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

Punter, 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 Punter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Punter in America

Punter is the 65964th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Punter surname appeared 300 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 Punter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Punter 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 Punter

The surname PUNTER is an occupational name of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "punter" meaning a ferryman or a person who propels a small boat with a long pole. The name arose in medieval times, particularly in regions with significant rivers or waterways where ferrying services were essential for transportation.

The earliest recorded instances of the PUNTER surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various county records and tax rolls across England. One notable mention is found in the Worcestershire Subsidy Rolls of 1275, where a John le Punter is listed as a taxpayer.

In the 14th century, variations of the name such as Puntere and Pontere appeared in historical documents like the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1349. These slight spelling differences were common during that era due to inconsistent recordkeeping and regional dialects.

The PUNTER surname has connections to several place names in England, including Punter's Leap in Gloucestershire, which is believed to have derived its name from a PUNTER family who resided in the area. Additionally, the village of Punter's Green in Essex may also have ties to the surname's origins.

Notable individuals with the PUNTER surname throughout history include:

1. John Punter (c. 1540-1618), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Cornwall from 1607 until his death.
2. Samuel Punter (1634-1696), an English churchman and academic who was appointed the Rector of Boughton Monchelsea in Kent.
3. William Punter (1686-1745), an English poet and playwright known for his satirical works, including the play "The Mock Preacher" published in 1719.
4. Thomas Punter (1744-1821), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became a Captain in the Royal Navy.
5. Frances Punter (1821-1892), an English author and essayist who wrote extensively on topics related to women's education and social reform in the Victorian era.

While the PUNTER surname may not be among the most common in English-speaking countries today, its origins as an occupational name reflect the historical importance of ferrymen and their role in facilitating transportation across bodies of water during medieval and early modern times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Punter

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

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

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

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