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

Pounders, 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 Pounders surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pounders in America

Pounders is the 13985th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pounders surname appeared 2,155 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Pounders.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pounders 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 Pounders

The surname Pounders is of English origin, and it can be traced back to the medieval period, around the 14th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pund," which meant an enclosure for animals or livestock. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname were likely individuals who were employed as pound-keepers or responsible for maintaining such enclosures.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Pounders can be found in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1673, where a John Pounders is listed as a resident of Worcestershire, England. The name also appears in various parish records and local histories from the 16th and 17th centuries, with variations in spelling such as Punder, Punder, and Pounder.

In the 18th century, the surname Pounders was particularly prominent in the county of Somerset, England. Notable individuals from this region included William Pounders (1701-1776), a farmer and landowner, and his son, John Pounders (1733-1809), who served as a local magistrate and justice of the peace.

As the name spread across England, it was also associated with certain place names. For instance, the village of Poundersleigh in Devon is believed to have been named after an early settler with the surname Pounders. Similarly, the hamlet of Poundersbrook in Somerset may have derived its name from a stream or brook that ran through the property of a Pounders family.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Pounders. One such figure was Sir John Pounders (1560-1638), a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He was a prominent philanthropist and donated funds for the construction of almshouses and the education of poor children.

Another notable Pounders was Thomas Pounders (1720-1789), an English poet and playwright who is best known for his satirical works, including "The Citizen's Complaint" and "The Courtier's Apology."

In the United States, the surname Pounders can be traced back to the 18th century, when immigrants from England began settling in various colonies. One early American bearer of the name was Benjamin Pounders (1732-1811), a farmer and landowner in Virginia.

While the surname Pounders is not among the most common surnames worldwide, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, merchants, poets, and public servants.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pounders

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

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

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

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