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

Poorbear, 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 Poorbear surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Poorbear in America

Poorbear is the 110825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Poorbear surname appeared 159 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 Poorbear.

We can also compare 2010 data for Poorbear 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 Poorbear

The surname "POORBEAR" is an unusual and intriguing one, with its origins shrouded in mystery and speculation. It is believed to have originated in the remote regions of northern Scotland, where harsh weather conditions and rugged terrain made life particularly challenging for the local inhabitants.

One theory suggests that the name "POORBEAR" may have evolved from an old Gaelic phrase, "Pòr Bèar," which loosely translates to "impoverished wanderer" or "destitute traveler." This phrase could have been used to describe individuals who roamed from settlement to settlement, seeking shelter and sustenance, often reduced to a state of poverty and hardship.

Another interpretation traces the name's roots to an old Norse word, "pōrbjörn," meaning "poor bear." This could be a reference to the bear's struggle for survival during harsh winters, when food was scarce, and its resources were limited. The name may have been bestowed upon families or clans that lived in close proximity to bear habitats and shared a similar struggle for existence.

Interestingly, the earliest known record of the surname "POORBEAR" dates back to the late 15th century, when a certain Angus Poorbear was documented as a landowner in the Highlands of Scotland. This entry, found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, suggests that the name had already established itself as a recognized surname by that time.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the Parish Registers of Aberdeenshire, where a family by the name of Poorbear resided in the village of Kintore. One notable member of this family was John Poorbear, born in 1578, who served as a local magistrate and played a role in resolving disputes within the community.

As time passed, the name "POORBEAR" spread to other parts of Scotland, and a few individuals bearing this surname even made their way to England and Ireland. One such individual was William Poorbear, born in 1692 in Inverness, who later became a merchant sailor and is rumored to have sailed as far as the West Indies.

In the 19th century, a certain James Poorbear, born in 1821 in Aberdeen, gained notoriety as a skilled blacksmith and metalworker. His intricate ironwork can still be found adorning some of the historic buildings in the region, serving as a testament to his craftsmanship.

While the surname "POORBEAR" may be relatively uncommon today, its unique origins and historical significance remain a point of interest for those fascinated by the rich tapestry of surnames and their evolution over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Poorbear

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!