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

Chisholm, 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 Chisholm surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chisholm in America

Chisholm is the 2878th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chisholm surname appeared 12,503 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Chisholm.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chisholm 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 Chisholm

The surname Chisholm is of Scottish origin, deriving from the lands of Chisholme or Chisholme in the Scottish Borders region. It is believed to have originated in the 12th century as a territorial name. The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the records of the Abbey of Kelso in 1159, where it is written as "Cysshome."

The name is thought to derive from the Old English words "cis" meaning "bitch" and "holme" meaning "island" or "river meadow." This suggests that the original lands may have been associated with an island or meadow frequented by bitches or female wolves.

In the 13th century, the Chisholm family gained prominence as landowners and supporters of the Scottish monarchy. They were one of the principal families of Roxburghshire and held significant influence in the Scottish Borders region.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname was Sir Robert Chisholm (c.1300-1360), a prominent Scottish knight who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence alongside King Robert the Bruce. He was granted lands in Roxburghshire for his loyalty and bravery.

During the 16th century, the Chisholms were involved in various Border feuds and conflicts with neighboring clans, such as the Scotts and the Kerrs. This period saw the rise of several notable Chisholm lairds, including William Chisholm (c.1520-1585), who was known for his involvement in the Raid of the Redeswire in 1575.

In the 17th century, Alexander Chisholm (1590-1658) was a Scottish writer and poet who published works on theology and philosophy. He served as the minister of Coldingham and later became the Bishop of Dunblane.

The 18th century saw the emergence of William Chisholm (1718-1788), a Scottish-American soldier and explorer who played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. He served as a lieutenant colonel in the British Army and later assisted the American colonists in their fight for independence.

Another notable figure was Caroline Chisholm (1808-1877), an English philanthropist and social reformer. She is best known for her efforts in advocating for the welfare of immigrant women and children, particularly in Australia, where she established shelters and employment assistance programs.

The surname Chisholm has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, soldiers, writers, and social reformers. Despite its Scottish origins, the name has spread across the globe, reflecting the migrations and contributions of those who bore it throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chisholm

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

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

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

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