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

Plumlee, 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 Plumlee surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Plumlee in America

Plumlee is the 12399th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Plumlee surname appeared 2,507 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 Plumlee.

We can also compare 2010 data for Plumlee 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 Plumlee

The surname Plumlee is believed to have originated in England, and its roots can be traced back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "plum" and "leah," which together mean "a clearing or meadow where plum trees grow." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone who lived near or worked in such an area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Plumlee can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Plumlei" and "Plumleia," indicating its long-standing presence in the English language.

During the 13th century, the name Plumlee was associated with several notable individuals. Richard de Plumlei, born in 1225, was a prominent landowner and knight who served under King Henry III. Another individual bearing this surname was William Plumlei, a wealthy merchant who lived in London in the late 1200s.

As the centuries passed, the Plumlee name spread throughout various regions of England, often adopting variations in spelling to reflect local dialects and pronunciation. Some of these variations included Plumley, Plumleigh, and Plumridge.

In the 17th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of John Plumlee (1642-1712), a renowned scholar and author who wrote extensively on theological and philosophical topics. His works were widely read and influential in academic circles of the time.

Another notable figure bearing the Plumlee surname was Sir Robert Plumlee (1705-1780), a successful businessman and philanthropist. He made a significant fortune through his trading ventures and used his wealth to establish several charitable foundations, leaving a lasting impact on the communities he served.

As the British Empire expanded, the Plumlee name traveled to various parts of the world, with descendants settling in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. Over time, the surname has become associated with a diverse range of professions and achievements, reflecting the rich tapestry of its historical roots.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Plumlee

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

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

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

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