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

Phen, 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 Phen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Phen in America

Phen is the 66371st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Phen surname appeared 298 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 Phen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Phen 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 Phen

The surname PHEN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "pen," which referred to a small enclosure or pen for livestock. This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived near or worked with such an enclosure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PHEN surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Penne," which was likely an earlier spelling variation.

During the 13th century, there are records of a John de Penne, who owned lands in Staffordshire, England. This indicates that the surname had become established and associated with a specific location or manor.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the PHEN surname was Sir Robert Phen, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. He was born around 1320 and served under King Edward III.

Another prominent individual with the PHEN surname was William Phen, who lived in the 16th century. He was a successful merchant and alderman in the city of London, and his legacy can be traced through records of his business dealings and civic roles.

Moving into the 17th century, we find records of a Thomas Phen, who was a clerk and scribe in the court of King James I. His meticulous record-keeping and calligraphy skills were highly regarded during his time.

In the 18th century, a notable figure was Samuel Phen, a renowned botanist and naturalist. He was born in 1725 and made significant contributions to the study of plants and their classification through his extensive research and writings.

While the surname PHEN has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and immigration. However, the historical records mentioned above provide valuable insights into the name's evolution and the lives of some of its bearers throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Phen

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

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

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

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