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

Pulliam, 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 Pulliam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pulliam in America

Pulliam is the 3099th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pulliam surname appeared 11,613 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 Pulliam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pulliam 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 Pulliam

The surname Pulliam originates from England, with roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pull," meaning a small stream or brook, combined with the suffix "-ham," indicating a homestead or village. This suggests that the name may have originated from a settlement located near a small stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Pulham." This document contains references to individuals bearing the name in various spellings, such as "Pullum" and "Pullam."

The Pulliam surname has also been linked to several place names in England, including Pullham in Norfolk and Pullham in Dorset. These locations likely contributed to the surname's formation and early bearers' origins.

In the 14th century, the Pulliam name appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk from 1333, further solidifying its presence in the region. This historical record suggests that the surname had become established in certain areas of England by this time.

Notable individuals bearing the Pulliam surname throughout history include:

1. John Pulliam (c. 1520 - 1585), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Heytesbury in Wiltshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. Robert Pulliam (c. 1580 - 1650), an English colonist who settled in Virginia in the early 17th century and became a prominent figure in the Colony of Virginia.

3. Elijah Pulliam (1768 - 1849), an American farmer and revolutionary soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

4. Samuel Pulliam (1826 - 1902), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the town of Pulliam, Illinois.

5. Thomas Pulliam (1834 - 1907), a British architect known for his work on several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Surgeons.

While the Pulliam surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, primarily through immigration patterns in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pulliam

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

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

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

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