Explore the Family Name Poythress
The meaning of Poythress
English: variant of Poytress, a Worcestershire and Gloucestershire surname, originally a nickname for one who is scantily clad or in the buff, from Anglo-Norman French poi dras ‘little clothing’ (i.e. wearing none at all), from Old French poi ‘few, little’ and dras ‘clothes’ (plural of drap ‘garment’). The phrase was used as a mocking nickname for the naked Jesus in the late medieval Chester crucifixion play and occurs as a surname in England from c.1200. Development of Poydras (1527) to Poitheres (1564) and Poytherus (1701) has been noted in the parish of Fownhope (Herefordshire). The surname Poythress is no longer found in Britain.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Poythress in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Poythress has seen a slight decrease between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it ranked 23,237 in popularity with 1,024 individuals carrying the name. However, by 2010, its ranking had dropped to 24,702 representing a 6.3% decrease, and the count also fell marginally to 1,010, indicating a decline of 1.37%. The proportion of people with the surname Poythress per 100k also saw a decrease from 0.38 to 0.34, marking a drop of 10.53%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #23,237 | #24,702 | -6.3% |
| Count | 1,024 | 1,010 | -1.37% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.38 | 0.34 | -10.53% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Poythress
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that the majority of people with the surname Poythress identify as White, though this percentage dropped slightly from 81.45% in 2000 to 77.72% in 2010. The next largest group is those identifying as Black, which increased from 15.63% to 18.81%, showing a growth of 20.35%. The proportion of Poythress identifying as Hispanic also rose from 1.17% to 2.28%, an increase of 94.87%. Those identifying with two or more races fell significantly from 1.46% to 0.79%, a decrease of 45.89%. There were no reported instances of the surname Poythress among those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 81.45% | 77.72% | -4.58% |
| Black | 15.63% | 18.81% | 20.35% |
| Hispanic | 1.17% | 2.28% | 94.87% |
| Two or More Races | 1.46% | 0.79% | -45.89% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |