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

Pulsifer, 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 Pulsifer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pulsifer in America

Pulsifer is the 19489th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pulsifer surname appeared 1,386 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 Pulsifer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pulsifer 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 Pulsifer

The surname Pulsifer is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "pulle" meaning a pool or stream, and "sifer" which referred to a person who lived near a small stream or brook. This suggests that the name was likely first borne by someone who lived near a small body of water.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1207, where it appears as "Robertus Pullesiver." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, the name is recorded as "Pulcifer" in Somerset.

The Pulsifer surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Pulshivers in Gloucestershire and Pulsifer's Well in Dorset. These place names likely derived from the surname itself, further solidifying the name's connection to a particular geographical location.

Notable individuals with the Pulsifer surname throughout history include John Pulsifer (1579-1642), a prominent merchant and landowner in colonial Massachusetts. Another early bearer of the name was William Pulsifer (1616-1692), who settled in York, Maine, and served as a town selectman.

In the 18th century, Benjamin Pulsifer (1737-1815) was a respected physician and surgeon who practiced in New Hampshire. His son, David Pulsifer (1769-1852), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent doctor in Maine.

One of the most famous individuals with the Pulsifer surname was Woodbury Pulsifer (1815-1891), a renowned journalist and author from Maine. He was the editor of several newspapers and published several books on local history and genealogy.

While the Pulsifer surname is not as common today as it once was, it has a rich history that spans centuries and can be traced back to its origins in medieval England. The name's connection to geographical features and its appearance in historical records provide a fascinating glimpse into the lives of those who bore this surname throughout the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pulsifer

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

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

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

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