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

Broome, 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 Broome surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Broome in America

Broome is the 3522nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Broome surname appeared 10,133 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Broome.

We can also compare 2010 data for Broome 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 Broome

The surname Broome is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the Old English word "brom," which means "broom plant" or "shrub." This name likely originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a place where broom plants grew abundantly.

The earliest known record of the surname Broome dates back to the late 12th century in the county of Worcestershire, England. In the Pipe Rolls of 1190, a person named William de Brome is mentioned, indicating the presence of the name during that time period.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Broome. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the formation of the surname, such as Brome in Suffolk and Bromleye in Norfolk.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Broome appeared in various spellings, including Brome, Brom, and Broome. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common in that era.

One notable person with the surname Broome was Alexander Broome (c. 1617-1668), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth in London. Another was Ralph Broome (1553-1625), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Guildford in 1597.

In the 18th century, John Broome (1738-1794) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars. He was instrumental in several naval battles and received recognition for his bravery and leadership.

William Broome (1689-1745) was an English poet and translator who is best known for his contributions to Alexander Pope's translation of Homer's Odyssey. He also published several original works, including poetry and translations of classical texts.

Lastly, John Broome (1824-1896) was an English-born Australian cricketer who played for New South Wales and Victoria in the early days of Australian domestic cricket. He is considered one of the pioneers of cricket in Australia and played a significant role in the development of the sport in the country.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Broome

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

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

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

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