting the migration patterns and geographic distribution of families bearing this name over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pewitt

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

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

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

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