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

Poore, 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 Poore surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Poore in America

Poore is the 4315th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Poore surname appeared 8,240 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Poore.

We can also compare 2010 data for Poore 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 Poore

The surname Poore is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and it is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "poer," meaning poor or humble, suggesting that the first bearers of this surname may have been individuals of modest means or humble status.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Poore can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation carried out by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "le Poure," indicating its presence in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th century, the surname Poore was particularly prevalent in the counties of Wiltshire and Hampshire, where it is associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Richard Poore (c. 1190-1237), who served as Bishop of Salisbury from 1217 to 1228 and played a significant role in the construction of Salisbury Cathedral.

In the 14th century, the name Poore appeared in various forms, including "le Pouere," "le Poor," and "le Pore." This variation in spelling was common during this period, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and the lack of standardized orthography.

During the Tudor period, the surname Poore gained further prominence with the rise of Sir Thomas Poore (c. 1505-1558), a prominent English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire. His descendants continued to play influential roles in the county's affairs over the following centuries.

Another notable figure bearing the surname Poore was Edward Poore (1590-1674), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Coleshill in Warwickshire. His published works, including sermons and theological treatises, contributed to the intellectual discourse of his time.

As the centuries progressed, the Poore surname spread across various regions of England and even to other parts of the British Isles. Some notable individuals with this surname include Sir John Poore (1793-1876), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, and William Poore (1861-1935), an English cricketer who played for Warwickshire County Cricket Club.

While the surname Poore may have originated from humble beginnings, its bearers have left their mark on various aspects of British history, including religion, politics, literature, and military service. This name serves as a testament to the diverse backgrounds and contributions of individuals who have shaped the cultural fabric of the nation over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Poore

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

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

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

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