Explore the Family Name Pigeon
The meaning of Pigeon
French and English: nickname from Old French pigeon ‘fledgling, squab; dove, pigeon’, in France perhaps for a breeder or trader in pigeons or, as in medieval England (where the word was borrowed into Middle English) perhaps a term of affection (see Pidgeon). History: Pierre Pigeon from Paris, France, married Jeanne Godard in Montreal, QC, in 1662. Some characteristic forenames: French Andre, Marcel, Florent, Andree, Armand, Calixte, Gaetan, Germain, Laurent, Lucien, Michel, Pierre.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Pigeon in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname 'Pigeon' has slightly decreased from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, the surname was ranked 16,293rd most popular in the United States, dropping to 17,087th place by 2010 — a decrease of approximately 4.87%. However, the actual count of people bearing this surname marginally increased from 1,628 to 1,661 during the same period, marking a modest growth of around 2.03%. The proportion per 100,000 people also decreased by about 6.67%, reflecting a slight decline in the overall popularity of the 'Pigeon' surname.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,293 | #17,087 | -4.87% |
| Count | 1,628 | 1,661 | 2.03% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.6 | 0.56 | -6.67% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Pigeon
In terms of ethnicity, again based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the 'Pigeon' surname is primarily associated with individuals who identify as White – accounting for over 81% in both 2000 and 2010, with an insignificant growth of 0.09%. The Hispanic population with this surname showed the most significant change, increasing by almost 59%. Those identifying as having two or more ethnicities also saw a rise of about 12.46%. Conversely, those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native decreased by approximately 13.32%. No individuals with this surname identified as Black or Asian/Pacific Islander in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 81.63% | 81.7% | 0.09% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 12.16% | 10.54% | -13.32% |
| Two or More Races | 2.89% | 3.25% | 12.46% |
| Hispanic | 1.78% | 2.83% | 58.99% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |