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

Beachum, 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 Beachum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Beachum in America

Beachum is the 24554th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Beachum surname appeared 1,018 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 Beachum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Beachum 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 Beachum

The surname Beachum is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Yorkshire, during the late Middle Ages. It is likely derived from the Old English words "becc" or "bece," which referred to a stream or brook, and "ham," meaning a homestead or village. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where it appears as "Bechome." This spelling variation provides insight into the name's evolution over time. Other early spellings include "Becheham" and "Bechehame," found in various Yorkshire parish records from the 15th and 16th centuries.

While the Beachum surname does not appear in the Domesday Book, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, its absence does not diminish its historical significance. Many surnames emerged later, often derived from occupations, locations, or personal characteristics.

Among the notable individuals bearing the Beachum surname throughout history is Robert Beachum (1558-1623), a prominent English merchant and landowner who lived in Yorkshire during the Elizabethan era. Records show that he was involved in the wool trade and owned several estates in the region.

Another noteworthy Beachum was Elizabeth Beachum (1678-1742), a renowned herbalist and midwife from Lincolnshire. Her knowledge of medicinal plants and natural remedies was widely respected, and she became a trusted figure in her community.

In the 19th century, John Beachum (1812-1890) was a successful industrialist from Manchester, England. He owned several textile mills and played a significant role in the city's industrial growth during the Victorian era.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Beachum surname in North America is that of William Beachum (1705-1777), who emigrated from England to Virginia in the early 1700s. He became a prosperous farmer and landowner in the colony.

Finally, it is worth mentioning Samuel Beachum (1839-1919), a Union Army veteran who fought in the American Civil War. After the war, he settled in Kansas and became a prominent figure in local politics, serving as a county commissioner and advocating for veterans' rights.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Beachum

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

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

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

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