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

Pless, 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 Pless surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pless in America

Pless is the 12025th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pless surname appeared 2,596 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Pless.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pless 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 Pless

The surname Pless originated in Germany, specifically in the region of Silesia, which is now located in southwestern Poland. The name can be traced back to the 13th century and is derived from the German word "Pleß," which referred to the city of Pless, now known as Pszczyna.

Pless was a prominent city in the medieval period and played a significant role in the history of Silesia. The name likely originated from individuals who resided in or were associated with the city of Pless. Early records from the region, such as land deeds and tax rolls, might contain variations of the spelling, including Plesz, Ples, or Plesse.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Pless can be found in the "Liber Fundationis Episcopatus Vratislaviensis" (The Book of the Foundation of the Bishopric of Breslau), a 14th-century manuscript that documented the establishment of the Bishopric of Breslau (now Wrocław) in Silesia. This historical record suggests that the name was already in use during that time period.

Notable individuals with the surname Pless throughout history include:

1. Hans von Pless (1492-1555), a German nobleman and military commander who served in the armies of the Holy Roman Empire during the Protestant Reformation.

2. Maria Anna von Pless (1718-1793), a Silesian noblewoman and landowner who inherited vast estates in the region.

3. Hans Heinrich VI von Pless (1766-1830), a Prussian statesman and diplomat who served as the Minister of State for Prussia.

4. Daisy von Pless (1873-1942), an English socialite and writer who was born Margravine Daisy Cornwallis-West and married into the German noble family of Pless.

5. Hans Heinrich XVII von Pless (1900-1984), a German aristocrat and the last Prince of Pless, who inherited the family's vast estates and properties in Silesia before they were seized by the Soviet Union after World War II.

The surname Pless is closely linked to the city of Pless and the surrounding region in Silesia. It has a long and storied history, with many notable individuals bearing this name throughout the centuries, particularly among the German nobility and aristocracy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pless

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

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

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

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