Postlethwaite
A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a pool of water or marshy area.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 411 Americans carry the last name Postlethwaite. That puts it at #57,234 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.12 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 833,952 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Postlethwaite surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
411
1 in 833,952
Census rank
#57,234
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
356
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 356 bearers of the surname Postlethwaite in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 57234th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Postlethwaite, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and Two or More Races (2.8%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Postlethwaite
The surname Postlethwaite originates from the northern English counties of Lancashire and Westmorland, now part of Cumbria. It is derived from the Old English words "post" meaning a post or stake, and "læt" meaning a barn or outhouse, combined with the Old Norse word "thveit" meaning a meadow or clearing. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a barn or outbuilding in a meadow or clearing.
The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears to be Postelthwayt in the Lancashire Inquisitions of 1311. Other early spellings include Postillwhate in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1486, and Postilwhaytt in the Lancashire Wills records of 1554. The name is also found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, listed as Postelcveit in the lands of the Count of Mortain.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Adam de Postlethwaite, who was recorded as holding lands in Kendal, Westmorland in 1275. Another early figure was John Postlethwaite, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of York, who lived from around 1420 to 1485.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Captain James Postlethwaite fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was killed in action at the Battle of Naseby in 1645. In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the name was James Postlethwaite (1731-1799), a renowned architect and engineer who worked on projects such as the Eddystone Lighthouse and the Bridgewater Canal.
In the literary world, the English poet and writer Thomas Postlethwaite (1833-1913) was a respected figure in his time, known for works such as "Haunted Hearts" and "The Kingdom of the Mind." Additionally, the English actor Pete Postlethwaite (1945-2011) gained international acclaim for his performances in films like "In the Name of the Father" and "The Usual Suspects."
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Postlethwaite
Among Census respondents with the surname Postlethwaite, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and Two or More Races (2.8%).
The bar chart below shows how Postlethwaite bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Postlethwaite surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.1%
- Hispanic or Latino3.4%
- Two or more races2.8%
- Unknown or suppressed1.7%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Postlethwaite surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #57,705 | #57,234 | 0.8% |
| Count | 330 | 356 | 7.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Postlethwaite bearers went from 330 to 356 (+7.9% change). The surname moved up 471 positions in the national ranking, going from #57,705 to #57,234.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Postlethwaite
FAQ
Postlethwaite surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Postlethwaite?
The surname Postlethwaite holds position #57,234 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 411 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.12 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Postlethwaite surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Postlethwaite, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.1%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and Two or More Races (2.8%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.