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

Pinson, 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 Pinson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pinson in America

Pinson is the 4800th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pinson surname appeared 7,362 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Pinson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pinson 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 Pinson

The surname Pinson has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "pinçon," meaning "finch" or "small bird." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname given to someone with a connection to these birds, perhaps a bird catcher or someone with bird-like characteristics.

The earliest recorded instances of the Pinson surname can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France region. In these regions, the name was often associated with specific places or localities, leading to variations such as Pinson de Beaumont or Pinson de Rouen.

One notable early reference to the Pinson name can be found in the Rolls of the Exchequer of Normandy, a medieval record of financial transactions and accounts, which mentions a "Robertus Pinson" in the year 1180. This indicates that the name was already established in Normandy by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure bearing the Pinson surname was Nicolas Pinson, a French poet and musician who served as a court poet to Louis IX, the King of France, in the mid-1200s.

Another historical figure of note was Jean Pinson, a French theologian and scholar who lived in the 15th century. He was known for his contributions to the study of canon law and served as the rector of the University of Paris in 1471.

During the Renaissance period, the Pinson family produced several notable artists and intellectuals. One such figure was Richard Pinson, a French painter and engraver active in the early 16th century, whose works were highly regarded in his time.

In the realm of literature, the surname Pinson is associated with Jacques Pinson, a French poet and playwright born in 1550. He was known for his satirical works and contributed to the development of French theater during the late Renaissance.

Throughout the centuries, the Pinson surname has spread beyond France to other parts of Europe and the world, carried by family lines and migration patterns. While the name may have evolved and taken on new meanings in different cultures, its origins remain rooted in the French countryside and the symbolic connection to small birds.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pinson

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

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

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

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