Explore the Family Name Petefish
The meaning of Petefish
Probably an Americanized form of North German Bütefisch, an occupational name for a fish seller, from Middle Low German buten ‘to exchange, barter, or distribute’, but also ‘to take as booty’, so that in some cases it may have been an unflattering nickname.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Petefish in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Petefish" seems to have declined between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 60,083rd most popular surname in the U.S., but by 2010, it dropped to the 67,943rd place—a decrease of 13.08%. The number of individuals bearing this surname also declined from 314 in 2000 to 290 in 2010, indicating a reduction of 7.64%. Moreover, the proportion of people with the "Petefish" surname per 100,000 people decreased by 16.67% over the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #60,083 | #67,943 | -13.08% |
| Count | 314 | 290 | -7.64% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.12 | 0.1 | -16.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Petefish
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of people with the "Petefish" surname identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, although there was a slight decrease in this percentage from 98.73% to 95.52%. No Petefish identified as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year. However, there was a small increase in diversity within this group over the decade. In 2010, some individuals began identifying as Hispanic or belonging to two or more races—each making up 1.72% of all Petefishes. This change suggests some diversification in the ethnic identities associated with this surname between 2000 and 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 98.73% | 95.52% | -3.25% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.72% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.72% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |