2010
#153,769
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 106
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Pyrah
A locational surname denoting someone from Pyrah, a township in Yorkshire, England.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 134 Americans carry the last name Pyrah. That puts it at #144,270 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,557,868 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Pyrah surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Pyrah with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
134
1 in 2,557,868
Census rank
#144,270
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
117
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 117 bearers of the surname Pyrah in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 144270th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Pyrah, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and Two or More Races (3.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Pyrah
The surname Pyrah originated in England, with its earliest known recorded use dating back to the late 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old French word "pirer," meaning "to turn" or "to wheel," suggesting a possible occupational origin related to a turner or wheelwright. Alternatively, it may stem from a place name, potentially referring to someone who lived near a pear tree or an area abundant with pear trees.
In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a tax record from the reign of Edward I, the name appears as "Pirro" in the county of Lincolnshire. This early spelling variation highlights the potential evolution of the name over time. Unfortunately, no further details about the individual or family are provided in this historical document.
The Pyrah surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of 1332 for the county of Yorkshire, indicating the presence of the name in different regions of England during the 14th century. This record lists a "Johannes Pyray," suggesting another spelling variation.
One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Pyrah was John Pyrah, who lived in the village of Hartshead in Yorkshire during the late 16th century. Records indicate that he was born around 1570 and worked as a weaver, a common occupation in the area at that time.
In the 17th century, a notable figure bearing the Pyrah name was William Pyrah (c. 1610-1678), a wealthy merchant and landowner from the town of Wakefield in West Yorkshire. He played a significant role in the local community and was a benefactor to several charitable causes.
During the 18th century, the Pyrah family had a presence in the village of Batley, also in West Yorkshire. Records from 1743 mention a Joseph Pyrah, who worked as a wool comber, a trade integral to the region's thriving textile industry.
In the 19th century, the name Pyrah gained recognition with the accomplishments of James Pyrah (1821-1897), a prominent industrialist and entrepreneur from Bradford, Yorkshire. He founded the successful textile firm Pyrah & Sons, which played a vital role in the city's industrial development.
Another noteworthy individual was John Pyrah (1835-1914), a respected clergyman who served as the vicar of Eccleshill in Bradford for over 40 years. He was known for his dedication to his parish and his efforts in promoting education and social welfare.
While the surname Pyrah has its roots in England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and genealogical connections. The name's historical evolution and variations showcase its rich heritage and potential occupational or geographical origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Pyrah
Among Census respondents with the surname Pyrah, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and Two or More Races (3.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Pyrah bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Pyrah surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.7% · 105
- Hispanic or Latino3.4% · 4
- Two or more races3.4% · 4
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.6% · 3
- Black or African American0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Pyrah
Pyrah appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#144,270
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 117
+11 bearers (+10.4%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 9,499 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #153,769 | 106 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #144,270 | 117 | 0.04 | +11 bearers (+10.4%) | Up 9,499 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Pyrah surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #153,769 | #144,270 | 6.2% |
| Count | 106 | 117 | 10.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -2.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Pyrah bearers went from 106 to 117 (+10.4% change). The surname moved up 9,499 positions in the national ranking, going from #153,769 to #144,270.
FAQ
Pyrah surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Pyrah?
Name Census estimates that about 134 living Americans carry the surname Pyrah. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,557,868 residents.
How common is Pyrah?
Pyrah ranks #144,270 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 117 people with the surname Pyrah. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (134), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Pyrah.
Has Pyrah become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Pyrah went from 106 recorded bearers to 117. That is an increase of 11 (+10.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #153,769 to #144,270.
What does the Census say about the background of Pyrah?
Among Census respondents with the surname Pyrah, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (3.4%) and Two or More Races (3.4%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Pyrah in the 2020 Census, accounting for 89.7% (105 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Pyrah appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (89.7%), Hispanic (3.4%), Two or More Races (3.4%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Pyrah (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Pyrah mean?
A locational surname denoting someone from Pyrah, a township in Yorkshire, England. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Pyrah (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the surname Pyrah?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.