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

Plymouth, 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 Plymouth surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Plymouth in America

Plymouth is the 159712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Plymouth surname appeared 101 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 Plymouth.

The history of the last name Plymouth

The surname PLYMOUTH is of English origin, deriving from the name of the port town of Plymouth in Devon, southwest England. This place name dates back to the early medieval period, with records mentioning "Plymouth" as early as the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is believed to originate from the Old English words "plym" meaning "plum" and "muth" meaning "mouth", referring to the River Plym's mouth into the sea.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname PLYMOUTH was Richard de Plymouthe, a merchant mentioned in records from 1327. In the 14th century, various spellings such as Plymmouthe and Plymmouth were used. The surname likely originated from individuals who were either born in or resided in the town of Plymouth.

A notable early bearer of the PLYMOUTH name was Sir William Plymouth (c.1535-1591), an English naval commander and explorer who led expeditions to the West Indies and the Americas in the late 16th century. His exploits contributed to the expansion of English maritime power during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the PLYMOUTH surname gained prominence with the establishment of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts, USA. One of the most famous individuals associated with this colony was William Bradford (1590-1657), who served as the governor of Plymouth Colony for over 30 years and authored the influential work "Of Plymouth Plantation".

Another significant figure with the PLYMOUTH surname was Joseph Plymouth (1635-1718), a Puritan minister and author who served as the pastor of the First Church of Christ in Newbury, Massachusetts. His published works, including sermons and theological treatises, were influential in shaping early New England Puritan thought.

In the 19th century, Sir John Plymouth (1789-1872) was a prominent British naval officer and explorer who made significant contributions to the exploration of the Arctic regions. His expedition to the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in the 1820s led to the discovery and mapping of several islands and waterways.

Throughout history, the PLYMOUTH surname has been associated with various locations, particularly in England and the United States, reflecting the migration patterns of its bearers. While the name's origins can be traced back to the town of Plymouth in Devon, it has since spread and taken on a broader geographical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Plymouth

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

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 Plymouth 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.

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

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

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