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

Pyle, 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 Pyle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Pyle in America

Pyle is the 2389th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Pyle surname appeared 15,180 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Pyle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Pyle 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 Pyle

The surname Pyle originates from England and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "pyl," meaning a pool or creek. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a pool or stream.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England, the name appears as "de Pille" in Shropshire and Staffordshire. This early spelling variation highlights the name's connection to bodies of water.

The Pyle surname first appeared in Yorkshire, where the family held estates and lands. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Robert de Pyle, who lived in Yorkshire in 1273.

The name also has connections to various place names. For instance, Pyle in Somerset, England, was once known as "Pille" in the Domesday Book. This place name likely influenced the surname's spelling and pronunciation.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Pyle surname. One example is Howard Pyle (1853-1911), an American illustrator and author known for his works on chivalric tales and American history. Another is Ernie Pyle (1900-1945), a renowned American journalist and war correspondent during World War II.

Other notable Pyles include:

1. Katharine Pyle (1863-1938), an American writer and children's author.
2. Nathaniel Pyle (1677-1745), an English Quaker leader and minister.
3. Thomas Pyle (1674-1756), an English-born American Quaker minister and author.
4. John Pyle (1776-1854), an American surveyor and cartographer.
5. William Henry Pyle (1838-1920), an American inventor and manufacturer best known for developing the first flexible photographic film.

The surname Pyle has endured for centuries, with its origins rooted in Old English and its connections to various locations and notable figures throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Pyle

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

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

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

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