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

Dunham, 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 Dunham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dunham in America

Dunham is the 1604th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dunham surname appeared 22,362 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Dunham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dunham 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 Dunham

The surname Dunham has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a place name, derived from the Old English words "dun" meaning hill or down, and "ham" meaning homestead or village. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived in a homestead situated on or near a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Dunham" in various counties across England, such as Norfolk, Essex, and Buckinghamshire. This indicates that the name was already well-established by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Doneham," "Dunham," and "Dunnam," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that period. Records from this time show individuals bearing the name Dunham living in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk.

One notable historical figure with the surname Dunham was John Dunham, born around 1589 in Leiden, Netherlands. He was one of the early Puritan settlers of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, arriving on the ship Mayflower in 1620. His descendants went on to become prominent figures in American history.

Another significant individual was Josiah Dunham, born in 1692 in Woodbridge, New Jersey. He was a renowned clockmaker and silversmith, known for his intricate and highly sought-after works of art. His clocks and silverware are now considered valuable antiques and can be found in various museums and private collections.

In the literary world, the name is associated with Samuel Astley Dunham, born in 1800 in England. He was a prolific writer and editor, known for his works on history, literature, and travel. One of his most notable publications was "The History of Spain and Portugal," a comprehensive account of the Iberian Peninsula.

The name Dunham has also been linked to several notable military figures. One such individual was Cyrus Dunham, born in 1779 in Connecticut. He served as a brigadier general in the United States Army during the War of 1812 and played a crucial role in the defense of Fort Erie.

Another noteworthy bearer of the surname was Mary Dunham, born in 1890 in New York. She was a pioneering aviator and one of the first women to obtain a pilot's license in the United States. Her achievements paved the way for many women in the field of aviation.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dunham

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

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

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

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