Explore the Family Name Pakenham

The meaning of Pakenham

English: habitational name from Pakenham (Suffolk). The placename derives from the Old English personal name Pacca (genitive Paccan) + hām ‘village, homestead’. History: A family of this name has been established in Westmeath, Ireland, since the 16th century.

Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.

How common is the last name Pakenham in the United States?

Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Pakenham has experienced a slight decrease in popularity over a decade. In 2000, Pakenham was ranked as the 96,480th most popular surname in the United States. By 2010, its rank had fallen to 103,181, marking a 6.95% drop in popularity. The count of individuals with this surname also slightly declined from 175 in 2000 to 174 in 2010, exhibiting a 0.57% decrease. However, the proportion per 100,000 people remained constant at 0.06.

20002010Change
Rank#96,480#103,181-6.95%
Count175174-0.57%
Proportion per 100k0.060.060%

Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Pakenham

When considering the ethnic identity associated with the Pakenham surname, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that it is predominantly linked to those identifying as White. In 2000, nearly 98.86% of individuals with this surname identified as White, although this percentage saw a small decline to 95.98% by 2010. The data for other ethnicities such as Asian/Pacific Islander, those who identify with two or more races, Hispanic, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native were either zero or suppressed (S) for both years, ensuring privacy.

20002010Change
White98.86%95.98%-2.91%
Asian/Pacific Islander0%0%0%
Two or More Races0%0%0%
Hispanic0%0%0%
Black0%0%0%
American Indian and Alaskan Native0%0%0%