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

Ponsonby, 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 Ponsonby surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Ponsonby in America

Ponsonby is the 153769th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Ponsonby surname appeared 106 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 Ponsonby.

The history of the last name Ponsonby

The surname Ponsonby originates from England and dates back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the old French words 'pont' meaning bridge and 'soubz' meaning under, referring to someone who lived near or under a bridge. The name was initially spelled as 'de Pontesoubz' or 'Pontesoubu'.

One of the earliest recorded references to the Ponsonby name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is mentioned in relation to a landowner in Cumberland, England.

The Ponsonby family has a long and illustrious history, with many members holding prominent positions and titles throughout the centuries. One of the earliest notable figures was Sir John Ponsonby (1413-1471), who served as a member of Parliament and fought in the War of the Roses.

Another prominent individual was Sir William Ponsonby (1546-1604), who was a member of the Privy Council under Queen Elizabeth I and played a crucial role in the Tudor government.

In the 18th century, John Ponsonby (1713-1789) served as the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons and was a prominent figure in the Irish Patriot movement.

The Ponsonby family also had connections to the British aristocracy, with several members holding titles such as Earl of Bessborough and Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede. One of the most famous Earls of Bessborough was Frederick Ponsonby (1758-1844), who served as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and played a significant role in Irish politics during the early 19th century.

Another notable figure was Sir Henry Ponsonby (1825-1895), who was the Private Secretary to Queen Victoria and played a crucial role in the management of the British Royal Household during her reign.

Throughout history, the Ponsonby surname has been associated with various place names, including Ponsonby in Cumberland, England, and the Ponsonby estate in County Kilkenny, Ireland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Ponsonby

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

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

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

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