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

Pughsley, 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 Pughsley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pughsley in America

Pughsley is the 133863rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pughsley surname appeared 126 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 Pughsley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pughsley 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 Pughsley

The surname Pughsley has its origins in England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "pugh," meaning a small hill or mound, and "leah," meaning a meadow or clearing. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a small hill or mound in a meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pughsley can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1196, where a certain Richard de Pughsley is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already well-established in that region by the late 12th century.

The Pughsley surname is also thought to have ties to the village of Pugeley in Staffordshire, which was recorded as "Pughesleye" in the Domesday Book of 1086. This place name likely shares the same linguistic roots as the surname, further reinforcing the name's origins.

Over the centuries, the Pughsley surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Pugsley, Pugsleigh, Puggesleye, and Puggsley. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during the Middle Ages.

Among notable individuals with the Pughsley surname throughout history are:

1. Sir William Pughsley (1428-1498), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Gloucestershire during the Wars of the Roses.
2. John Pughsley (1562-1627), an English composer and organist who served in the Chapel Royal during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I.
3. Elizabeth Pughsley (1685-1753), a poet and dramatist whose works were published in several anthologies of the early 18th century.
4. Thomas Pughsley (1754-1824), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.
5. Mary Pughsley (1823-1901), a philanthropist and social reformer who founded several charitable organizations in London aimed at improving the lives of the urban poor.

The Pughsley surname has endured through the centuries, reflecting the rich history and heritage of the English people. While its origins may be rooted in a humble description of a geographical feature, the name has been borne by individuals who have left their mark in various fields, from the arts and military to philanthropy and social reform.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pughsley

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

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

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

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