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

Askam, 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 Askam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Askam in America

Askam is the 144141st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Askam surname appeared 115 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 Askam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Askam 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 Askam

The surname ASKAM originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period, derived from the Old English words "æsc" meaning ash tree and "ham" meaning homestead or settlement. It suggests that the earliest bearers of this name lived near an ash tree or in a place with a significant ash tree presence.

ASKAM was first recorded as a place name in Lancashire, England, where the hamlet of Askam-in-Furness is located. It appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Ascam", reflecting the Norman spelling of the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of ASKAM as a surname dates back to the 13th century, with a John de Askam mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1221. The "de" prefix indicates that John was from the place called Askam.

In the 14th century, a Robert de Askam was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379. This record provides evidence of the surname's early usage and its connection to the region of Yorkshire.

A notable figure bearing the ASKAM surname was Sir Adam de Askam, a 14th-century English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. He was born around 1320 and participated in the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

Another historically significant individual was John Askam, a 16th-century English Protestant reformer and scholar. Born in Westmorland in 1520, he was a tutor to Lady Jane Grey and later became the first Protestant Bishop of Winchester, serving from 1554 until his death in 1556.

In the 17th century, the ASKAM surname was recorded in the parish registers of Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmorland, with the baptism of Thomas Askam in 1629.

A notable bearer of the ASKAM name in the 18th century was William Askam, an English barrister and legal writer born in 1725. He authored several works on legal subjects, including "A Course of Study Proper to Qualify a Student at Law for Practice" published in 1765.

In the 19th century, John Askam, born in 1835 in Yorkshire, was a prominent architect known for designing several churches and public buildings in the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Askam

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

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 Askam 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 Askam 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 Askam was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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