Find out how popular the last name Absalom is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Absalom.

Absalom, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Absalom surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Absalom in America

Absalom is the 96799th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Absalom surname appeared 188 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Absalom.

We can also compare 2010 data for Absalom to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Absalom

The surname Absalom has its origins in the Hebrew biblical name Avshalom, which translates to "father of peace" or "the peaceful father." This name can be traced back to ancient Israel and is most famously associated with Absalom, the son of King David, who rebelled against his father in the Bible.

The name Absalom is believed to have first emerged as a surname in Medieval England, where it was adopted by families who may have had a connection to the biblical figure or were drawn to the name's meaning. The earliest recorded instances of the surname Absalom can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273 and the Subsidy Rolls of 1327.

One notable early bearer of the surname Absalom was Sir John Absalom, a member of the English gentry who lived in the 14th century. He is mentioned in the Patent Rolls of 1343, where he is referred to as a landowner in Cambridgeshire. Another early reference can be found in the Chancery Proceedings of 1487, which mentions a Thomas Absalom from Oxfordshire.

In the 16th century, the surname Absalom appeared in various spellings, such as Abselom, Abselome, and Abselam, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling that were common during that time. One notable individual from this period was Sir Thomas Absalom (c. 1558 - 1640), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Herefordshire.

During the 17th century, the surname Absalom gained additional prominence through the works of John Milton, who featured the biblical figure Absalom in his epic poem "Paradise Lost." This literary connection may have contributed to the continued use and recognition of the surname.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Absalom include:

1. William Absalom (1653 - 1716), an English clergyman and author.
2. Edward Absalom (1758 - 1823), an English naval officer and explorer.
3. John Absalom (1818 - 1895), an English cricketer who played for Sussex County Cricket Club.
4. Henry Absalom (1838 - 1908), an English artist and illustrator known for his depictions of rural life.
5. George Absalom (1861 - 1938), a British trade unionist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Monmouthshire.

While the surname Absalom has its roots in ancient Hebrew traditions, it has become a part of the broader cultural fabric, particularly in English-speaking countries, where it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Absalom

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Absalom.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Absalom was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Absalom has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Absalom was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Absalom, please contact us.

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