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

Elam, 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 Elam surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elam in America

Elam is the 2556th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elam surname appeared 14,138 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Elam.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elam 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 Elam

The surname ELAM is believed to have originated in England, tracing its roots back to the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the town of Elmham in Norfolk, England, which was recorded as "Elham" in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name itself likely stems from the Old English words "elm" and "ham," meaning "homestead or village by the elm trees."

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname ELAM was Walter de Elham, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1199. This suggests that the name had already been established by that time, with individuals taking their surnames from the place they were born or resided.

In the 14th century, records show a John de Elham serving as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk in 1332. This indicates that the ELAM family had already gained some prominence in the region by that period.

During the 16th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Elam, Elham, and Ellam, reflecting the variations in spelling common at the time. One notable individual was Thomas Elam (1515-1586), an English Protestant clergyman who served as the Bishop of Lincoln from 1581 until his death.

The surname ELAM also found its way across the Atlantic to the American colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries. Benjamin Elam (1677-1743) was a prominent figure in colonial Virginia, serving as a member of the House of Burgesses and holding various other positions of authority.

Another notable bearer of the ELAM surname was Samuel Elam (1761-1810), an American soldier and politician who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later served as a United States Representative from Tennessee.

Throughout history, the ELAM surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, politicians, soldiers, and more. While the name has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns of its bearers over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elam

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

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

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

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