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

Phe, 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 Phe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Phe in America

Phe is the 98553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Phe surname appeared 184 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 Phe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Phe 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 Phe

The surname Phe has its origins in medieval France, emerging in the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "pieu," meaning a stake or post, possibly referring to an occupation or a place where such stakes were used for fencing or construction.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Phe can be found in various medieval documents from the Normandy region of France. One notable mention is in the Livre des Métiers, a medieval guild registry from Paris, which lists a certain Jacques Phe as a member of the carpenters' guild in the year 1268.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Phe appeared in various forms, such as Pheu, Phieu, and Pieux, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that era. Some of these variations were influenced by the Norman dialect, as the name spread across the English Channel after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

In England, the earliest recorded bearer of the name was Robert Phe, who is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195. This suggests that the Phe family had already established a presence in England by the late 12th century.

One notable figure in the history of the Phe surname was Sir John Phe, a prominent English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France in the 14th century. He was born in 1320 and died in battle at the Siege of Calais in 1347.

Another significant individual was William Phe, a 15th-century English scholar and cleric who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton from 1478 until his death in 1498. He was known for his scholarly works on theology and canon law.

In Scotland, the Phe surname can be traced back to the 16th century, with records showing a Thomas Phe who was a merchant in Edinburgh in 1542. The name also appeared in various forms, such as Phee and Phay, reflecting the regional dialects and pronunciation variations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Phe surname in Ireland dates back to the 17th century, with the mention of a Patrick Phe in the Hearth Money Rolls of County Down in 1663. This suggests that the name had spread to Ireland by this time, likely through migration or trade connections with England and Scotland.

Throughout history, the Phe surname has been associated with various occupations, including carpentry, masonry, and construction, reflecting its potential origins as a reference to stakes or posts used in these trades.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Phe

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

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

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

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