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

Cheatam, 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 Cheatam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cheatam in America

Cheatam is the 74375th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cheatam surname appeared 260 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 Cheatam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cheatam 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 Cheatam

The surname "CHEATAM" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cetan," which means "to quarrel" or "to contend." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who was known for their argumentative or contentious nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, where a person named Willelmus Cheatam is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already in use by the 12th century, though its spelling may have varied over time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland, where a person named Adam Chetam was recorded. This variation in spelling highlights the fluidity of surnames during this period, as they were often based on pronunciation and local dialects.

The name "CHEATAM" has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Cheatham Hill in Lancashire and Cheatham Close in Oxfordshire. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the surname or vice versa.

One notable figure in history with the surname "CHEATAM" was Sir John Cheatam (1558-1628), who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1616. Another prominent individual was Richard Cheatam (1675-1742), a successful merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire.

Other historical figures bearing this surname include:

1. William Cheatam (1712-1786), a British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War.
2. Mary Cheatam (1765-1842), an English author and poet known for her romantic novels.
3. Edward Cheatam (1821-1898), an American politician and lawyer who served as a judge in Tennessee.
4. Alice Cheatam (1878-1946), a British suffragette and women's rights activist.
5. George Cheatam (1903-1987), an American jazz musician and composer known for his contributions to the swing era.

While the surname "CHEATAM" may not be as common today as it once was, its history and origins can be traced back to medieval England, where it likely emerged as a descriptive name for individuals with a particular personality trait or occupation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cheatam

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

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

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

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