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

Poo, 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 Poo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Poo in America

Poo is the 122314th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Poo surname appeared 141 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 Poo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Poo 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 Poo

The surname POO has its origins in the late 14th century, tracing back to a small village in the Cotswolds region of England. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "polle," which referred to a small body of water or pond. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name likely lived near or were associated with a local pond or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Gloucestershire Feet of Fines from 1396, which mentions a John Poo as a tenant farmer. The name also appears in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1428, where a Thomas Poo is listed as a taxpayer in the village of Bourton-on-the-Water.

During the 16th century, the surname began to spread beyond the Cotswolds area, with records showing POO families residing in neighbouring counties such as Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. Notable individuals from this period include William Poo (1524-1589), a member of the Guild of Weavers in Coventry, and Margaret Poo (1547-1612), who was accused of witchcraft during the infamous Pendle witch trials in Lancashire.

As the centuries progressed, the surname continued to evolve with various spellings, including Pooe, Pooh, and Pough. In the 18th century, a significant POO family established themselves in the town of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, where they operated a successful wool trade. One of the most prominent members was John Poo (1745-1822), a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as a local magistrate.

The 19th century saw the name spread further across Britain and even to the colonies. One noteworthy figure was Sir James Poo (1812-1891), a British military officer who served in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery. Another was Emily Poo (1837-1919), a pioneering educator who founded one of the first schools for girls in Cape Town, South Africa.

As the centuries passed, the POO surname continued to be carried by individuals from various walks of life, including authors, artists, and politicians. One of the most famous bearers in recent history was the English novelist and playwright Alan Poo (1920-2008), whose works explored themes of class and social inequality.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Poo

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

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

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

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