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

Plane, 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 Plane surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Plane in America

Plane is the 53419th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Plane surname appeared 387 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 Plane.

We can also compare 2010 data for Plane 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 Plane

The surname PLANE is of English origin, emerging in the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "plein" or "plane," meaning "level" or "flat." This surname likely referred to someone who lived on or near a flat or level area of land, possibly a plain or a plateau.

The earliest known recording of the surname PLANE can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, England, dated 1273. In this record, the name appears as "William de la Plane," indicating that the surname was initially used as a descriptive term before becoming an established family name.

In the 14th century, the surname PLANE appeared in various forms, such as "atte Plane," "de la Plane," and "Playn," reflecting the evolution of spelling and language over time. These variations suggest that the name was associated with specific locations or areas known for their flat terrain.

One notable example of the PLANE surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a certain "John de la Plane" is recorded as a taxpayer. This entry provides evidence of the surname's presence in different regions of England during the medieval period.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname PLANE have left their mark. One such figure was Sir William Plane (1512-1579), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable PLANE was John Plane (1585-1661), an English clergyman and academic who held the position of Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, from 1648 until his death.

In the 18th century, the PLANE surname gained prominence with the birth of John Plane (1707-1792), a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1766.

The 19th century saw the emergence of the artist Samuel John Plane (1836-1890), known for his landscape paintings depicting scenes from the English countryside. His works are held in various collections, including the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

Lastly, the 20th century brought forth the American writer and journalist Harry M. Plane (1908-1971), who served as a war correspondent during World War II and later worked for the Associated Press, covering major events such as the Nuremberg Trials.

The surname PLANE, with its rich history and diverse personalities, continues to be a part of the tapestry of English surnames, reflecting the country's cultural heritage and the stories of those who bore this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Plane

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

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

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

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