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

Poll, 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 Poll surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Poll in America

Poll is the 16993rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Poll surname appeared 1,672 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 Poll.

We can also compare 2010 data for Poll 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 Poll

The surname Poll has its origins in the German and Dutch-speaking regions of Europe, where it emerged during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "Pol," which means "pool" or "body of standing water." This connection suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a pond or lake.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Poll surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry lists a landowner named Radulfus Pol, indicating the presence of the name in England during the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the Poll surname appeared in various records across the German-speaking regions of Europe. For instance, a merchant named Hermann Poll was mentioned in a document from the city of Cologne, dated 1247. Additionally, the name was recorded in the town of Dortmund, where a man named Henricus Poll was listed as a resident in 1289.

The Poll surname has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest examples is Johannes Poll, a German astronomer and mathematician who lived from 1456 to 1521. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy, including the development of new methods for calculating planetary positions.

Another prominent figure was Sir Frederick Poll, an English naval officer who lived from 1718 to 1803. He played a crucial role in the American Revolutionary War, serving as a captain in the Royal Navy and participating in several battles against the American colonies.

In the realm of literature, Max Poll was a Dutch writer and poet who lived from 1908 to 1992. He was renowned for his contributions to modern Dutch poetry and his experimental writing style, which challenged traditional literary conventions.

The Poll surname has also been associated with notable figures in the field of sports. One example is Karin Poll, a Dutch swimmer who competed in the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games. She won a gold medal in the 200-meter individual medley at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

Finally, the Poll surname has been carried by several influential scientists, including Heinz Poll, a German chemist who lived from 1926 to 2003. He made significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry, particularly in the synthesis of complex organic compounds.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Poll

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

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

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

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