Find out how popular the last name Dersam is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Dersam.
A German surname derived from the given name "Theoderich".
Dersam, 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 Dersam surname is from the 2010 census data.
Dersam is the 149395th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Dersam surname appeared 110 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 Dersam.
We can also compare 2010 data for Dersam 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.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
Rank | 149395 | 149328 | 0.04% |
Count | 110 | 101 | 8.53% |
Proportion per 100k | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.00% |
The surname DERSAM has its origins in Germany, dating back to the early 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Ders," which means "bold" or "daring," suggesting that the name was likely given to someone who exhibited these qualities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the DERSAM name can be found in the records of the town of Erfurt, located in central Germany. In 1528, a document mentions a certain Hans DERSAM, who was a respected tradesman and citizen of the town.
As the name spread throughout Germany, variations in spelling began to emerge, such as DERSAMEN, DERSAMER, and DERSHEIMER. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preference of local scribes who recorded the names.
In the 17th century, the DERSAM name appeared in the records of the city of Hamburg, where a merchant named Johann DERSAM was noted for his successful trading ventures with the Netherlands and England.
One notable figure bearing the DERSAM name was Wilhelm DERSAM, a German philosopher and academician who lived from 1682 to 1745. He taught at the University of Halle and published several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy.
The 18th century saw the DERSAM name spread to other parts of Europe, with records showing individuals bearing the name in Switzerland and France. In 1771, a Swiss soldier named Jakob DERSAM was mentioned in the chronicles of the Swiss Guards for his bravery in battle.
As the 19th century dawned, the DERSAM name gained prominence in the field of music. Karl DERSAM, a German composer and conductor born in 1812, was renowned for his operas and orchestral works, which were performed throughout Europe during his lifetime.
Another notable figure was Emilie DERSAM, a German novelist and playwright who lived from 1845 to 1912. Her works often explored themes of social injustice and the plight of women in the 19th century, making her a prominent voice in the literary circles of her time.
In the late 19th century, the DERSAM name also found its way to the United States, as many German immigrants sought new opportunities in the New World. One such immigrant was Heinrich DERSAM, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1892 and established a successful farming operation there.
We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Dersam.
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:
For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Dersam was:
Race/Ethnicity | Percentage | Total Occurrences |
---|---|---|
Non-Hispanic White Only | 89.09% | 98 |
Non-Hispanic Black Only | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only | 0.00% | 0 |
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | (S) |
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races | 0.00% | 0 |
Hispanic Origin | 8.18% | 9 |
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 Dersam has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.
2010 | 2000 | Change (%) | |
---|---|---|---|
White | 89.09% | 96.04% | -7.51% |
Black | (S)% | (S)% | (S)% |
Asian and Pacific Islander | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
American Indian and Alaskan Native | (S)% | 0.00% | (S)% |
Two or More Races | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Hispanic | 8.18% | (S)% | (S)% |
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 Dersam was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.
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<a href="http://namecensus.com/last-names/dersam-surname-popularity/">Dersam last name popularity, history, and meaning</a>
"Dersam last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 11, 2025. http://namecensus.com/last-names/dersam-surname-popularity/.
"Dersam last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/dersam-surname-popularity/. Accessed 11 July, 2025
Dersam last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/dersam-surname-popularity/.
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