Explore the Family Name Pals
The meaning of Pals
Dutch: from a Brabantine dialect pronunciation of Pauls, a patronymic from the personal name Paul.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Pals in the United States?
Based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname ‘Pals’ has seen a significant increase in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, 'Pals' ranked 25,076 in terms of popularity, but by 2010 it had risen to a rank of 17,717, marking a 29.35% change. The count of people with this surname also surged, from 928 individuals in 2000 to 1,583 in 2010, reflecting a substantial 70.58% growth. Furthermore, the proportion of people named ‘Pals’ per 100,000 increased by 58.82%, from 0.34 in 2000 to 0.54 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #25,076 | #17,717 | 29.35% |
| Count | 928 | 1,583 | 70.58% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.34 | 0.54 | 58.82% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Pals
In terms of ethnicity, the data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows some interesting shifts in the ethnic identity associated with the surname 'Pals'. In 2000, the majority of individuals with this surname identified as White, at 96.01%. However, by 2010 this number decreased to 82.75%, a change of -13.81%. We also see a considerable rise in the percentage of people identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic. The Asian/Pacific Islander category saw an impressive 803.08% change, going from 0.65% in 2000 to 5.87% in 2010. Similarly, those identifying as Hispanic jumped from 2.26% in 2000 to 9.35% in 2010, a 313.72% increase. While there was a small percentage (0.54%) of people identifying as two or more races in 2000, this figure rose to 1.39% in 2010, marking a 157.41% change. The categories for Black and American Indian and Alaskan Native, however, showed no change between the two censuses, with data for Black individuals being suppressed in 2010 for privacy reasons.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.01% | 82.75% | -13.81% |
| Hispanic | 2.26% | 9.35% | 313.72% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.65% | 5.87% | 803.08% |
| Two or More Races | 0.54% | 1.39% | 157.41% |
| Black | 0.54% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |