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

Pfile, 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 Pfile surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pfile in America

Pfile is the 78316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pfile surname appeared 244 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 Pfile.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pfile 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 Pfile

The surname PFILE originated in Germany during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "pfil," meaning "arrow" or "bolt," likely referring to an occupation or trade involving the manufacturing or use of such weapons.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PFILE surname can be found in the town records of Nuremberg, dating back to the year 1392, where a certain Johannes Pfile is mentioned as a local fletcher or arrow-maker. The name also appears in various other German documents and chronicles from that era, with slight variations in spelling, such as Pfyle, Pfeil, and Pfeyl.

During the 16th century, the PFILE name gained prominence in the region of Bavaria, where it was associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Hans Pfile (1502-1572), a renowned master bowyer who supplied high-quality longbows and crossbows to many noble households and military forces throughout Europe.

Another noteworthy bearer of the PFILE surname was Anna Pfile (1567-1635), a skilled embroiderer and textile artist whose intricate needlework adorned the vestments of several prominent clergymen in the city of Augsburg. Her exquisite creations are still preserved in various church archives and museums across Germany.

In the 17th century, the PFILE family expanded its influence beyond the borders of Germany, with some members settling in neighboring countries such as Austria and Switzerland. One such individual was Johann Pfile (1621-1689), a respected architect who oversaw the construction of several churches and public buildings in the city of Innsbruck, Austria.

As the centuries progressed, the PFILE name continued to be associated with various professions and trades, from craftsmen and artisans to scholars and professionals. In the 19th century, a notable figure bearing this surname was Friedrich Pfile (1816-1892), a renowned linguist and philologist who made significant contributions to the study of Germanic languages and their historical development.

While the PFILE surname originated in Germany and has a rich heritage in that region, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval era, where it was closely tied to the art and craft of arrow-making and archery.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pfile

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

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

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

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