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

Pullen, 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 Pullen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pullen in America

Pullen is the 3381st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pullen surname appeared 10,565 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Pullen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pullen 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 Pullen

The surname Pullen is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "pull" or "pulle," which referred to a small stream or brook. This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who lived near a small body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Henry Pulle." The Hundred Rolls were a series of administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I, providing valuable insights into the names and occupations of individuals living in various counties at that time.

The Pullen surname has also been linked to various place names throughout England, such as Pulham in Norfolk and Pulborough in West Sussex. These locations likely influenced the spelling variations of the name over time, with variations like Pullen, Pullan, and Pullin being recorded.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are no direct references to the Pullen surname. However, the book does mention several place names that may have contributed to the evolution of the name, such as Pulham in Norfolk and Pulborough in West Sussex.

Notable individuals with the Pullen surname throughout history include:

1. John Pullen (c. 1563-1629), an English divine and academic who served as the President of Magdalen College, Oxford.
2. Tobias Pullen (c. 1648-1714), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "A Collection of Sundry Essays" and "Moderation Still a Virtue."
3. Joseph Pullen (1742-1810), an English farmer and inventor who is credited with developing an early form of the seed drill, a crucial agricultural tool.
4. William John Samuel Pullen (1832-1920), a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several Arctic expeditions and served as the Senior Naval Officer on the Isthmus of Panama during the construction of the Panama Canal.
5. John Joseph Pullen (1904-1989), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Pullen Moving Company and was a significant donor to various educational and cultural institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area.

While the Pullen surname may have humble origins related to geographic features, it has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from academia and religion to exploration and business.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pullen

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

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

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

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