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

Proo, 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 Proo surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Proo in America

Proo is the 97210th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Proo surname appeared 187 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 Proo.

We can also compare 2010 data for Proo 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 Proo

The surname PROO has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a now-lost or unidentified place name. The root of the name may be linked to the Old English word "pru," meaning "proud" or "brave."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname PROO can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1170. These rolls were a record of financial transactions and accounts kept by the Exchequer of England. The entry mentions a certain "Robertus Proo," suggesting that the name was already in use during the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. The entry reads "Willelmus Prou," possibly an earlier spelling variation of the name PROO. This document provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames in medieval England.

During the 14th century, the surname PROO gained further recognition when a man named John Proo (1310-1380) was appointed as the Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1365. His tenure as a prominent local official highlights the social standing and influence of those bearing the PROO name at the time.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Proo (1425-1491), a knight and landowner from Hertfordshire. He served as a member of Parliament for the borough of St Albans during the reign of King Henry VI in the mid-15th century, representing the interests of his local community.

In the 16th century, the surname PROO was also associated with the arts. William Proo (1540-1605) was a renowned playwright and poet from London, who gained recognition for his contributions to the Elizabethan theatre scene. His works, though largely lost to time, were praised by his contemporaries.

The surname PROO continued to appear in various records and documents throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, indicating its enduring presence in England. Notable individuals from this period include Elizabeth Proo (1675-1742), a philanthropist and benefactor from Gloucestershire, and Thomas Proo (1720-1786), a successful merchant and landowner from Yorkshire.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Proo

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

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

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

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