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

Cheam, 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 Cheam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cheam in America

Cheam is the 69392nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cheam surname appeared 283 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 Cheam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cheam 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 Cheam

The surname CHEAM originated in the English county of Surrey, specifically in the town of Cheam. Its roots can be traced back to the Old English word "ceme," meaning "trough" or "valley."

The earliest known record of the name CHEAM appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Ceme." This suggests that the surname likely emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period, possibly referring to someone who lived near a particular trough or valley in the area.

In the 13th century, the name was sometimes spelled as "Chame" or "Cheme," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that era. The modern spelling of "CHEAM" became more standardized by the 15th century.

One notable bearer of the CHEAM surname was Sir Thomas Cheam (c. 1440-1514), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Surrey during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He played a significant role in local affairs and contributed to the construction of several churches in the area.

Another individual of historical importance was John Cheam (1588-1659), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Caius College, Cambridge. He was known for his scholarly works on theology and his involvement in the religious debates of the time.

In the 18th century, William Cheam (1717-1789) was a respected architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Ranelagh Gardens and the Rotunda at Ranelagh. His contributions helped shape the architectural landscape of the city during that period.

During the Victorian era, Emily Cheam (1824-1892) gained recognition as a pioneering female writer and journalist. She published several novels and articles that explored social issues and advocated for women's rights, making her a significant figure in the early feminist movement.

Another notable bearer of the CHEAM surname was Sir Charles Cheam (1870-1945), a British military officer who served in the Boer War and World War I. He received numerous honors for his bravery and leadership, including the Distinguished Service Order and the Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.

While the CHEAM surname may not be as widespread as some others, its rich history and ties to the English county of Surrey have left an indelible mark on the cultural and historical landscape of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cheam

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

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

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

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