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

Pugsley, 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 Pugsley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pugsley in America

Pugsley is the 18584th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pugsley surname appeared 1,483 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 Pugsley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pugsley 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 Pugsley

The surname Pugsley originates from England, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place called Pugsleigh or Puxley, which were small villages or hamlets found in counties like Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1523, which mentions a William Pugsley. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the early 16th century.

The name Pugsley is thought to have evolved from the Old English words "pug" or "puca," which referred to a goblin or mischievous sprite, and "leah," meaning a woodland clearing or meadow. Thus, the name may have originally described someone who lived near a clearing associated with these mythical creatures.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are no direct mentions of the name Pugsley, but there are references to places that could be potential sources of the surname, such as Pucelai in Hertfordshire and Pughenhill in Kent.

One notable figure with the Pugsley surname was Sir John Pugsley (1592-1660), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire during the reign of Charles I. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, initially siding with the Parliamentarians but later supporting the Royalists.

Another prominent individual was Sir John Pugsley (1777-1858), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. He participated in several notable battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

In the literary realm, Emily Pugsley (1845-1910) was a British author and poet known for her works on nature and rural life. She published several collections of poetry, including "Woodland Idylls" and "Songs of the Greenwood."

The artist and illustrator Walter Pugsley (1858-1925) was also a notable figure with this surname. He was best known for his illustrations in books and magazines, particularly his depictions of rural scenes and landscapes.

Finally, John Pugsley (1909-1992) was a British architect who played a significant role in the reconstruction and redevelopment of London after World War II. He designed several notable public housing projects and was involved in the planning of the Barbican Estate.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pugsley

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

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

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

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