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

Drummer, 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 Drummer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Drummer in America

Drummer is the 14050th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Drummer surname appeared 2,143 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 Drummer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Drummer 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 Drummer

The surname DRUMMER is of English origin, originating in the medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "drummere" or the Middle English word "drummer", meaning a drummer or one who played the drum. The name likely referred to an individual who was a drummer, either for military purposes or for entertainment.

In medieval England, drummers played an essential role in military campaigns, signaling the movements of troops and providing rhythm for marching soldiers. They were also employed in towns and villages for ceremonial occasions and celebrations. The name DRUMMER may have been given to individuals who held these occupations, marking their profession.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name DRUMMER can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1327, which mentions a John le Drummer. Another early reference is found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1389, where a William Drummer is listed.

The surname DRUMMER has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Drummers Farm in Kent and Drummers Hill in Hertfordshire. These place names may have derived from individuals with the surname DRUMMER who lived or owned land in those areas.

Notable individuals with the surname DRUMMER throughout history include:

1. John Drummer (c. 1600-1663), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Herefordshire in the 17th century.
2. William Drummer (1675-1739), a British Royal Navy officer who served during the War of the Spanish Succession and the War of the Quadruple Alliance.
3. Thomas Drummer (1758-1824), an American soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later served as a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
4. Mary Drummer (1852-1924), an American educator and philanthropist who founded the Drummer School for Girls in California.
5. James Drummer (1893-1975), a British trade unionist and political activist who played a significant role in the Labour movement in the early 20th century.

The name DRUMMER has a rich history, reflecting the occupational origins of many English surnames and the diverse roles played by drummers throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Drummer

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

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

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

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