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

Chisum, 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 Chisum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chisum in America

Chisum is the 16457th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chisum surname appeared 1,747 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Chisum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chisum 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 Chisum

The surname Chisum is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cis," meaning "a young person" or "a youth," and was likely used as a nickname or descriptive term before becoming a hereditary surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cissum." This entry suggests that the name was already established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name took on various spellings, including Chissum, Chissam, and Chisholm, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in pronunciation. It is also thought to be connected to certain place names, such as Chisholm in Roxburghshire, Scotland, and Chiswick in Middlesex, England.

Notable individuals bearing the Chisum surname include Sir John Chisum (1504-1569), a prominent English soldier and politician who served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another figure was William Chisum (1642-1718), a renowned English merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Bristol.

In the United States, the name gained prominence with John Chisum (1824-1884), a legendary cattle baron and rancher who played a pivotal role in the development of the Texas Panhandle region. His vast Chisum Trail ranch became a symbol of the American West's cattle-driving era.

Another notable American was Jesse Chisum (1805-1868), a mountain man, trader, and explorer who was instrumental in establishing trading routes through the Rocky Mountains and the southwestern regions of the United States.

In the field of literature, Clive Chisum (1876-1944) was a British author and journalist known for his works on travel and adventure, including his book "Across Unknown South America" (1918), which documented his explorations in the uncharted territories of South America.

Across the Atlantic, the name also found its way into the annals of history with Jacques Chisum (1561-1622), a French military leader and diplomat who served as the Governor of Normandy and played a crucial role in the French Wars of Religion.

Overall, the surname Chisum has a rich and diverse history, with its origins dating back to medieval England and its presence spanning various regions and cultures throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chisum

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

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

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

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