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

Plenty, 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 Plenty surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Plenty in America

Plenty is the 80678th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Plenty surname appeared 235 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 Plenty.

We can also compare 2010 data for Plenty 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 Plenty

The surname Plenty originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "plente," meaning "abundance" or "plenty." This name may have been initially bestowed upon someone who lived in an area known for its bountiful resources or fertile land.

The earliest known record of the Plenty surname dates back to the 13th century. In 1273, a Thomas de Plente was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. This document recorded landowners and their properties, indicating that the Plenty family had established roots in the region during that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Plentye and Plentie, reflecting the variation in spelling common during that era. One notable figure bearing this surname was Robert Plentye, a merchant from London who lived around 1380.

The Plenty surname can also be traced to place names in England, such as Plenty Bridge in Yorkshire and Plenty Farm in Gloucestershire. These locations may have influenced the adoption of the name by families residing in or near those areas.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Plenty surname is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a John Plente. Another early record is the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, which lists a Thomas Plente.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Plenty have made their mark:

1. Sir Thomas Plenty (1563-1629), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Worcestershire in the early 17th century.
2. John Plenty (1714-1788), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural drawings.
3. Sarah Plenty (1720-1795), a British novelist and playwright who wrote under the pseudonym "Arabella Argus."
4. William Plenty (1825-1901), a British horticulturist and botanist who introduced several new plant species to England.
5. Peter Plenty (1928-2012), a British actor and stage performer who appeared in numerous television shows and films throughout his career.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence of the Plenty surname in England and its association with various professions and accomplishments over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Plenty

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!