2000
#1,153
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 27,891
First available Census row
Per 100,000 10.34
Uncommon Last name
Puckett
An English occupational surname for someone who made or sold pouches or pockets.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 29,564 Americans carry the last name Puckett. That puts it at #1,336 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 8.63 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 11,594 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Puckett surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Puckett with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
30K
1 in 11,594
Census rank
#1,336
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
8.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
26K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 25,781 bearers of the surname Puckett in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 8.63 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1336th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Puckett, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.2%. The next largest groups are Black (5.9%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Puckett
The surname Puckett is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "puca," which referred to a mischievous sprite or goblin. This name may have been initially bestowed as a nickname upon someone with an impish or prankish nature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Puckete." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, served as a comprehensive survey of landholdings throughout England. The presence of the name in this historic record suggests that the Puckett family lineage can be traced back to the 11th century.
Over the centuries, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Puckett, Puckitt, Puckette, and Puckitt. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the preferences of individual scribes or record-keepers. The name's evolution also hints at its potential association with certain locations or place names, although no definitive connections have been established.
Among the notable individuals bearing the Puckett surname throughout history is Sir John Puckett (1598-1677), an English politician and member of the House of Commons during the reign of King Charles I. Another prominent figure was Reverend Puckett (1639-1698), a 17th-century Anglican clergyman and author who published several influential theological works.
In the 18th century, James Puckett (1714-1788) was a renowned British architect known for his contributions to the Georgian architectural style. His most notable work is the Puckett House in Bath, which stands as a testament to his skill and craftsmanship.
Moving into the 19th century, we encounter Elizabeth Puckett (1837-1923), a pioneering educator and women's rights activist who fought tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for girls and women in the United States.
The 20th century brought forth Kirby Puckett (1960-2006), a celebrated American baseball player who spent his entire career with the Minnesota Twins. A ten-time All-Star and six-time Gold Glove winner, Puckett was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest outfielders in the game's history.
While the Puckett surname may have originated from humble beginnings, its rich history encompasses individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, each leaving an indelible mark on their respective fields and communities.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Puckett
Among Census respondents with the surname Puckett, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.2%. The next largest groups are Black (5.9%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Puckett bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Puckett surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White86.2% · 22,234
- Black or African American5.9% · 1,527
- Two or more races4.2% · 1,073
- Hispanic or Latino2.6% · 658
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7% · 173
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 116
Timeline
Historical Census data for Puckett
Puckett appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#1,273
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 27,627
-264 bearers (-0.9%)
Per 100,000 9.37
Rank movement Down 120 places
2020
#1,336
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 25,781
-1,846 bearers (-6.7%)
Per 100,000 8.63
Rank movement Down 63 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #1,153 | 27,891 | 10.34 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #1,273 | 27,627 | 9.37 | -264 bearers (-0.9%) | Down 120 places |
| 2020 | #1,336 | 25,781 | 8.63 | -1,846 bearers (-6.7%) | Down 63 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Puckett surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,273 | #1,336 | -4.9% |
| Count | 27,627 | 25,781 | -6.7% |
| Per 100K | 9.37 | 8.63 | -7.9% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Puckett bearers went from 27,627 to 25,781 (-6.7% change). The surname moved down 63 positions in the national ranking, going from #1,273 to #1,336.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Puckett
FAQ
Puckett surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Puckett?
Name Census estimates that about 29,564 living Americans carry the surname Puckett. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 11,594 residents.
How common is Puckett?
Puckett ranks #1,336 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Uncommon." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 8.63 per 100,000 residents, which is about 9 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 25,781 people with the surname Puckett. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (29,564), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 8.63 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 8.63 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 9 of them to have the surname Puckett.
Has Puckett become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Puckett went from 27,627 recorded bearers to 25,781. That is a decrease of 1,846 (-6.7%). In the national ranking it fell from #1,273 to #1,336.
What does the Census say about the background of Puckett?
Among Census respondents with the surname Puckett, the largest self-reported group is White at 86.2%. The next largest groups are Black (5.9%) and Two or More Races (4.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Puckett in the 2020 Census, accounting for 86.2% (22,234 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Puckett appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (86.2%), Black (5.9%), Two or More Races (4.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Puckett (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Puckett mean?
An English occupational surname for someone who made or sold pouches or pockets. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Puckett (8.63 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Puckett?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.