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

Pharoah, 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 Pharoah surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pharoah in America

Pharoah is the 142108th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pharoah surname appeared 117 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 Pharoah.

The history of the last name Pharoah

The surname Pharoah is derived from the ancient Egyptian word "Pr-aa", which means "great house" or "palace". It is believed to have originated in Egypt during the time of the ancient pharaohs, who were the rulers and kings of the land.

The name Pharoah is closely associated with the powerful and influential rulers of ancient Egypt, such as Ramses II, who reigned from 1279 to 1213 BC and was known for his extensive building projects, including the construction of the famous Ramesseum mortuary temple. Another notable figure was Tutankhamun, who ruled from 1332 to 1323 BC and is widely remembered for the discovery of his intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings in 1922.

In the Middle Ages, the name Pharoah appeared in various forms, including Farao and Faraho, in some European records and manuscripts. This suggests that the name may have been adopted by travelers or individuals who had connections to the Middle East or the Mediterranean region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pharoah can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England, completed in 1086 AD. The entry mentions a person named "Pharoah" who held land in the county of Norfolk.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Pharoah. One example is John Pharoah (1610-1685), an English merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Sandwich in Kent. Another is William Pharoah (1787-1867), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a rear admiral.

In the literary world, Josiah Pharoah (1673-1743) was an English playwright and poet who wrote several works, including the tragedy "The Virgin Queen" and the comedy "The Beau Defeated". Additionally, Henry Pharoah (1806-1883) was a British architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London.

It is worth noting that the surname Pharoah is relatively uncommon, particularly outside of regions with historical connections to ancient Egypt or the Middle East. However, its unique origins and association with the powerful rulers of ancient Egypt have contributed to its enduring presence throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pharoah

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

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 Pharoah 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.

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

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

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