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

Preece, 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 Preece surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Preece in America

Preece is the 9217th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Preece surname appeared 3,536 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 Preece.

We can also compare 2010 data for Preece 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 Preece

The surname Preece has its origins in England, where it first emerged during the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English word "preost," meaning "priest." This suggests that the name originated as a descriptive surname for someone who lived near a priest's dwelling or church.

The Preece surname can be traced back to various regions of England, including Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Shropshire. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Prest" and "Praest."

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Preest," "Preste," and "Prest." Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, "Preece." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Preece surname is that of William Preece, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1195. Another notable early bearer of the name was Robert Preece, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1327.

In the 16th century, the Preece surname was associated with several notable individuals. John Preece (c. 1515-1569) was an English clergyman and an influential figure in the Protestant Reformation. He served as the Bishop of Peterborough from 1557 to 1559.

During the 17th century, the name Preece gained prominence in various fields. Humphrey Preece (1605-1666) was an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire. Sir William Preece (1634-1715) was a prominent English jurist and served as the Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1688 to 1701.

In the 18th century, the Preece surname was associated with several notable figures in the arts and sciences. William Preece (1719-1784) was an English painter known for his portraits and landscapes. Thomas Preece (1744-1812) was a Welsh mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

The 19th century saw the Preece surname gain further recognition in various fields. Sir William Preece (1834-1913) was a notable English electrical engineer and inventor. He played a crucial role in the development of telecommunication systems and is credited with pioneering the use of underground cables for telephone and telegraph lines.

Throughout its history, the Preece surname has been associated with various notable individuals, spanning diverse fields such as religion, politics, law, arts, and sciences. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval England, its bearers have left an indelible mark on various aspects of society across different time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Preece

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

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

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

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