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

Byam, 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 Byam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Byam in America

Byam is the 26492nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Byam surname appeared 921 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 Byam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Byam 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 Byam

The surname BYAM has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "bȳ" meaning "by" or "near," and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village." This suggests that the name likely originated as a place name, referring to someone who lived near a particular settlement or hamlet.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Radulfus de Biam in Oxfordshire. This spelling variation, "Biam," is thought to be an early form of the modern surname BYAM.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records and documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Robert de Byham is listed in Oxfordshire. This spelling, "Byham," further illustrates the evolution of the name over time.

Notable individuals with the surname BYAM include John Byam (c. 1580-1654), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire. Another prominent figure was Edward Byam (1610-1669), an English colonist and one of the first settlers of the Caribbean island of Antigua.

In the 18th century, William Byam Martin (1768-1849), a British naval officer and colonial administrator, served as the Governor of the Bahamas from 1833 to 1849. He was known for his efforts in suppressing the slave trade and advocating for the abolition of slavery.

During the 19th century, Ralph Byam Ainsworth (1824-1887) was a British engineer and architect who designed several notable buildings in Liverpool, including the Liverpool College of Art.

Another notable figure was George Byam Byam (1833-1904), a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny. He later became a Member of Parliament and was knighted for his military service.

Throughout history, variations of the name, such as Biam, Byham, and Byam, have been recorded in various regions of England, particularly in Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, and other southern counties. While the name may have originated as a place name, it has since become a well-established surname with a rich history spanning several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Byam

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

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

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

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