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

Cushman, 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 Cushman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cushman in America

Cushman is the 4779th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cushman surname appeared 7,400 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Cushman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cushman 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 Cushman

The surname Cushman is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "cusce" meaning a wedge or cushion, and "mann" meaning a man or person. It is believed to have originated in the county of Norfolk, England, during the medieval period.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Cushman can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Cuscheman," referring to an individual who may have been a maker or seller of cushions or wedges.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, various spellings of the name emerged, such as "Cusshman," "Cussheman," and "Cussuman." These variations likely reflect the local dialects and pronunciation of the name in different regions of England.

One notable bearer of the Cushman surname was Robert Cushman, an English Puritan leader born around 1580. He played a crucial role in organizing and financing the Mayflower voyage to America in 1620, although he did not travel on the ship himself. Cushman's contributions were instrumental in the establishment of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts.

Another significant figure in history with the Cushman surname was Thomas Cushman, born in 1608 in England. He was among the early settlers of the Plymouth Colony, arriving in 1621 on the ship Fortune. Thomas Cushman served as a deacon in the Plymouth Church and was a respected member of the community.

In the 18th century, Elkanah Cushman (1737-1807) was a renowned clockmaker and silversmith from Massachusetts. His clocks and timepieces are now highly valued by collectors and considered important examples of early American craftsmanship.

The Cushman surname also has ties to the American Civil War. Oliver Otis Cushman (1842-1918) was a Union Army officer who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Battle of Nashville in 1864.

Another notable bearer of the Cushman name was Howard Cushman (1865-1949), an American artist and illustrator known for his realistic depictions of the American West and Native American life. His works are held in various museum collections across the United States.

Throughout its history, the Cushman surname has retained its connection to its Old English roots, reflecting the occupational origins of those who were makers or sellers of cushions and wedges in medieval England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cushman

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

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

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

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