2010
#158,432
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Chelmo
A variant spelling of the English surname Chelmo, possibly derived from a place name.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 120 Americans carry the last name Chelmo. That puts it at #152,989 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,856,286 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Chelmo surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
120
1 in 2,856,286
Census rank
#152,989
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
105
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 105 bearers of the surname Chelmo in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 152989th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Chelmo, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Chelmo
The surname Chelmo has its origins in the northern regions of Italy, specifically in the areas surrounding the city of Milan. It is believed to have emerged during the late 12th century, derived from the Latin word "chelum," which translates to "shield" or "protection." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with individuals who were involved in military or defensive roles.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in a collection of legal documents from the city of Pavia, dated around 1215. These records mention a certain "Guglielmo Chelmo," who was a prominent landowner and merchant in the region. Another notable reference is a manuscript housed in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan, which contains a list of noble families from the area, including the "Chelmo" lineage.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Chelmo name began to spread beyond the confines of northern Italy. Records show that members of the family migrated to various parts of Europe, including France, Spain, and even as far as England. One notable individual from this period was Giacomo Chelmo, a renowned scholar and philosopher who lived between 1270 and 1342. He was widely respected for his contributions to the field of logic and taught at the prestigious University of Bologna.
In the 15th century, the Chelmo name gained prominence in the region of Piedmont, where it was associated with several influential families. One such family was the Chelmos of Asti, who were prominent landowners and patrons of the arts. A famous member of this family was Guglielmo Chelmo II (1425-1498), who served as a diplomat and advisor to the Duke of Savoy.
As the centuries progressed, the Chelmo name continued to be represented across various fields, including the arts, politics, and academia. One notable figure was Antonio Chelmo (1580-1648), a celebrated painter and fresco artist who worked extensively in churches and palaces throughout northern Italy. His works can still be admired in cities like Milan, Genoa, and Turin.
In the 18th century, the Chelmo name gained recognition in the realm of literature, with the renowned poet and playwright Pietro Chelmo (1702-1778) earning widespread acclaim for his works. His masterpiece, "La Vita Rustica," a collection of pastoral poems, remains an important part of Italian literary heritage.
While the Chelmo surname may not be as widely recognized today as it once was, its rich history and contributions to various aspects of Italian and European culture are undeniable. The name's association with concepts such as protection, strength, and nobility has endured throughout the centuries, serving as a testament to the resilience and legacy of this remarkable family lineage.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Chelmo
Among Census respondents with the surname Chelmo, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Chelmo bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Chelmo surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White91.4% · 96
- Two or more races4.8% · 5
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.9% · 2
- Hispanic or Latino1.0% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Chelmo
Chelmo appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#152,989
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 105
+3 bearers (+2.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 5,443 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #158,432 | 102 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #152,989 | 105 | 0.04 | +3 bearers (+2.9%) | Up 5,443 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Chelmo surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #158,432 | #152,989 | 3.4% |
| Count | 102 | 105 | 2.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 17.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Chelmo bearers went from 102 to 105 (+2.9% change). The surname moved up 5,443 positions in the national ranking, going from #158,432 to #152,989.
FAQ
Chelmo surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Chelmo?
Name Census estimates that about 120 living Americans carry the surname Chelmo. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,856,286 residents.
How common is Chelmo?
Chelmo ranks #152,989 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 105 people with the surname Chelmo. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (120), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Chelmo.
Has Chelmo become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Chelmo went from 102 recorded bearers to 105. That is an increase of 3 (+2.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #158,432 to #152,989.
What does the Census say about the background of Chelmo?
Among Census respondents with the surname Chelmo, the largest self-reported group is White at 91.4%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.8%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Chelmo in the 2020 Census, accounting for 91.4% (96 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Chelmo appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (91.4%), Two or More Races (4.8%), Asian/Pacific Islander (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Chelmo (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Chelmo mean?
A variant spelling of the English surname Chelmo, possibly derived from a place name. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Chelmo (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Chelmo?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.