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

Pulcher, 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 Pulcher surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pulcher in America

Pulcher is the 88020th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pulcher surname appeared 211 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 Pulcher.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pulcher 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 Pulcher

The surname Pulcher has its origins in Latin and can be traced back to the Roman Empire. It is derived from the Latin word "pulcher," which means "beautiful" or "handsome." This surname was likely given as a nickname or description, either for a person's physical appearance or, in some cases, as a compliment to their character or actions.

The earliest known instances of the surname Pulcher can be found in Italian records from the 13th century. It was particularly prevalent in the regions of Tuscany and Umbria, where Latin roots were deeply embedded in the local dialects. In these regions, the name may have been influenced by the Italian word "bello," which also means "beautiful."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Pulcher was Giacomo Pulcher, a merchant from Florence who lived in the late 13th century. He was mentioned in several trade documents and records from the city's powerful guilds.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in several manuscripts and chronicles from the Papal States, particularly in the records of the Curia Romana (Roman Curia). This suggests that individuals with the surname Pulcher may have been involved in the affairs of the Catholic Church during this period.

During the Renaissance, the surname Pulcher became associated with the arts and literature. Gian Francesco Pulcher, a poet and humanist born in Siena in 1450, was known for his sonnets and his patronage of the arts. His works were widely circulated among the intellectual circles of the time.

Another notable figure was Benedetto Pulcher, a painter and architect from Perugia who lived from 1480 to 1550. He was commissioned by several noble families and religious orders to create frescoes and design buildings, leaving a lasting mark on the artistic landscape of central Italy.

In the 17th century, the Pulcher surname gained prominence in the Republic of Venice. Marco Pulcher, born in 1620, was a prominent merchant and diplomat who represented the Venetian Republic in trade negotiations with the Ottoman Empire.

As the centuries passed, the surname Pulcher spread to other parts of Europe, though it remained most common in Italy. It has been carried by scholars, artists, and individuals from various walks of life, each contributing to the rich tapestry of history associated with this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pulcher

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!